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42 REASONS TO VISIT SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa

Of course there are thousands of reasons to visit our beautiful country. But, like the Guide says: The ultimate answer is always 42. So here are 42 carefully selected enticements... along with helpful links to pique your interest and keep you from getting lost in cyberspace.

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Warm and welcoming African hospitality

A world in one country: South Africa offers you more to see and do across widely varying landscapes, introducing you to more than 20 ethnically diverse communities and customs

Never to be forgotten holiday memories

Cape Town: the most popular tourist destination in South Africa often regarded as one of the world's most beautiful cities because of its geographical location at the foot of Africa

Absolutely untamed Kruger National Park: the largest game reserve in South Africa it covers 18,989 square km (extending 350km from north to south and 60km from east to west) and is home to over 517 bird species and 147 mammals http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/

Sweet, fresh, pure air to blow away the cobwebs and make you feel younger than springtime

Famous Garden Route: an ideal motoring or train trip (including towns such as Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley) showcasing dramatic gorges, windswept beaches, rocky headlands and deep tangled forests

Relaxed lifestyle: park your shirt & tie, or stow your high-heels & constricting corsetry as you slip into laid back African time

Table Mountain: enjoy 380º views in either of two modern cable-cars as you travel in style to the top of this favourite Cape Town icon http://tablemountain.net/

10.

The Blue Train: of course, as everyone knows, the answer to living lies in making life flash before your eyes... but if you prefer to have scenery flashing past your window while you sit back in extreme comfort then this dedicated five star luxury passenger train offers you a “window to the soul of Africa” http://www.bluetrain.co.za/

11.

New friendships: whether you visit with a galaxy-full of fellow travellers, a two-headed ex-hippie, a three-armed android or a totally out to lunch mother-in-law you’ll find South Africans make wonderful friends and pretty good acquaintances too

12.

Wide open spaces without any signs of human habitation, no crush, no crowds

13.

Year round golf: some of the most exciting courses in the world can be found in South Africa’s golfing hub at George on the Garden Route, these include George Golf Club, Kingswood Golf Estate, Mossel Bay Golf Club, Pezula Championship Golf Course, and Plettenberg Bay Country Club

14.

‘Home-grown’ wines from the Cape Winelands including the vineyards of Groote Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Robertson and Wellington and many others

15.

African culture: a visual feast of tribal dress, traditional food, ritual dances, local music, and a night or two in authentic African dwellings are just a few of the experiences that await you

16.

Best beaches in the world: the four famous Clifton beaches along with those of Camps Bay, Llandudno and Hout Bay are at the base of Table Mountain. A towel certainly is about the most massively useful thing you’ll need when you spend time on these posh beaches with their bracing water, trendy cafes, and gleaming white sands

17.

Blue skies for almost 300 days of year

18.

Excellent eateries: restaurants, bistros, street vendors and cafés throughout South Africa offer you some of the finest food, wines and dining experiences you’ll have anywhere in this galaxy... especially if all you have to fall back on are a few sandwich-making skills

19.

Dusi Canoe Marathon: The Hansa Powerade Dusi is an epic event that attracts entrants from across the globe. It usually kicks off South Africa’s sporting calendar in January and often ends with tales of excitement, bravado, courage, and humour...and that’s just from spectators!

20.

Boerewors (farmer's sausage): you may be able to buy this traditionally South African sausage elsewhere in the world, but to eat it here, under sunny skies, with the sizzle of the braai as background music is a gourmet eating experience that’s hard to beat

21.

Scenic wonders: South Africa’s natural beauty is legendary and our mountains, forests, coasts, plains and deserts are a feast for the eye and a lift to the spirit the likes of which you’ve never experienced

22.

World class accommodation: whether you opt for Afro-chic, Euro-centric or Afri-tribal you’ll find loads of great accommodation to suite your taste... and pocket

23.

