A Map of South Africa

Situated at the southernmost tip of the African continent, the Republic of South Africa covers an area of 1 233 404 square kilometres, nearly five times the size of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland, and contains the landlocked country of Lesotho within its borders. It stretches almost 2 000 km from the Limpopo River in the north to Cape Agulhas, the most southerly tip of Africa, and approximately 1 500 km from Port Nolloth in the west to Durban in the east.  The scenery is spectacular and diverse, varying from mountains, rivers, grassy plains, lakes, lagoons and endless coastlines to sun-scorched semi-deserts. South Africa is divided into nine provinces – Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North-West, Free State, Kwazulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape.

A Brief History 
Khoi-San tribes of nomadic hunters, gatherers and pastoralists had lived in southern Africa for around 40 000 years by the time pastoral tribes began to settle there in the 15th century.  The Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, opened the Cape of Good Hope spice route in 1498, and by the late 17th-century Dutch traders under their leader Van Riebeeck had established a permanent settlement on the site of present-day Cape Town.  Gradually the European settlers moved into the hinterland, clashing with the Khoi-San as they did so.  Then towards the end of the 18th century Dutch power faded and Britain occupied the Cape.  In the interior of the country, the Zulu chief, Shaka, was leading a campaign that destroyed some tribes and enslaved others.  The Boers, on their Great Trek away from British rule in the 1830s, fought against these indigenous people for pastoral land, and in due course they founded their two republics, the Transvaal and Orange Free State.  A great economic boost to the region was the discovery of diamonds near present-day Kimberley in 1868/9, followed by the discovery of gold on the Rand, where Johannesburg was to be established, in 1886.  These finds had enormous political repercussions.  They triggered clashes between the Boers and the British that culminated in the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1899 – 1902.  The Boer's defeat was followed eight years later by the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910.

In the general election of 1948 the Afrikaner-dominated, right-wing National Party came into power, and the separation of White and Black races – apartheid – was given strict statutory form.  Blacks were allocated “Homelands” that had virtually no infrastructure and were incapable of producing sufficient food for the population.  Black resistance developed in the form of strikes, acts of public disobedience and protest marches, and many leaders, including Nelson Mandela, were jailed.  In 1961 South Africa became a Republic, withdrawing from the British Commonwealth.  As the last European colonial powers left Africa and socialist states formed on South Africa's northern borders, the National Party regime responded by participating in lengthy wars in Angola, Namibia and Mozambique.

Within South Africa's borders, violent Government response to black protests served only to strengthen the revolutionary struggle.  The United Nations imposed economic and political sanctions that gradually took their toll.  Finally under the presidency of F. W. de Klerk in the early 1990s most apartheid legislation was lifted, many political prisoners were released and negotiations began to form a non-racial government.  Democratic elections in 1994 resulted in a decisive victory for the ANC, Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first democratically elected president, and South Africa soon rejoined the British Commonwealth.  The country's second democratic elections were held in June 1999.  This was the stage at which Nelson Mandela had planned to retire; he did so, and was succeeded as president by his deputy, Thabo Mbeki. 

The population of South Africa is in excess of 44 million, with over a third of the population living in the four high population areas of Johannesburg/ Pretoria/Vereeniging in Gauteng, Durban/ Pinetown/ Pietermaritzburg in Kwazulu-Natal, the Greater Cape Town area and the Port Elizabeth/Uitenhage area in the Eastern Cape.  South Africa is home to a wide variety of people with many different cultural, ancestoral and religious backgrounds.  For this reason, the country is affectionately referred to as “The Rainbow Nation”.  The major religions are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism together with traditional African religions.

South Africa has 11 official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.  English, accepted as the business language, is spoken by most South Africans.  French, German and Italian are also spoken in most of the larger hotels.  South Africa is a multi-cultural society, coloured by a rich history.  The first democratic elections in 1994 and the subsequent readmittance of the country onto the world stage have revitalised the arts in South Africa.  South Africa's architecture is diverse.  Buildings range from beautiful Cape Dutch homesteads, and Georgian and Victorian homes in the English style, to traditional Sotho and Ndebele mud huts with their distinctive, colourful geometric designs, and unique Zulu grass huts.  Art in South Africa includes Khoi-San rock paintings that date from centuries ago and are well preserved at various sights around the country.  Traditional crafts, such as beadwork, pottery and weaving, have been handed down from generation to generation.  Samples are widely available at craft markets.  Museums and galleries display exhibitions that reflect a wide diversity of South African art.  Theatres, including the State Theatre in Pretoria, the Playhouse in Durban, the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town and the Sand du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein, stage various productions, including contemporary domestic plays, classical productions, concerts, opera and ballet.  South African popular music reveals a unique mixture of African, Asian and European influences.  Marabi (township jazz) is a product of the urban settlements that are a feature of South African cities.  Its distinctive sounds can be heard in the music of Hugh Masekela, the African Jazz Pioneers, Abdullah Ibrahim, Miriam Makeba and others.  South African dance reflects a close relationship with nature.  Performing outdoors, the participants are in close contact with the spirits of their ancestors and with the Deity.  Dancing is a social gathering in which observers, dancers and musicians all take part. 

