The great white shark can be found off the coast, near Cape Town and Durban and has made these cold waters its home. A dive, protected by a cage, and a terrifying face-to-face encounter, has become an essential part of tourism in South Africa. Come and discover this unique experience that makes the bravest and most fearless tremble at the knees.
With its dozens of private reserves and its famous Kruger National Park, a trip to South Africa is the chance of a lifetime to get close to the wildlife of the African savanna. You can come by car or on foot with a ranger and prepare to be amazed by seeing wild animals close up. You can see them all in South Africa, from the huge hippopotamus to the tiny chameleon, from the giraffe and the zebra to the iconic springbok, not forgetting the Big 5 - the elephant, the buffalo, the rhinoceros, the elusive leopard, and the lion king. Photograph them all.
1,000 km of coastline, vast plains, deep canyons, and high mountains... the landscapes of South Africa will take your breath away. The nearly 200 km of the Drakensberg chain offer the most beautiful views in the country. Just to the north, the mountains of Mpumalanga are just as amazing. The viewing points on the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels are phenomenal.
Langa or Khayelitsha in Cape Town, Alexandra or Soweto in Johannesburg, every city has its townships, like other cities have suburbia. Millions of people live in them, often in terrible conditions. However, you need to see at least one of them from the inside. You can take a guide and see how people live their everyday lives in these sometimes dreadful shanty towns and also see places of historical significance, unequalled solidarity, and an energy that can make the impossible possible. A priceless lesson in life.
Cape Town sits like a jewel in the surrounding landscape. Enclosed on one side by the superb Table Mountain and by the ocean on the other, the city gives off a wonderful feeling of being at the ends of the earth. Cape Town attracts all kinds of tourists with unrivalled cultural riches. Those looking for a relaxed backpacker vibe, head for Long Street. Culture vultures wandering around the museum exhibitions. One thing is certain, there is something to please everyone in the most beautiful city in South Africa. Some people think it's too European, too American, not African enough, but it's just a reflection of the country itself, beautiful and modern.
Right down south, at the very end, at the base of the continent of Africa, there is a country - South Africa. And right down south, at the very end, at the base of South Africa, is the Cape of Good Hope. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's the point where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Superb scenery and an indescribably unique sensation of being at the ends of the earth.
If you’re interested in contemporary history, trekking through fabulous scenery, observing wildlife, such as whales, sharks and the Big 5, then South Africa is your ideal destination. Even more so, because the tourist infrastructure is excellent and just as good as in Europe or Australia, for example. On the downside, a trip to South Africa shows you that the country has lost its authenticity and will be lacking that certain something sought by travellers in search of darkest Africa.
Top places to discover.
Telephone prefix: +27
You can get internet access in city hotels and guest houses and in some bars and restaurants.
South African High Commission in London.
South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DP
southafrica.info/travel
British High Commission in Pretoria
255 Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, Pretoria 0028
Tel: +27 12 421 7500
gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-high-commission-pretoria