Travel quotes
Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen. Benjamin Disraeli
In America there are two classes of travel - first class, and with children. Robert Benchley
Travelers never think that they are the foreigners. Mason Cooley
The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing." Daniel J. Boorstin
There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror. Orson Welles
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South Africa : When and where to go ?
Click on a city for complete climate and weather tables
| Town | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Cape Town |  | | | |  | | | | |  | | |
| Pretoria |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Johannesburg | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Port Elizabeth | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Durban | | | | | | | | | | | | |
South Africa : Maps and Facts
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The climate varies according to the different areas: It tends to be more Mediterranean close to Cape Town, hot and dry between September and April and fairly temperate between May and August. |
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What to do in South Africa
The beautiful landscapes and fascinating cultural contrasts will not leave you indifferent. Apart from its political evolution over the last few decades, South Africa is admirable in many other ways.
Johannesburg is a must: Blacks and whites finally live side by side in peace. The animated centre, the Apartheid Museum, a visit to Soweto, will all give you a glimpse of this country’s evolution. The Cap reaches to the base of Table Mountain with a superb backdrop of mountains and beaches. It will take you days before you run out of sights to see: The flea market at Greenmarket Square, the cable car climb to Table Mountain, the botanical gardens of Kirstenbosch, the port with its lively nightlife, the nature reserves around the Cape of Good Hope towards the south are just a few examples. One of the largest reserves in the world, the Kruger National Park, offers you the opportunity to discover the Africa of your dreams: Lions, elephants, buffalo, antelopes, giraffes that you can approach by car as they wander freely amongst grandiose landscapes. You can equally spend one or two nights there, camping out or in more luxurious structures. Durban and its surroundings are also worth a detour, for the beaches and warm water but also for the Indian Quarter, the market and the large Juma Mosque. Surfing fans will find internationally renowned surf spots here. |
South Africa : The basics
As time goes by, the country is becoming better serviced by the airlines: You can land at Johannesburg, also at the Cap or Durban.
You do not need a visa if you are coming from the European Union. The currency is the South African Rand. You can easily change your Euros. Concerning your planned budget, you can eat well for around €10 and get a double room for €40. Note that cuisine from around the world is easily available and you will be rarely disappointed. The same goes for the types of lodging which are numerous and varied and offer services comparable to those of Europe at more interesting prices. There are certain health precautions that concern the tourista outside the larger towns, including the knowledge of certain parasites (do not bathe in fresh water) as well as concerning AIDS and Hepatitis B. Security is still a little precarious in certain areas and under certain conditions: Be vigilant in larger towns. As the country is so large you will probably have to move around: Buses serve popular destinations although renting a car is a good solution as the road network is excellent. |
Towns in South Africa
Parliamentary capital of South Africa, and regarded as the founding city of the country, Cape Town has 3.5 inhabitants if one takes into account all of the city.
Now a major tourist center, its appeal lies mainly in the variety of sporting activities offered by its coastal location, especially water sports, but also mountain climbing and hang gliding, and in the presence of places of interest such as Two Oceans Aquarium, or notable sights such as Table Mountain or Cape of Good Hope.
The visit also allows the city to find some monuments and museums: Castle of Good Hope, the town hall in Renaissance style, the Museum of History and Culture, the walkway of oak-lined Government Avenue centuries, the Anglican Cathedral St. George, are some examples to remember. The docks renovated are also a pleasant walk, where there is a permanent animation you can also take the scenic Chapman's Peak Drive along the peninsula toward the Cape of Good Hope, through a nature reserve and overlooks abruptly Sea .
From the city, you will be able to go into the back country to explore the wine route.
Capital of South Africa, Pretoria has 500,000 inhabitants.
Located at 1,500 meters altitude, it also has the distinction of being planted thousands of jacaranda trees which when in bloom to give a purple color throughout the city. Founded in the mid 19th century, it was the symbol of apartheid in the late twentieth.
It is served by Johannesburg International Airport, and tourists can explore on foot its multiple interests: they admire the statue of Paul Kruger, a symbol of the city, erected on Church Square, a square surrounded by buildings as typical Raadsaal or the main post office, or the City Hall and its carillon with 32 bells, the various public gardens, the Museum of Art, the Transvaal Museum, among other curiosities.
Fans also love shopping Menlyn Park, the largest mall in all of Africa, where they find more than 250 shops, dozens of cafes and restaurants, 20 movie theaters and an arena for great performances and events of all kinds.
You will have no trouble finding accommodation in the city, which offers a hotel park quite as varied as the standard fare.
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• Port Elizabeth
City of South Africa, Port Elizabeth has just under one million inhabitants.
Located on the coast, it is however very little tourism, particularly because of its reputation for insecurity.
Served by an airport near the city center, yet it has beautiful beaches and a historic center hosting interesting buildings in the Art Nouveau style.
You can also admire the Campanile, a tower 52 meters high which is the symbol of the city, the Gothic Revival architecture of the library, Fort Frederick, and also visit the StGeorge's Park with its rare orchids, the Museum of Humewood and skeletons of whales, and the King George VI Art Gallery with its collection of British art and South Africa.
The city will also be your starting point for excursions to various nearby, including the Addo Elephant National Park, or the amusement park "The Springs".
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