South Africa has a growing number of important festivals that take place annually. They include: the International Eisteddfod of South Africa, the Standard Bank National Arts Festival held in Grahamstown, the Wits Arts and Culture Festival, the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre festival in Stellenbosch, the National Creative Arts Youth Festival and the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival in Oudsthoorn.  Museums throughout the country cover topics ranging from natural history, archaeology, geology, history and art to mining and agriculture.  Most of the larger museums are situated in the major cities.  Traditional South African food is diverse with eating patterns drawn from many parts of the world.  The Western Cape has excellent seafood, while its Malay cuisine includes fragrant bredies (stews) and boboties.  The West Coast offers a range of seafood including mussels, crayfish, calamari and bokoms (dried fish); often one can eat outdoors.  Other Cape foods are venison, Karoo lamb and waterblommetjies.  Curries and breyani can be enjoyed in Kwazulu-Natal.  Two of the best-loved South African eating traditions are the “braai” (barbecue) and the traditional “potjie” (stews cooked in a large pot over an open flame).

The topography of the country and the cold Benguela current of the west coast and the warm Mozambique current of the east coast have a moderating effect on the climate, which varies widely.  Despite regional differences, the winters are predominantly mild and snow is limited to the high mountain peaks.  The mean annual rainfall is just over 500 mm but rain is very unevenly spread through the country.  The Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and a winter rainfall.  On average, Cape temperatures in summer vary between 14°C and 25°C, and in winter from 6°C to 17°C.  The Cape interior, the Free State and Gauteng have hot summers (temperatures regularly exceed 30°C) with afternoon thunder-showers and cold, frosty winters.  KwaZulu-Natal has a subtropical climate with high humidity in the summer months.  Mpumalanga and the Lowveld have mild winters.

The country has a sophisticated telecommunications system. For international calls to South Africa the code is +27 followed by the area code prefix (the first 0 in the area code should not be dialled).  For calls from South Africa the international access code is 09, and international dialling codes can be found in South African telephone directories.  The country is well serviced with coin- and card-operated public telephones.  Most national routes are covered by South Africa's cellular phone networks, and cellular telephones are available for hire at the major airports.  Important telephone numbers: Police Emergency: 10111, Directory Enquiries (International): 0903, Directory Enquiries (Local): 1023, Booked Trunk Calls and Enquiries: 0020, International Booked/ Collect / Reversed Charge Calls: 0900.  The Post Office is open from 08h30 to 16h30 on weekdays and from 08h00 to 12h00 on Saturdays.  An international and domestic Speed Service delivers, door-to-door, within 24 hours, every day between the main centres.

As in most countries of the world, travellers are advised to take the necessary safety precautions.  It is not advisable to walk alone in deserted streets, especially after dark, and only taxis booked through a reputable taxi company should be used.  Visitors should try to avoid attracting unnecessary attention by not carrying bulky camera bags or wearing expensive jewellery.  All valuables should be locked in the hotel's safety deposit box.  Ideally, traveller's cheques or credit cards should be used, to avoid carrying around large amounts of cash.  By exercising reasonable care, visitors can ensure an enjoyable stay in the country.

South Africa's wide range of accommodation establishments includes hotels, private game lodges and reserves, country houses and lodges, guest-houses, bed-and-breakfast establishments and holiday farms.  The Tourism Grading Council has introduced the voluntary National Star Grading Scheme.  Guests can now look for the National Star Grading logo and stars to assure them that an accommodation establishment displaying the new-look stars has been personally visited and assessed by an accredited assessor.  As the assessment process is a continuous process, the most up-to-date listing of graded establishments will be found on the Tourism Grading Council's website, www.tourismgrading.co.za  A National Star Grading indicates to both domestic and international tourists that a graded establishment has a commitment to quality, standards and service.

