Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Best Locations to Travel in South Africa

By Annette Hendley

Cruising on a boat at sunset while sipping champagne or driving down a winding road while majestic mountains protect the massive waves caressing the cliffs are all things witnessed and experienced when you arrive in the Southern most point of South Africa. The best places you won't want to miss are Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Hermanus.

Some history, magical forests and a lonely roaming elephant will lead you to the fairytale Garden Route area in the Southern parts of South Africa. Spend some quality time in Mossel Bay and learn the tale of Bartholomew Dias and his travels through the stormy weathers of the Cape. Try and find the last elephant in the Knysna forest and visit the ostriches in Oudtshoorn.

A wide open desert in Nambia holds all who peer upon her captivated with the silence of her vast desert. In Sossusvle, visitors can expect to see the world's highest sand dunes and in the Dead Vlei, the skeletons of ancient Camel trees silhouette the orange blanketed beauty of the majestic sand dunes. Everyone should partake in a relaxing drive in Swakopmund. There, the beauty of the protective sand dunes will guide you to paradise.

Somewhere in the middle of Africa is a waterfall that beckons with its massive veil of water tumbling into a gorge since the beginning of time. Fly to Livingstone in Zambia and make your way to the Victoria Waterfalls for a lifetime experience.

While in Zambia pop across the border to Botswana and see more elephants in the Chobe National Park than you could have imagined existed. Experience the real Africa on a boat cruising the Chobe River with the afternoon sun on your skin and know you can stay forever.

The Indian Ocean offers up its idea of paradise with its tranquil tropical islands, White beaches, colorful sea creatures and warm, calm waters await to greet you. A stop in Mauritius is also warranted as well as diving and snorkeling at Portuguese Island where visitors can learn about the Sultans in Zanzibar. For more local flavor, don't forget to make a stop in Inhaca.

The Big Five and the most impressive and dangerous of the Animal Kingdom awaits you at the famous Kruger National Park. A slow drive along the narrow dust roads will introduce you to lion hunting, an elephant at a waterhole or a hippo sleeping in the water.

Kruger National Park offers many, many splendors to its visitors. In addition, tourists can witness panoramic views, potholes carved throughout the ages and canyons that stretch till the end of time by visiting Graskop, Sabie and Pilgrims Rest.

Art lovers are sure to be in heaven with a visit to the little Town of Clarens in the Free State Province of South Africa. There, a feast of Africa's best artists will captivate you as you lazily explore all it has to offer while sipping wine from a farm in Stellenbosch.

Serious diving and fishing should be done in Mozambique on the East Coast of Africa. With the same warm water, coral reefs and unspoiled white beaches it is the poor mans island holiday.

Take in these beautiful wonders of nature and then return to experience the rest.

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