The southern tip of Africa is one of the most exotic travel destinations, with an abundance of natural marvels such as the Victoria Falls, the Ezulwini Valley and the Table Mountain, not to mention the amazing waterfronts and pristine beaches.
Picturesque surroundings and natural landscape provide an extraordinary sense of seclusion, making southern Africa an ideal place to escape to, relax and feel close to nature.
Southern Africa has some wonderful countries — must-visits on any travel junkie’s itinerary.
Exciting amalgamation
Starting at the tip is picturesque South Africa, which is an exciting amalgamation of natural beauty and modern marvels. Then there are enchanting Swaziland and Zambia
—home to the Victoria Falls.
Easily the most developed country in Africa, South Africa is a treasure chest of unforgettable landscapes — from lofty mountains to sun-baked deserts and coastlines washed by the Atlantic and the Indian oceans.
In the shadow of the Table Mountain and surrounded by the Atlantic, Cape Town is one of the world’s most picturesque cities.
You can sample South African wine in the vineyards of Franschhoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch, famous for their fertile valleys, imposing crags and graceful Cape Dutch manor houses.
Shoppers’ paradise
Cape Town is a shopper’s paradise, famous for the Canal Walk megamall, which has over 400 stores of the most famous local and global brands.
It offers the most exquisite lifestyle shopping experience in South Africa.
The fabulous Victoria and Alfred waterfront also houses the majestic Table Bay Hotel, which not only is a restoration of the ambience of the nautical past but a new dimension to the experience called Cape Town.
Surrounded by picture-perfect scenery and the Table Mountain, the wine lands, the historic working harbour and the yacht bay, it offers the perfect setting for an unforgettable experience.
It also offers various options for the more adventurous traveller, which include mountaineering, shark-diving and other water sports.
Wild blossoms
North of Cape Town is Namaqualand, a land at its most beautiful from August to October, with wildflowers blossoming everywhere.
Inland are intriguing battlefield sites, which bear testimony to the Anglo-Boer War.
You can watch the Drakensberg Mountains from here and vultures riding on the thermals over green valleys and jagged peaks.
Johannesburg, by far the most vibrant of the country’s cities — with a rich cultural heritage — has excellent museums that capture the essence of South Africa’s history.
Some of the must-visit places are The Market Theatre, Museum Africa and Museum of South African Rock Art.
To the east is the Kruger National Park, where you can take a look at Africa’s Big Five — the lion, the elephant, the buffalo, the leopard and the rhino — and a variety of other animals and birds.
In the northwest, rising audaciously from its surroundings, some two hours from Johannesburg, is the famous Sun City Resort near the Pilanesberg National Park.
Here, wild animals such as elephants, rhinos, lions and antelope roam free.
The resort has numerous places where you can unwind, such as the Sun City Theatre, two championship golf courses and an exciting water park.
Sun City is also a favourite venue for international beauty pageants.
African Switzerland
The tiny, mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland, sandwiched between South Africa and Mozambique, has been dubbed “The Switzerland of Africa”.
Culture and tradition flourish here alongside modern luxury hotels.
Among the country’s main attractions are Mlilwane, a well-established game sanctuary; the magnificent Mantenga Falls; the resort of Piggs Peak; and the annual ceremony of the reed dances at the Royal Kraal in Lebombo
on the country’s eastern border.
Home to the black rhino
Swaziland is also one of the best places in southern Africa to spot the elusive and near-extinct black rhino in the wild.
The capital, Mbabane, lies at the northern end of the lush Ezulwini Valley — a small, unpretentious town and a tourist delight. Located amid the tranquil Ezulwini Valley, the Royal Swazi Spa Valley Resort — with a casino, a spa and an 18-hole golf course — welcomes guests from all corners of the world.
Swaziland is also known for its exquisite art and craft and breathtaking scenery, especially in the western highlands, which rise to more than 6,000 feet, with abundant rivers, waterfalls and forested gorges.
Land of the waterfalls
Zambia is situated in the heart of the African subcontinent. Vast lakes, rich wetlands and breathtaking African sunsets contribute to the scenic splendour of this beautiful country.
A land blessed with 17 waterfalls, including the spectacular Victoria Falls, the country attracts nature lovers and thrill seekers alike and, as a result, has earned the reputation of being the adventure centre of the continent.
There are plenty of accommodation options for tourists to choose from. One of the most luxurious is The Royal Livingstone, a colonial-style hotel, with guest rooms overlooking the mighty Victoria Falls.
The resort provides many opportunities for visitors to soak in the pristine beauty of the land.
Another must-visit is the Zambezi Sun, a resort steeped in ethnic cultural influences, located in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.
Bungee jumping thrills
For the bravehearted, there is bungee jumping, whitewater rafting and helicopter flights over the Victoria Falls.
The resort also offers safaris and elephant-back rides in the national parks.
One of the most famous is the South Luangwa National Park, located along the most important river system in Africa. The famous “Zambian walking safari” orginated in this park and is still one of the finest ways to experience the African wilderness.
The wetlands and wilderness of Zambia will satisfy every nature lover.
Indeed, these three countries in southern Africa are a mosaic of landscapes and cultures — any visitor who has experienced the delights will certainly agree.
Information
The riches
In terms of natural resources, the region has the world’s largest resources of platinum and the platinum group elements, chromium, vanadium and cobalt, as well as uranium, gold, titanium, iron and diamonds.
The region has a wide ecological diversity, which includes grassland, bushveld, karoo, savanna and riparian zones.
Wildlife species found here include white rhino, impala, kudu, blue wildebeest, vervet monkey and elephant.
