South Africa

A vibrant city, Cape Town attracts most number of visitors compared to any place in Africa. Its natural setting and cosmopolitan culture perfectly complements the Mediterranean climate. The Table Mountain promises excellent panoramic views of the city and the ocean, even as the Robben Island presents its turbulent history. Add to all this some fine tasting wines to go with quiet dinners, and you get a perfect getaway.

Durban is home to the Drakensberg region with an elevation of 2000-3400meters. The city is also home to the Zulus. the KwaZulu Natal battlefields are a great highlight of the region. The district of Glenwood is popular for vibrant street art and contemporary art galleries.

An hour away from Cape Town is the beautiful Wineland region of South Africa. An acclaimed food and drink hub, the three areas – of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch (South Africa’s second oldest European settlement) and Paarl are well worth the visit. Cycling between vineyards is a popular activity here even as the Wine Tram presents a unique hop on-hop off experience. Tasting biltong (dried cured meat) and koeksisters (sweet pastry) are the must do things for food indulgence.

No trip to South Africa will be complete without going to the one of the largest game parks in the world at nearly 20,000 sq. km. The oldest in Africa, Kruger is one of the few places on earth where the ‘Big Five’ can be seen, and is thus the toast of all wildlife game safirs. The range of habitats (about 16) that differ one from another and the sheer diversity of species of animals (147), birds (507) and trees (336) make this the most desirable safari experience of a lifetime.

When on the Garden Route, Plettenberg Bay is towards the east, spreading across the hills and overlooks the bay. The town with steep cliffs and rocky shores is a great place to indulge in seafood

The forests around Knysna remind one of the yesteryear wood industry that supplied wood for constructing railway tracks in the 19th Century. That legacy is taken forward today by a number of woodwork shops that produce handcrafted furniture. Knysna is outdoorsy thanks to its location between forests and water – a boat ride on the lagoon created by waters of five rivers and the Indian Ocean promises great views. The Featherbed Nature Reserve offers a chance to take a guided trail to sea caves and see the indigenous ‘khoikhoi’ people and also trace the elusive Knysna Turaco or the green-blue bird with its tall crest.