Techno-modern: with us you’ll enjoy the very best in technology from great Internet capability and Web browsing to all the mod cons of online banking, bargaining and booking... and all major credit cards are accepted from VISA and MasterCard to Amex and Diners

24.

Indaba: South Africa is a land of conferencing, meetings, workshops and more, offering delegates unusual and uniquely African venues conducive to stimulating new ideas and encouraging business growth

25.

Adrenalin rush: and if you’re powered by irrational behaviour then you’ll find over 130 challenges to suit your own particular brand of madness from bungee jumping, hang-gliding, white-river rafting, shark cage-diving, hot air ballooning and dining with crocodiles!

26.

South Atlantic Yacht Race: formerly known as the Cape to Rio this important event is held every year in early January and the Royal Cape Yacht Club (Cape Town) is always a hive of activity as crews prepare for the start of this epic event http://www.southatlanticrace.co.za/

27.

Diversity: another world, another day, another dawn... go almost anywhere in South Africa and you’ll experience the ultimate in holiday-happiness – nature, wildlife, culture, adventure, heritage and good, good vibes

28.

History brought to life: discover a nation’s struggle for freedom by following in the footsteps of South Africa’s revolutionaries from the early Trek Boers to modern day heroes and heroines such as Albert Luthuli, Ellen Kuzwayo, Braam Fischer, Ruth First, Oliver Tambo, Helen Zille, Nelson Mandela, Albie Sachs and many others.

29.

Green tourism: in this beautiful country you can travel footloose and fancy-free by taking care to leave only footsteps in our protected areas, contributing to social and conservation projects, buying recycled art and saving water

30.

2010 FIFA World Cup: South Africa is host to this the most popular sporting event in the world and you can be a part of it all... with a seat in the stands and your own vuvuzela http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/

31.

Biltong: this “cured” meat strip is one of the tastiest dishes to originate in South Africa – meat used includes beef, game and ostrich – and is traditionally eaten with a beer in one hand and a stuk of biltong in the other

32.

Easy accessibility: with the increase of local and international flights and visits by some of the world’s favourite cruise ships to our ports travel to South Africa is easier than ever before

33.

Clear communications: with over 11 official languages to choose from, including English, you’re sure to fit right in... order meals, ask directions, get help or make new friends

34.

Amazing biodiversity: although South Africa has less than 1% of the world's land surface it has 6% of the world's known mammal and reptile species and 10% of the world's plant, fish, and bird species

35.

Comrades marathon: the greatest ultra marathon in the world attracts athletes from all over to pit muscle, sinew and mental strength against 90km of tarmac between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban http://www.comrades.com/default.aspx

36.

Cape floral kingdom: a botanists paradise we are the only country in the whole world with our very own floral kingdom comprising 9,600 plant species, 70% of which are unique to the Western Cape region

37.

Penguins: the Jackass Penguin is endemic to South Africa and large colonies of them thrive just outside Cape Town with great viewing sites of these waddling wonders at Boulders Beach in Simonstown

38.

Democracy in action: thanks to Nelson Mandela and the policy of negotiation entrenched by the ANC founding fathers you can experience the luxury of a burgeoning democracy and its hope for a better future for all South Africans

39.

Robben Island: just a few kilometres out to sea from Cape Town lies the infamous island that was ‘home’ to Nelson Mandela and many other revolutionaries and where today tours are led in eerie stillness by former prison inmates http://www.robben-island.org.za/

40.

Great climate: in general South Africa is a sunny country, Cape Town, in the Western Cape, has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The interior is generally temperate and the northeast region (Johannesburg and Kruger National Park) has sun-drenched, hazy summers http://www.weathersa.co.za/

41.

Sports & leisure: our weather is perfect for outdoor sport enthusiasts... hiking can be enjoyed all year round as can running, climbing, trail-riding, picnics, etc

42.

Safaris: nowhere else in the world can you experience the great outdoors and the predatory thrill that you get on a visit to the South African bush, plenty of reputable tour operators offer Safaris that will put oxygen into your lungs and a fire in your blood.

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