South Africa Travel Guide

About an hour's drive from Port Elizabeth, Addo is a small farming town that's best known for its proximity to the Greater Addo Elephant National Park, which is South Africa's first 'Big Seven' reserve. As well as the usual Big Five - rhino, lion, elephant, leopard and buffalo, the park, which extends to the sea and some offshore islands, also offers sightings of southern right whales and (great) white sharks. The park offers comfortable SANParks… Read More

Arniston Travel Guide

Arniston by Samantha Black

This rather schizophrenic town is officially known as Waenhuiskrans but everyone calls it Arniston. The official name, which means “Wagon House Cave”, refers to an enormous sea cave thatis big enough to park an ox wagon (and a team of oxen) in. It’s abeautiful cave and it’s a lovely walk to get to it but watch the tides.You absolutely do not want to get caught there at high tide! The morefamiliar name refers to the wreck of the Arniston,which ran… Read More

Ashton Travel Guide

Ashton by Samantha Black

The small town of Ashton on Route 62 is in the middle of a fruit-farming and wine-growing area so there are some nice wineries, farm stalls where you can buy all manner of local produce, and even a cheese estate. Ashton is conveniently situated on the R60 between Robertson and Swellendam, and close to the western side of the scenic Kogmanskloof Pass on the R62 to Montagu. It’s a beautiful pass with spectacular geological features, a pretty stream… Read More

Atlantic Seaboard South Travel Guide

Atlantic Seaboard South by Samantha Black

The Atlantic Seaboard is the trendiest and most expensive of Cape Town’s seaside real estate, curving west from the Waterfront to the southern tip of the peninsula. Posh suburbs are perched on the steep slopes of Table Mountain with dazzling views of the ocean.The sea water is icy, cooler by a few degrees than on the False Bay side. Plunging in is a great shock to the system but the beachesare gorgeous, perfect for catching a tan, picnicking or sundowners… Read More

Ballito Travel Guide

Ballito by Samantha Black

On KZN’s North Coast, Ballito is a mega-tourist-friendly seaside resort with wonderful, safe, shark net-protected beaches. Tidal pools ranging from kiddies’ paddling numbers to a full Olympic-sized pool offer safe bathing for all levels of swimmer and even non-swimmers. There is a lovely long boardwalk offering easy scenic beach walking and a more rugged trail all the way up to Salt Rock includes a short tunnel best attempted at low tide. The surfing… Read More

Battlefields Travel Guide

Battlefields by Samantha Black

As in many parts of the world, the later part of the 19th Century was a time of conflict and confrontation in South Africa, particularly the area we now call KwaZulu-Natal. The British were at the height of their empire-building zeal, the Zulu nation was one of the most powerful in Africa, and the Boers had shaken the dust of British colonialism off their velskoens, and set off into the interior to take control of their own destiny.Well, that sounds… Read More

Bela Bela (Warmbaths) Travel Guide

Bela Bela (Warmbaths) by Samantha Black

Hot spring pool©South African TourismThe small town of Bela Bela was previously known as Warmbaths – and for good reason. The town owes its existence to the immense hot spring that gushes to the surface at 53°C. There are a number of family resorts complete with waterslides, play parks and all the usual child-friendly facilities, some small game farms, and a range of wellness centres and spas. As Bela Bela is about an hour’s drive from Pretoria… Read More

Big Bay Travel Guide

Big Bay by Samantha Black

Big Bay is one of Cape Town’s northernmost beach suburbs, favoured by families, surfers, kiters, windsurfers and walkers.The white sandy beach with postcard views of Table Mountain is a great spot to simply veg out and work on your suntan.Although the water temperature is chilly, the Blue Flag accredited Big Bay Beach offers safe swimming and bodysurfing. Don’t miss the awesome sunset views.Eden on the Bay and Big Bay shopping malls are almost on… Read More

Bloemfontein Travel Guide

Bloemfontein by Samantha Black

Bloemfontein is sort of the Cinderella city of South Africa. It's stuck out there on the N1 between Cape Town and Johannesburg. It has no Table Mountain, no ocean, and no big-city vibe. And no rush hour traffic, no road rage and no urban sprawl. It's just a nice little city in the middle of the country. The name, Bloemfontein, means Spring of Flowers - a rather pretty name that it does actually live up to. The city is planted with thousands of rose… Read More

Camps Bay Travel Guide

Camps Bay by Samantha Black

Enormous aerial views across the Atlantic Ocean define of Cape Town's most desirable places to stay. Contained by an impressive amphitheatre shaped by the Twelve Apostles and Lion's Head, the upmarket suburb of Camps Bay spills down the slopes of Table Mountain towards the Atlantic Ocean.The main road, Victoria Drive, is studded with trendy restaurants and bars lining the palm-fringed beachfront promenade. It’s a great people watching spot if you’re… Read More