The currency of the country is the rand (R).  Bank-notes are in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rands.  The international symbol for the currency is ZAR.  All major credit cards are accepted widely throughout the country, except for the purchase of petrol.  Traveller's cheques should be purchased in Sterling, US Dollars or Euros and can be exchanged at any commercial bank or foreign exchange outlet.  Banking hours are Monday – Friday (09h00 – 15h30) and Saturday (08h30 – 11h00). Automatic teller machines (ATM's) are open 24 hours and are located throughout the country.  Commercial services at the major airports are open to accommodate all international flights.  The major foreign exchange outlets are: Rennies Foreign Exchange Phone: 011 407 3211,  Diners Club Phone: 011 358 8400, and American Express Phone: 011 359 0200  Trains and buses operate between the towns and cities, and all the major cities have bus services.  Vehicles are available for hire at all major airports. Visitors must be in possession of a valid international driver's licence.  In general, hired vehicles may not be driven into neighbouring countries.  Large petrol station complexes, with shops and restaurants, are situated along the major tourist routes. Traffic laws are strictly enforced and seat belts must be worn.  The speed-limit is 120 km/h on freeways and 60 km/h in residential areas.  Road maps are available from bookstores, the Automobile Association and tourist information centres.  South Africa has international airports in Johannesburg and Cape Town. 

Rovos Rail  Phone: 012 315 8242  Fax: 012 323 0843  E-mail: reservations@rovos.co.za  Website: www.rovos.com  Rovos Rail's unique safaris allow guests to experience the extravagant elegance of the golden age of rail travel on the most luxurious train in the world.  The beautifully restored trains, consisting of four royal suites and 32 deluxe suites, house a maximum of 72 passengers.  Accommodation is of the highest standard, combining the opulence of pre-war travel with subtle modern innovations.  The variety of routes includes the 13-day Dar Es Salaam sojourn, the two day trip between Cape Town and Pretoria, the 55-hour Game Safari from Pretoria to Durban, the 48-hour meander between Pretoria and the Victoria Falls, the 24-hour route between Cape Town and George, the seven-day Namibian special, the nine-day Collage between Pretoria, Malelane, Durban and Cape Town or the nine-day Golf Safari. 

The Union Limited Steam Railtours Phone: 021 449 4391  Fax: 021 449 4395 

E-mail: steamsa@transnet.co.za Website: www.transnetheritagefoundation.co.za           The Union Limited is Transnet's beautifully restored vintage steam safari train, used for excursions throughout Southern Africa. For the comfort-conscious traveller, The Union Limited is not only a unique way to discover the splendours of South Africa, but also a value-for-money way to enjoy a change of pace, first class accommodation and traditional silver service meals. Guests can relax in comfort and enjoy the experience of travelling along mainlines and branchlines, in a recreation of 1930s period trips. Many of the original fittings have been retained, highlighting the authentic way in which these coaches and locomotives have been restored.  For space and comfort, a maximum of two passengers are booked in a four-berth compartment and only one passenger in a two-berth coupe. 

South African Historic Flight  Phone: 012 651 0200  Fax: 012 651 0198  E-mail: enquirieshistoricflight@transnet.co.za  Website: www.transnetheritagefoundation.co.za             

South African Historic Flight has developed into one of the largest and most diverse vintage operations in the world today, boasting a Junker Ju-52, a Douglas DC-3 Dakota and two of the only passenger-licensed Douglas DC-4 Skymasters in the world.  All of the vintage planes seat passengers in a business class configuration.  From a small beginning with one 50-year old Junker, South African Historic Flight has since been established as a trusted resource to the travel industry, maintaining high operating standards and levels of service.

Sport
South Africa, a country with a rich sporting tradition, is ideal for visitors who are either active participants or avid spectators.  The climate and wide open spaces are conducive to many sporting and outdoor activities.  The country has excellent stadium facilities for soccer, rugby and cricket.  In 1995 South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup, beating New Zealand in a closely fought final, and in 1996 Bafana Bafana, the national soccer team, won the African Cup of Nations in South Africa.  In 2003 the Cricket World Cup was hosted in South Africa.  Cape Town narrowly missed out to Athens in hosting the 2004 Olympic Games, and the country lost out to Germany in hosting the 2006 Soccer World Cup.  In June 2004, South Africa was selected as the host country for the FIFA Soccer World Cup in 2010.  All the popular sports have introduced development programmes to promote sport in underprivileged communities and to redress the imbalances of the past.  These development initiatives are starting to pay dividends, with a number of previously disadvantaged athletes now breaking into the traditionally white dominated sports.  Road running has a long tradition in South Africa.  The two premier road-running events are the Comrades Marathon, a gruelling 89-km event run annually between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, and the scenic Two Oceans marathon in the Cape Peninsula.  Triathlons are becoming more and more popular.  There are many exciting canoe races, including the challenging Berg and Duzi canoe marathons. 

