South Africa

South Africa Honorable Mentions
Addo Elephant National Park
This coastal enclave draws over 100,000 tourists per year. It has more than its 450 elephants, but that's the partial story. You'll also see the rest of the Big 5 (lions, leopards, rhinos, and cape buffaloes) and even great white sharks.

Augrabies Falls National Park
The water of the Orange River rushes through a deep, 18-kilometer (11-mile) long gorge in the form of roaring cascades and rapids - and a dramatic 60 meter (200 foot) high waterfall. Avoid the dry season or you'll miss the Augrabies Falls' spectacle.

Durban
It's the favorite fun-in-the-sun vacation destination for many South Africans. Climate is sub-tropical. The beaches draw sunbathers and water-sporters. And the beachfront nightlife pulsates.  Note: Summer is the rainy, winter the dry season.

Garden Route
This narrow coastal belt on the Indian Ocean heavily draws tourists and vacationers. The Garden Route has scenic mountains and lakes plus rugged shorelines and sandy beaches. Inland activities include hiking, cave visiting, and ostrich-farm touring.

Golden Gate Highlands NP
This national park has striking cliffs and other sandstone formations that were boldly sculpted by rain and wind. The Golden Gate name was inspired by the gold-yellow hues reflected by the Brandwag and other rock formations. Animal inhabitants include elands and zebras.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park
This conservation entity boasts a variety of eco-systems, including swamp, forest, savannah, beach, lake, bay, and coral reef. Lodges offer both land drives and water excursions. iSimangaliso means "a marvel" in Zulu.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
South Africa's Kalahari Gemsbok NP and Botswana's Gemsbok NP share an international border that roaming wildlife doesn't recognize. It made sense for the two countries to link the two parks into a transfrontier park so they could jointly help conserve the lion, springbok and other game populations in this dry habitat

Madikwe Game Reserve
It borders Botswana and has all the Big 5 game animals. Like Phinda, game was relocated here and local tribes benefited because safari lodges generate income. The terrain is mostly open grass and bush lands, with a modest amount of trees and rock outcroppings.

South Africa Facts & Tidbits
Wildflowers
South Africa is known around the globe for its colorful, eye-catching wildflowers.

Country size
The nation is larger than England, France, and Germany combined.

Bordering countries
South Africa borders six countries: Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. It completely surrounds the last.

Languages
There are 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Zwazi, and Zulu.

Population
South Africa has 44 million people. Racially, 79% are black, 10% are white, 9% are colored, and 2% either Indian or Asian.

Air travel
Many major international air carriers (including South African Airways) have direct or nonstop flights from major world cities to Johannesburg. Once there, South Africa is well-served by national and regional airlines.

Road travel
You drive on the left side of the street, British style. The major roads are laudable. Some are modern expressways where the official speed limits are usually 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour.

Drinking water
Tap water is safe to drink in nearly all South African urban areas. In some locales, excessive sodium and other natural minerals give water an unwanted off-taste. Fortunately, bottled water is widely available.

Government branches
Strange as it may seem, the three main branches are situated in three different cities:

• Executive = Pretoria
  
• Legislative = Cape Town
• Judicial = Bloemfontein