Cape Town City Centre Travel Guide

City Centre by Samantha Black

Simply called the City Centre by Capetonians, Cape Town's CBD reflects what this awesome city is really about. Central Cape Town has all the vibe you want and more – fabulous parties, nightlife, restaurants, shopping, theatres, numerous galleries and amazing cultural attractions.Long Street is where it all happens. Enjoy sundowners and dinner at one of many outstanding restaurants and then cruise to the vibey pubs, cigar bars and clubs for a big night… Read More

Cape Town Travel Guide

Cape Town by Samantha Black

Voted Favourite Foreign City by the UK Telegraph in2004, Cape Town is one of the places you just have to visit before youdie. It's an awesome city. All the vibe you want - great parties, greatshopping and loads of galleries and other cultural attractionscan't detract from the fact that what makes Cape Town special is thefact that it is set in one of the most beautiful places on earth. EvenSir Francis Drake, who'd pretty much seen it all, called Cape… Read More

Cape Winelands Travel Guide

Cape Winelands by Samantha Black

Although there are a number of wine growing areas in South Africa, the bulk of our wine comes from the area we classically call 'the Winelands' that includes Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. The production of wine has shaped the development of this area for over 300 years, and it has been proposed for consideration as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape. The bright green corduroy-patterned vineyards stretching out to the bases of purple… Read More

Central Karoo Travel Guide

Central Karoo by Samantha Black

The broad, mostly sandy, expanse of undulating plains known as the Karoo is divided between the Little Karoo, nearer the coast and the Great Karoo, which seems to stretch into the interior forever. The Karoo, which means 'great thirst' in the local Khoi-San language, receives little rain so the rather dramatic landscape exhibits interesting geological features. The broad expanse of the endless plains is broken by flat-topped mesas and kopjes (conical… Read More

Century City Travel Guide

Century City by Samantha Black

Just north of the City Centre and off the N1 lies Century City, a multi functional lifestyle hub offering leisure, shopping, residential and work facilities.The mini-city suburb of Cape Town offers a golf course, numerous accommodation options and one of Africa’s largest shopping centres, Canal Walk. Residential properties comprise canal-side homes and lofty apartment blocks. Canal Walk includes all mainstream stores, restaurants, a food court, skating… Read More

Clanwilliam Travel Guide

Clanwilliam by Samantha Black

Nestled at the foot of the northern end of the Cederberg Mountains, Clanwilliam is a small town with loads to do just on its outskirts. Heading north, the Pakhuis Pass leads to an area of immense physical beauty, with spectacularly ruggedrock formations, gurgling streams, tumbling waterfalls and some of thebest and most easily accessible rock art in the country.Clanwilliam, between the West Coast and the Cederberg, is right in the middle of the flower… Read More

Cradle of Humankind Travel Guide

Cradle of Humankind by Samantha Black

A mere hour's drive from Johannesburg, the Cradle of Humankind is a place of major significance. It was here we first became human. Here where we first stood upright on our own two, rather oddly shaped, feet, explored the uses to which we could put our usefully opposed thumbs, and experimented with more and more sophisticated grunts as we tried to make sense of our environment. Its also the place where 1.8 million years ago we first "domesticated"… Read More

Darling

Darling by Lisa Legg

Darling is a small town in a farming area on the west coast region of the Western Cape, about 75 km from Cape Town. Darling is the heartbeat of the West Coast region. The little village lies tucked away between hills of vineyards and golden wheat fields.Darling is famous for its wildflowers and since 1917 the annual Darling Wildflower Show is held by the Darling Wildflower Society. For those interested in farming history, the Darling Museum holds… Read More

De Kelders

De Kelders by Lisa Legg

The little village of De Kelders, which lies just 5 km north of Gansbaai and about 25 minutes drive from Hermanus, has managed to remain largely untouched by the tourism that envelopes this part of the country. It is still essentially a fishing village and famous for its seafood. De Kelders lies on the shores of Walker Bay, and is renowned as the home of the Southern Right Whale. This whales come to the sheltered bays and rocky inlets year after… Read More

De Waterkant Travel Guide

De Waterkant by Samantha Black

Squeezed between the V&A Waterfront, City Centre and Bo-Kaap, the trendy suburb of De Waterkant has become one of the most desirable addresses in Cape Town. Lovingly restored quaint cottages, cobbled lanes and the vibrant village atmosphere are evocative of London’s Soho and Greenwich Village in New York. Walking down the pretty pavements past Georgian, Dutch and Asian inspired architecture with sunny terraces and flower boxes, one can’t help forgetting… Read More

