South Africa Favorites

 
by CatherineReichardt
 
  •   Favorites
    by CatherineReichardt
  • Wawes
      Wawes
    by csordila
  • Storms, driving rain
      Storms, driving rain
    by csordila
  • Addo Park
      Addo Park
    by canuck68
  • Map of the Camdeboo National Park
      Map of the Camdeboo National Park
    by Camdeboo
 

Most Viewed Favorites in South Africa

101.

Beaches   Cape Town

Beaches, Cape Town

 27 Reviews  Fishoek is a small little town on False Bay and is also on the way to Simon's Town and Boulders Beach. It doesnt seem like there is much happening in this beautiful spot other than people Fishing or... 

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102.

wildlife   Kruger National Park

wildlife, Kruger National Park

 52 Reviews  To help you spot more animals try looking for what should NOT be there. For example, is that solitary dark tuft of grass in the distance really a tuft of grass or a lion lying low? Is that grey object... 

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103.

Cape Point   Cape Town

Cape Point, Cape Town

 20 Reviews  This one day trip around the Cape Peninsula was the best day of our visit to Cape Town. We are grateful to our wonderful guide and great companion for the day - a VT member Mariana known as Mvtouring.... 

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104.

facts   Kruger National Park

facts, Kruger National Park

 9 Reviews  People who travel over borders via KNP will require to overnight in the park, not just drive through, proof of overnight stay will be required at borders.Please check with KNP or on their website for... 

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105.

Table Mountain   Cape Town

Table Mountain, Cape Town

 27 Reviews  The decision was made: we are walking down. Today I am not sure if it was the right thing to do - we didn't know the way, we had no map or guide, we had no idea what to expect. By the way, one... 

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106.

landscape   Kruger National Park

landscape, Kruger National Park

 9 Reviews  An advantage of game viewing in October, at the end of the dry winter season, is that the waterholes and rivers are all parched. This has the effect of bunching the game up for much easier viewing.... 

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107.

Tours   Cape Town

Tours, Cape Town

 10 Reviews  It's not often that you need a tour guide in cities that you know well, but on my last trip to Cape Town, I came across Allan Korsman of Blue Monkey Tours, who lead the tour that I joined at Groote... 

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108.

history   Kruger National Park

history, Kruger National Park

 3 Reviews  The Kruger National Park itself has been in existence since 1926, effectively, in its present form. It is virtually unrivalled in species diversity (both animal and plant), and is a world leader in... 

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109.

V & A Waterfront   Cape Town

V & A Waterfront, Cape Town

 11 Reviews   There are several good spots to go shopping. Whether you choose to stroll through a fleamarket or around a modern department store, there are many possibilities to satisfy your need. The Victoria... 

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110.

Wine Route / Stellenbosch   Cape Town

Wine Route / Stellenbosch, Cape Town

 5 Reviews  Unique landscapes - wine tasting - mountains - nice people - black or white! Different generations ! Democracy is the objective - they will get their target !! What are you looking for !! This is SA !... 

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111.

Kirstenbosch Gardens   Cape Town

Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town

 10 Reviews  One of the spectacular features of Kirstenbosch Garden is its location. Cape Town's Table Top Mountain creates a magnificent background for the beautiful garden of colorful flowers. Hikers can... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

What's in a name?

by Jenniflower

The official name of South Africa is the Republic of South Africa. It changed from the Union of South Africa on 31 May, 1961. Many people wrongly think Johannesburg is the capital, but Pretoria is the administrative capital, Cape Town the legislative capital and Bloemfontein the judicial capital. Locals call: Egoli - City of Gold (Johannesburg), the Mother City - (Cape Town), Jacaranda City - (Pretoria), the Windy City - (Port Elizabeth) and the Diamond City - (Kimberley).

This is what life is about.

by Jenniflower

There is not one favourite thing re South Africa that I love. There are far too many to mention! When you visit it you will see what I mean! I miss the people, the animals and the land. I miss the earthiness and the salt-of-the-earth people that live in South Africa.

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Peri peri anyone?

by Jenniflower

The Portuguese - who were the first to discover South Africa - added peri-peri and fish dishes to the culinary heritage in South Africa. Small communities of Chinese, Italians and Greeks have all contributed new flavours to South Africa's cuisine. This makes for a rather flavourful and enjoyable culinary heritage! :)

Afrikaner hospitality

by Jenniflower

Afrikaner hospitality, especially in more rural areas, is legendary. The home-cooked meal one would eat would be substantial, and one of the best-loved social traditions is the braai, a standard barbeque featuring well marinated meats (lamb, beef, ribs, chicken, and of course, boerewors), potatoes and other vegetables.