For golfers, South Africa offers a large number of championship courses, and is a popular venue for golfing holidays and tours.  Sun City is home to the Gary Player Country Club, venue of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, as well as The Lost City Golf Course, with its famous "crocodile-pit" 13th hole.  Fancourt, a resort estate on the Garden Route, is a golfing mecca and has three championship courses and a golfing school.  There are beautifully maintained golf-courses throughout the country, with most incorporating the natural habitat to stunning effect, including the Wild Coast Country Club in the Eastern Cape and Sparrebosch, located high up on the Knysna Heads.

VAT at a current rate of 14% is levied on the majority of products in South Africa.  Foreign tourists may claim a VAT refund at their exit point for all purchases which exceed R250,00.  In order to qualify for a refund, visitors require a valid passport, the original tax invoice/till-slips, proof of payment and a VAT 263 form. In order to obtain a refund, all items on which a VAT refund is claimed should be presented to an authorised official for examination on departure from South Africa. Authorised officials are South African customs officials and VAT refund personnel.  The cities and larger towns have numerous shopping malls with department stores and speciality shops.  There are arts and craft markets throughout the country.  South Africa is well known for its gold and diamonds. Jewellery, leather goods, African curios, antiques, ceramics and clothing are among the attractions.  Trading hours are mostly all day Monday – Saturday.  Many shops in the metropolitan areas are open on Sunday, and later in the evenings.  On arriving in the country visitors should enter the green channel at customs if the goods in their possession are within the duty-free customs allowance and are not for commercial purposes, prohibited or restricted.  The duty-free allowances are: 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 g cigarette or pipe tobacco, two litres of wine, one litre of spirits or other alcoholic beverages, 50 ml perfume, 250 ml Eau de Toilette, and gifts, souvenirs and other goods with a value of R500 or less.  Customs charges are payable before leaving the customs hall.  All visitors require a valid passport, and those from certain countries may also require a visa.  Information on visa requirements can be obtained from travel agents, a South African Embassy or trade mission abroad or the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria, Private Bag X114, Pretoria, 0001.  Phone: 012 314 8911.  Fax: 012 314 8516.  Visas are not issued at SA border posts.  Visitors intending to re-enter the country after visiting neighouring countries in Southern Africa should apply for a multiple-entry visa.  Visa extensions may be obtained from the Department of Home Affairs.  No immunisation is required for visitors entering the country other than for those who have left an area infected by yellow fever.  In such cases, visitors will need a valid international yellow-fever vaccination certificate.  Visitors planning to visit areas which may be affected by malaria should check the necessary precautions in advance.  For Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal, a malaria prophylaxis is most advisable.

Southern Africa's Big Five
The term Big Five originated in the hunting jargon for the most dangerous trophy animals to hunt on foot.  The Big Five occur in many of the game reserves in southern Africa.  From a tourism perspective, the whale is often added to this list, forming the tourism “Big Six”, due to the world-class whale-watching opportunities that South Africa has to offer. 

Lions are the largest of the African cats and live in prides of varying sizes controlled by one or more dominant males.  An adult male weighs about 180 kilograms and a female about 135 kilograms.  Lions can live for up to 20 years.  The lion's roar, normally heard at dawn and dusk, can be easily heard within a radius of many kilometres.

The leopard is a shy predator that hunts mainly at night.  Leopards prefer dense riverine areas and craggy hills, which explains why they are not easily spotted.  They hide their prey from other predators in trees and are often seen resting in the branches of trees.  Leopards are by nature wary and stealthy, yet can be incredibly bold.

The rhinoceros is classified as either white or black, although there is no real colour difference between the species.  White rhino are generally larger with a flattened or square mouth and feed on grass.  The name "white" arises from the Dutch word "wid", meaning wide.  Black rhino have a pointed mouth that they use to strip leaves and break twigs.  Rhino weigh up to 1 500 kilograms.  The rhino's horn is formed from matted hair and skin. 