Drakensberg Travel Guide

Drakensberg by Samantha Black

The impressive bulk of the mountains the Zulus called Ukahlamba - the barrier of spears - and the Voortrekkers called the Drakensberg - the dragon mountain - is an impressive rampart of sandstone and basalt that separates the well watered Indian Ocean coast from the dryer, harsher interior. Most of the escarpment falls under the Ukahlamba-Drakensberg National Park. This beautiful montane grassland is bright green in summer after the rains and fades… Read More

Dullstroom

Dullstroom by Lisa Legg

Explore Dullstroom with it’s exquisite fishing, fly-fishing, hiking trails, horse riding trails and picnic spots beside breathtaking waterfalls. Walk through an abundance of wild flowers and catch a glimpse of elusive fauna. Dullstroom dates back to the early 1880's when Dutch Settlers made their way to the place of "eternal mist". The town is situated at 2100 m above sea level, making this one of the highest towns in the country. The architecture… Read More

Durban Travel Guide

Durban by Samantha Black

High up on the east coast, Durban is South Africa's sub-tropical beach getaway. The city centre overlooks a long, golden beach that is probably the single most culturally diverse spot in Africa. Here you will find frolicking families of every hue, busy executives out for a quick lunchtime jog, teenagers in full breeding plumage, elegant sari-clad matrons strolling the sand, buff surfers running into the waves, and bead-bedecked sangomas collecting… Read More

East London Travel Guide

East London by Samantha Black

East London is a pleasantly laid back little city with lovely beaches and great surf. Pretty little seaside resorts stretch out to the north, eventually culminating in the fabulously scenic Wild Coast, where you can do coastal hikes - on your own or supported - horse trails, some gentle river paddling and awesome surfing. There are some small game farms nearby and fantastic hikes in the not too distant Hogsback Mountains. East London has some great… Read More

Eastern Cape Travel Guide

Eastern Cape by Samantha Black

TheEastern Cape is South Africa's second largest and most diverseprovince. It's a great sun, sand and sea destination with a coastlinethat runs from temperate rocky shores in the south to sub-tropical beachesin the north. There is a beach for every reason - from highly developedurban playgrounds to wild and untamed stretches of wave-washed sand. Ithas some of the best surf in the country - make that some of the best surf in the world. The small towns… Read More

False Bay Travel Guide

False Bay by Samantha Black

The False Bay seaboard curves south in a huge arc from Gordon's Bay stretching past the Strand, Muizenberg and ending at Cape Point. A variety of village-like suburbs nestle between the mountains and coast from Muizenberg to Simon’s Town. For surfers and bathers the water on this side of the Peninsula is blissfully warmer by a few degrees. The Metrorail line conveniently snakes along the coast with frequent stops and one can hop off here and… Read More

Fish Hoek Travel Guide

Fish Hoek by Samantha Black

Fish Hoek is one of the peninsula's best places for whale watching and also one of the most popular family beaches offering restaurants, easy parking, changing rooms, showers and lifeguards.Most beach goers utilize this beach for swimming, surfing, kayaking, hobie cat sailing, sunbathing and walking. Sometimes the traditional 'trek' fishing boats can be seen hauling in their catch of yellowtail or harders.Southern Right whales arrive in early August… Read More

Franschhoek Travel Guide

Franschhoek by Samantha Black

This sybaritic little town is situated smack in the middle of some gorgeous scenery in the heart of the Winelands. It’s one of those places that became fashionable some time around the 1980s and things just snowballed. Fabulous restaurants line the main street, there are some lovely little guest houses and – of course – great wineries. In fact, Franschhoek has a special place in the history of South African wine making. The name, which means French… Read More

Free State Travel Guide

Free State by Samantha Black

'The Free State landscape gladdens my heart, no matter what my mood. When I am here I feel that nothing can shut me in, that my thoughts can roam as far as the horizons.' Nelson MandelaThe Free State is South Africa's Cinderella province. Every country has one - the place you make jokes about. You know what they're like ... 'first prize is a week's holiday in the Free State. Second prize is two weeks...' Well, as in most parts of the world,… Read More

Gansbaai

Gansbaai by Lisa Legg

Escape from the world for a while in this peaceful, ambient little town offering some of the world's best whale watching and by far the world's best great white shark diving.Enjoy beautiful mountain walks and trails through some of the Cape's best-conserved fynbos. Walk up The lighthouse at Danger Point and gaze out over the endless ocean views and the remains of the famous HMS Birkenhead wreck. Gansbaai is an area of great contrast, with a number… Read More

Garden Route Travel Guide

Garden Route by Samantha Black

Dramatic river cut gorges, beautiful beaches, rocky headlands and deep tangled forests are the quintessential Garden Route images. Stretching from anywhere between Stilbaai and Mossel Bay in the west, to Stormsriver or Port Elizabeth (PE) in the east, it's a gorgeous stretch of coastal paradise strung out along the N2. Purists will squash it up between Mossel Bay and Stormsriver but, as the popularity of the Garden Route grew and small towns at its… Read More

