posted by Travel Cat on Jun 21
Thousands of people have flocked to the South – but what are they missing out on?
South Africa is a very beautiful country, and deserves a visit – especially if you are already out there! It seems a waste to just watch the football without taking a trip out to some of the amazing places along the 1553 mile long coast as well as those inland.
Whether you like the flowers, the scenery, the mountains, the culture or the wildlife – there is plenty to choose from without having to travel to far away from all the football frenzy!
And if you are not even watching the World Cup – still consider flying to South Africa while the tourist infrastructure is at it’s best! Find yourself a lovely hotel or safari lodge and go exploring!
The Coast:
Follow the famous Garden Route along the coast and you won’t be disappointed! There are some amazing coves, sandy beaches, windswept cliffs and friendly villages stretching from the Western Cape to the Storms River.
Walking the route is now as popular as driving these days – and you can see why when you hear tales of whale encounters and millions of fossils from our ancestors kitchens!
This route actually follows along the Indian Ocean, and so is relatively warm and wet – so is covered in verdant vegetation and filled with over 300 species of bird and an equally diverse insect life. Inland lakes and the backdrop of the scenic moutain ranges adds to it’s beauty as do the luscious forests of the Fynbos and temperate forests!
The Wildlife:
Well, you could easily take a trip to one of the largest wildlife parks in the whole of Africa – if you went to Kruger National Park or a mini-break safari.
In just a few days you could well have seen all 5 of the ‘Big 5′ – which is certainly a feather in any animal lovers cap! Lions, Buffalo, Leopards, Elephants and Rhino – as well as Hunting Dogs, Zebra, Ostrich, Giraffe, Cheetah and Hyenas to name a few more!
You could be camping close to 1 of the 9 different wilderness paths in place, close to one or more of the many rivers (in hope of seeing a hippo) or even perched in the tree tops themselves in one of the amazing eco lodges or bush camps.
Whether you safari in jeeps, on horseback or on foot – you can be sure of an amazing trip and certainly one never to forget! The animal encounters here could be the most impressive you ever see – apart from that last minute extra time goal!
The Mountains:
Well, Table Mountain has got to be one of the top 10 ‘mountains’ that anyone has ever heard of – and for good reason; as it dominates the skyline from the city of Cape Town.
This flat-topped mountain is around 3 kilometers wide and offers breath-taking views back down across the city and the coastline. Tourists flock here for this reason, and the popular cable car rarely runs empty as it chugs up to the top giving passengers a 360 degree view of the mountains!
The main vegetation on this huge sandstone monument is Fynbos (a unique display of hundreds of different flowering plants endemic to this region) and is protected as a World Heritage Site as a result. Mountain wildlife includes many smaller creatures like mongoose and lizards along with a whole array of brightly coloured birds. All the larger mammals have been eradicated from the area – so if you see a lion up there; think yourself very lucky!
If you are there for the whole World Cup - you could see them all!
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