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Mealie pap!

by Jenniflower

Typically, the black people of South Africa enjoy pap (maize porridge), together with a large portion of red meat, and a tomato and onion sauce. Not huge on fruit and veges generally, but enjoying their 'nyama' (meat) and pap!

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Boerewors - yum yum!

by Jenniflower

'Boeries', as boerewors (farmer's sausage) is affectionately known by locals, is staple fare in South Africa. It is wholesome and delicious and, above all, it tastes like nothing else on this planet! Okay, some people like their boerewors this raw, but I dont, most people don't. This is what it looks like though... it is ever so yummy, especially on a fresh roll with some Mrs Balls Chutney on top.. Mmmmm :)

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Traditional South African dishes

by Jenniflower

South African food is mostly of the highest quality. Meat, fruit and shellfish such as crayfish (rock lobster) and perlemoen (abelone) are found in the finest restaurants, as well as on the tables of homes.The earliest South Africans were mainly hunter-gatherers. The dishes resulting from this mainly used maize, sweet potato, gem squash and other veges. Dutch & English influences have created one-pot stews and sausages such as bobotjie (spicey meat loaf) and potjiekos, a never-ending stew made on a three-legged iron pot. My husband is known affectionately as 'the potjiekos king' as his meals are well known amongst our friends, and much loved. They take hours and hours to do... but are so worth it!Koeksisters, pap (maize porridge), sosaties (kebabs), vetkoek (fat cake) are other well known meals. A popular snack is biltong or droe wors (dried meat with added spices for flavour). My...

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The America of Africa!

by Jenniflower

Many people call South Africa 'The America of Africa'. It represents only a small 3% of the continent's total surface area, yet it accounts for 40% of all African industrial output, (Johannesburg 'Gauteng' accounting for 60% of South Africa's 40%).Major trading partners are the EU, Japan and the US. Major exports are diamonds, gold, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment. Major imports are chemicals, machinery, foodstuffs and equipment, petroleum products, and scientific instruments.

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Weather patterns vary across the country

by Jenniflower

Weather patterns vary across South Africa. Most of the country has warm, sunny days and cool nights, rather moderate temperatures. Climatic conditions across the country range from: Mediterranean in the south-west, temperate in the interior sections, and then subtropical in the northeast. Temperatures are influenced by a variety of conditions: variations in elevation, terrain, and ocean currents. The cold Benguela current flows north along the Atlantic Ocean coastline in the west, and the warm Agulhas ocean current flows south along the Indian Ocean coastline in the east. South Africa is considered a dry country, with an average annual rainfall of only 502 mm (20 inches) a year, compared with a world average of 857 mm (34 inches). The electric storms and days of neverending sunshine...

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Mountain ranges in South Africa

by Jenniflower

South Africa has various mountain ranges, some less significant than others, the largest and most world renowned being the Drakensberg Mountains. This range dominates the southern and eastern border of the Highveld. The highest peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal exceed 3,300 meters and are even higher in Lesotho, which is known as the 'Mountain Kingdom'.The north to south Cape Ranges include the Witsenberg Mountains, the Cedarberg Mountains, and the Great Winterhoek Mountains. Their peaks are close to 2,000 meters high. The Cape Ranges have the country's only 'fold mountains', formed by the natural folding of the continental crust. The east to west ranges include the Langeberg Mountains and Swartberg Mountains. Their peaks exceed 2,200 meters! The Strypoortberg and Waterberg mountain ranges form the southern edge of the Limpopo River Valley in the Northern Province.

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Top 3 Hotels in South Africa

The Table Bay Hotel  Cape Town

 9 Reviews and 344 Opinions  One of the more expensive options, but if you can afford it then go for it. The location is great,... 

 Hotels in Cape Town

The Westcliff Hotel  Johannesburg

 5 Reviews and 198 Opinions  Being a local, I have never stayed here (and probably couldn't afford to!) - having visited business... 

 Hotels in Johannesburg

Skukuza Restcamp - Kruger National Park  Kruger National Park

 8 Reviews and 99 Opinions  This is the largest camp on the banks of the Sabie river, it is also the administrative centre of... 

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Questions and Answers

guillerminamc profile photo

Q:  Hi all, im travelling to South Africa and Malarone is not sold in Argentina, so I should buy it when I get to South Africa. Do you... 

Gerald_D profile photo

A: You will need a prescription from a South Africa registered doctor. 

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