Elephants live in tightly knit family herds, led by the matriarch.  The bulls remain solitary or may join together to form batchelor herds.  A fully grown elephant weighs 6 to 7 tonnes and they are the largest land-based mammals.  When there are young elephants in the herd, the adult female may become very aggressive, and it is advisable to keep a safe distance from the herd.

Buffalo are the most abundant of the Big Five and occur in large herds that can number up to 600 animals.  Deceptively docile, these animals are aggressive and powerful, particularly the older bulls that have been rejected from the herd.  These older bulls form smaller batchelor herds.  When a herd of buffalo is alarmed, the herd tends to stampede.  Buffalo are regularly preyed on by lions.

Conservation and ecotourism
South Africa's wildlife and conservation areas can be classified into two main categories: national or provincial game and nature reserves, and private game reserves.  The larger national or provincial reserves have enclosed rest-camps, comprising thatched rondavels, bungalows or chalets.  Numbers are limited to protect the environment, and reservations should be made well in advance.  All camps close at sunset.  Wilderness walking trails offer a more intimate bush experience.  The private game reserves, open to guests only, offer luxurious accommodation in lodges or tents, with five-star service and cuisine.  Experienced rangers and trackers in open-topped vehicles conduct morning and evening game-drives, allowing guests the opportunity to view the Big Five and other wildlife.

Game-viewing is enjoyable throughout the year; however, the ideal time is from April to September when the bush is sparse.  Visitors have an excellent chance of seeing the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo – as well as cheetah, giraffe, hippopotamus, many types of antelope, and a wealth of bird-life.  South Africa's flora is impressive.  The high concentration of endemic species puts South Africa on a par with the tropical rainforests, such as those of the Amazon Basin, in terms of international significance for conservation.  The flora of the Western Cape, “fynbos”, is one of the six floral kingdoms of the world. 

One of South Africa's major attractions is its wildlife.  Great efforts have been made to conserve this national heritage while at the same time providing the facilities and opportunity to view game in their natural habitat.  South African National Parks (SANParks) manages a system of parks which represents the indigenous fauna, flora, landscapes and associated cultural heritage of the country.  Of the 20 national parks, 14 have overnight tourist facilities, offering an unrivalled variety of accommodation in arid, coastal, mountain and bushveld habitats.  SANParks offers visitors an unparalleled diversity of adventure tourism opportunities including game-viewing, bush walks, canoeing and exposure to cultural and historical experiences.  In addition to the Kruger National Park, national parks have been established throughout the country.  Cape Peninsula is representative of the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of only six floral kingdoms in the world.

The West Coast is home to thousands of migratory birds and wild flowers during spring.  Agulhas, at the southern-most tip of Africa, has over 2 000 indigenous plant species.  Bontebok is a sanctuary for the bontebok and many other antelope species.

The Karoo has a rich diversity and contains many fossils of ancient life forms.  Tankwa is a birder's paradise.  Wilderness comprises lush forests, mountains, rivers and fertile wetlands, while Knysna is home to the endangered Knysna seahorse and a large diversity of marine life.  Tsitsikamma, a place of ancient rivers, forests, deep ravines and reefs teeming with colour and surprises, was the first marine national park in Africa.  Mountain Zebra provides a perfect setting for the Cape mountain zebra, one of the world's rarest large mammals.  Addo Elephant was proclaimed in 1931 when the number of elephants had dwindled to only eleven.  The park now provides sanctuary to over 350 elephants as well as buffalo, black rhino and several species of antelope.  Vaalbos, named after the dominant Camphor Bush, conserves a part of the transitional vegetation zone where typical Karoo Kalahari thornveld and grassveld meet.  The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a result of a vision shared by South Africa and Botswana.  The undulating red dunes, clear blue skies and rich wildlife diversity are a photographer's dream. 