Gauteng Travel Guide

Gauteng by Samantha Black

If money makes the world go round, Gauteng is one of its major axes. Meaning 'the place where the goldis' Gauteng is the economic powerhouse of Africa. It is South Africa'ssmallest, wealthiest and most frenetic province. Everything moves fast- cars zoom down the highways, people walk fast through the malls andoffices, and new buildings spring up on the drab brown Highveld like somany glass and chrome mushrooms. The whole place buzzes with the energyof… Read More

George Travel Guide

George by Samantha Black

George is the de Facto capital of the Garden Route, its largest town by far, and the only one with an airport of any real significance. It’s not on the coast, but the lovely Victoria Bay, which is one of the prettiest beachesaround, is not far. George’s most important agricultural crop is hops –so if you’re into beer, you’ll enjoy seeing the immensely high hopcrops. Even more fun is the Outeniqua Hop – amarketing route that joins together some lovely… Read More

Glencairn Travel Guide

Glencairn by Samantha Black

Slow down, breathe. The unassuming suburb of Glencairn is definitely not in the fast lane but has much appeal if you’re keen to be off the main tourist drag. Conveniently situated on the False Bay coastline between Fish Hoek and Simon’s Town, Glencairn is en route to one of Cape Town’s top attractions, Cape Point Nature Reserve, and is a 35-km drive to the bright city lights of central Cape Town. It’s also a great base for cyclists in training or… Read More

Gordons Bay Travel Guide

Gordons Bay by Samantha Black

The pretty seaside village of Gordon's Bay with its lovely beaches lies at the foot of the Helderberg Mountains.Bikini Beach is the most popular beach for sun tanning, swimming and surfing, particularly with Stellies students (University of Stellenbosch). Explore the Old Harbour with its flotilla of fishing boats and yachts or the busy Harbour Island waterfront development with its many restaurants.If you want to escape from crowds, head to Steenbras… Read More

Graaff Reinet Travel Guide

Graaff-Reinet by Samantha Black

Considered the Eastern Cape's oldest town, Graaff-Reinet offers a trip back to yesteryear and is home to hundreds of lovingly restored Victorian buildings and national monuments. Graaff-Reinet lies at the foot of the Sneeuberg Mountains next to the Sundays River. The imposing Dutch Reformed church presides over the quaint Karoo Heartland town.Famous for prehistoric fossils, it’s also the hometown of Robert Sobukwe, founder of the Pan African Congress.… Read More

Grahamstown Travel Guide

Grahamstown by Samantha Black

With a large university, some of South Africa’s top schools and a plethora of museums and other cultural attractions, Grahamstown is a rather erudite destination. It’s also the venue of the National Festival of the Arts, which is the second largest arts festival in the world, coming in just behind Edinburgh. Of Grahamstown’s numerous lovely old buildings, many of which are national monuments, the one that – literally – stands out is the magnificent… Read More

Graskop Travel Guide

Graskop by Samantha Black

Graskop is the closest town to the Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes, so it’s a convenient place to stop for lunch on the Panorama Route.Well, it is convenient but it’s more convenient if you decide to havelunch at any time other than lunchtime, which is when the tour busesdisgorge their banana-republic-clad hordes.It’s one of those apparently one-street towns with a whole host of restaurants and craft shops all strung out along the main… Read More

Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park Travel Guide

Greater St Lucia Wetland Park by Samantha Black

This piece of paradise was recently renamed the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Covering about 240,000ha, with a further 84,000ha in, on or under the sea, this is a large chunk of sub-tropical paradise stretching 220km along the East Coast from St Lucia to the Mozambique border. Aswell as a mind-blowing range of natural systems, ranging from dune,swamp and coastal forests to rocky and sandy shores, coral reefs andsubmarine canyons, mangroves, savanna grassland,… Read More

Greyton

Greyton by Lisa Legg

Far from the madding crowd, only 1.5 hours from Cape Town in the sleepy Overberg, you'll find Greyton, a peaceful and picturesque village at the foot of the majestic Sonderend Mountain Range. Mighty oak trees, original thatched cottages, leafy lanes and breathtaking mountain views form the backdrop to this country gem that will enchant and delight you.Greyton is best explored on foot or bicycle, enabling you to drink in your surrounds. The scenery… Read More

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Did you know? South Africa Travel Guide is often misspelt. Here are some variations:

Suid Afrika Travel Guide, SouthAfrica Travel Guide,

South Africa Travel Guide

Did you know? South Africa Travel Guide is often misspelt. Here are some variations:

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