With Inputs by Ms. Hanneli Slabber, India Country Head – South African Tourism.
With a blend of delicious food, a rich culture, serene beaches, exotic wildlife, exciting adventure activities and natural beauty you can set off on any expedition discovering the diverse hues of this beautiful rainbow nation. In South Africa, enjoy the outdoors, indulge in some sightseeing, go on an adventure or take advantage of the nearly 3000km coastline—making it the perfect getaway for all types of travelers. It’s not just the metro cities of South Africa, but also surrounding towns which have a treasure trove of experiences to offer tourists, all within a small radius.
This is why you should put South Africa on you travel list this year –
1. Scenic beauty in all forms –
South Africa’s scenic wonders are legendary. From the Table Mountain to God’s Window, its mountains, forests, coasts and even the deserts offer dramatic views and landscapes. Moreover you can truly appreciate nature as you immerse yourself in the great outdoors over adrenaline-pumped experiences and scenic beauty.
South Africa, a land of scenic beauty.
Of course, most people continue to come to South Africa with safari as their main agenda. This is also the best time to visit Kruger National Park and other wildlife reserves because with dry weather its much easier to spot wildlife as they congregate on the banks of rivers and other sources of water.
Family Safari at Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa.
2. Adventure –
With over 130 adventures and counting, South Africa is undoubtedly the adventure capital of the world. There is something for everyone, right from mountain walks to shark cage-diving to the Big Rush Big Swing.
Shark Cage Diving for the adventure junkies.
Not your average swing, the aptly named Big Swing allows you to take the thrilling leap swinging out into a massive 220m arc where you soar into the centre of the stadium. It has been officially named the world’s tallest swing by the Guinness Book of Records since May 2011. South Africa also has the highest commercial bridge bungee jump in the world at the Bloukrans Bridge which has a 216 meter gorge below. It is one of the ultimate activities to feature on any adrenaline seeker’s bucket list while visiting South Africa.
3. Immersive, multi-faceted holidays –
Indian travelers continue to value destinations and packages that offer bang for the buck. And, South Africa offers them just that! No matter where one chooses to go in South Africa, you will be sure to experience the ultimate combination of nature, wildlife, culture, adventure, heritage and vibe.
For example, if you are visiting Cape Town – you can consider splitting your time between the main city and the scenic surroundings that also offer unique experiences. In Cape Town, you can explore iconic sites such as Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Cape Peninsula.
Cape Peninsula.
A 32-min drive from Cape Town will take you to Boulders Beach where countless African penguins wait to greet them. This penguin colony is no less than a star attraction and welcomes close to 60,000 visitors a year!
African penguins, Boulders Beach.
4. An exotic, delicious cuisine –
South African cuisine is a unique fusion of many different external cultural influences. These include Dutch, French, Indian and Malaysian flavours and techniques that continue to make their way onto the menus of restaurants and into the homes of locals all over the country.
Roasted vegetables on grilled bread.
Indian vegetarians might be the best known in the travel circuit but India has a large number of meat-lovers too and can really indulge while in South Africa. They have a wide variety of meats to choose from: not just beef, mutton and pork but also ostrich, kudu, crocodile and springbok.
South Africa also offers a range of appetising vegetarian food options such as veg bobotie (a national dish of South Africa, which is a delicious mixture of curried vegetables, spices, fruits and nuts with a creamy golden topping, that add to its complex flavor), pampoenkoekie(light, fluffy and literally melt in your mouth pumpkin fritters) and pap tart (Pap, also known as mieliepap, is the Afrikaans word for porridge, typically prepared with corn-maize). Nearly every local South African dish, whether it is Bunny Chow or the traditional braai, has a vegetarian adaption/variation to it.
Veg Bunny Chow.
So what are you waiting for? Plan your trip to South Africa now!
For more info visit – http://country.southafrica.net/country/in/en
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