Augrabies contains the 60-metre Augrabies Waterfall.  This powerful flow of water is unleashed from rocky surroundings in the Orange River gorge.  The Richtersveld, a desolate and forbidding landscape, is home to the world's richest desert flora, including the human-like ‘Halfmens' plant.  Every August and September, the Namaqua National Park is transformed into a colourful wonderland, carpeted with wild flowers.  Golden Gate is a highland habitat, providing a perfect home to oribi, black wildebeest, Burchell's zebra, eland and other antelope.  Marakele, in the heart of the Waterberg mountains, is home to several big game species and the world's largest colony of Cape vultures.  The KwaZulu-Natal conservation body, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, operates the Hluhluwe/Imfolozi Park and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site.  For further information, contact SANParks Phone: 012 343 1991  Fax: 012 343 0905  E-mail: reservations@parks-sa.co.za or visit www.parks-sa.co.za

Independent, privately owned game lodges cater for an exclusive number of guests and offer very personalised attention.  Game, including the Big Five, can be viewed at close range from open Land-Rovers, or on walking trails in the bushveld.  Accommodation, facilities and service levels are of an extremely high standard.  The Sabi Sand Game Reserve, a 65 000 hectare wildlife sanctuary, is made up of an association of freehold landowners.  The land is unfenced between the landowners, and the animals are free to roam unhindered through the conservancy.  The reserve shares a 50km unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park in the east.  Two perennial rivers, the Sand and the Sabie, provide the reserve with a valuable water supply, ensuring that the area enjoys one of the most bio-diverse wildlife populations in Africa.  The  Sabi Sand Game Reserve contains numerous private, luxury lodges, often still owned by descendants of the original pioneers of the association.  Further north, the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is situated against the western boundary of the Kruger National Park.  The fences have been removed to create a more natural, open ecosystem.  In other regions of South Africa, the Waterberg area and Welgevonden Private Game Reserve in the Limpopo province, the Madikwe Game Reserve in the North-West province, and Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape are all malaria-free Big Five reserves.  KwaZulu-Natal is also home to numerous private game reserves.

Adventure Tourism
South Africa is rapidly developing as an adventure tourist hot-spot. The mountains, rivers and endless coastline provide the ideal playground for this aspect of tourism.  The country offers many inspirational adventures and experiences, led by highly professional guides.  Hiking trails, mountain-biking, 4 x 4 trails, climbing and abseiling can be enjoyed in the country's numerous wilderness areas.  The Drakensberg in Kwazulu-Natal and the Cederberg in the Western Cape are spectacular mountain ranges offering many adventure opportunities, as does the Table Mountain range, renowned backdrop to the city of Cape Town.  There are a number of diverse hiking trails in the country.  The Otter Trail, Outeniqua Hiking Trail and Tsitsikamma Trail along the Garden Route all have well-maintained huts and clearly marked routes.  The Whale Trail in De Hoop Nature Reserve near Agulhas, which combines a fynbos mountain experience with a coastal route, is also very popular.  The Wild Coast offers a more adventurous hiking experience, but facilities are a bit limited.  Adventure tour operators run river and white-water rafting trips throughout the country.  Along the Whale Route in the Western Cape, ocean safaris are offered, where whales and dolphins can be viewed in their natural habitat.  Water sports include surfing at world-famous Jeffrey's Bay, wind-surfing and scuba-diving.  Bungi-jumping is available from the bridges over the Gouritz and Bloukrans Rivers on the N2 highway, as well as from the Table Mountain cable car.  The Garden Route and the area around Sabie in Mpumalanga have world-class mountain-biking trails.

Wine Regions
Among the many attractions South Africa has to offer is a visit to one of the scenic wine regions, most of which are found in the Western Cape.  In fact the oldest vineyards in the world, outside of Europe and the Middle East, are found here. Wine production in South Africa dates back to 1659, seven years after Jan van Riebeeck set up a trading station at Table Bay.  Blessed with a Mediterranean climate, the Cape's vineyards enjoy varying conditions during the ripening period from the very hot inland areas to the cool coastal and mountain regions.

Stellenbosch, historically fascinating and scenically beautiful, has a well developed wine-route.  Paarl, situated in the Berg River Valley, has a wide diversity of wine estates.  Wellington has a small and compact route, allowing visitors the opportunity to meet the winemakers personally.  The Vignerons de Franschhoek, the wine route set in the beautiful valley of Franschhoek, offers a complete experience of superb wines and international cuisine.  Worcester is another large wine-producing district, while Robertson, McGregor, Bonnievale and Ashton all form part of the scenic Robertson Wine Region. Lime-rich soils and the unique climate give this region the natural attributes to produce a variety of outstanding wines.  Within the greater Cape Town area itself, the Constantia wine-route traverses the beautiful and historic Constantia Valley.  The famous estates of Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia and Buitenverwachting were all part of the original farm granted to Simon van der Stel. The Durbanville route, situated just 20 km outside Cape Town on the slopes of the Tygerberg Hills, has a relaxed and rustic atmosphere, and despite its small size the route has produced a number of award-winning wines.