Top Ten Traveling Locations in Southern Africa

Annette Hendley — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:57:12 +0000

by Annette Hendley

Cruising on a boat at sunset while sipping champagne or driving down a winding road while majestic mountains protect the massive waves caressing the cliffs are all things witnessed and experienced when you arrive in the Southern most point of South Africa. The best places you won’t want to miss are Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Hermanus.

In the southern part of South Africa, the Garden Route, travelers can learn some history search for a lonely elephant or wander through magical forests. In Mossel Bay, tourists can hear the tale of Bartholomew Dias and rocky travels through stormy weather at the Cape or search for the last elephant in Knysna forest. Last but not least, visitors can partake in an interesting visit with colorful and playful ostriches.

Experience the ultimate silence of the vast open desert of Namibia. In Sossusvlei you will find the highest dunes in the world. Dead Vlei is a surreal experience with skeletons of ancient Camel Thorn Trees silhouetted against the golden orange sand dunes. Have your own pirate experience on the road to Swakopmund with the misty ocean, lined with ships, and the ever changing dunes protectively encircling you.

Tucked away somewhere in Africa lies an ancient waterfall, cascading a blanket of liquid dreams onto a gorge as old as time. Anyone wishing to experience more waterfalls should fly to Livingstone in Zambia where the Victoria Waterfalls await.

When in Zambia, one cannot leave without experiencing a visit to the Chobe National Park. There visitors are enchanted by more elephants than any one man could have ever imagined existed. Become mesmerized by a boat ride across the Chobe River; you’ll never want to leave.

The Indian Ocean offers up its idea of paradise with its tranquil tropical islands, White beaches, colorful sea creatures and warm, calm waters await to greet you. A stop in Mauritius is also warranted as well as diving and snorkeling at Portuguese Island where visitors can learn about the Sultans in Zanzibar. For more local flavor, don’t forget to make a stop in Inhaca.

The most dangerous of the animal kingdom, the Big Five, awaits visitors at Kruger National Park. Lazy drives down dust covered roads will lead you to nature as you witness lion’s on the hunt, hippos asleep in the water or elephants playing gleefully at a favorite watering hole.

While visiting these creatures take time to explore the other areas around the Kruger National Park. For panoramic views, potholes carved through the ages and canyons stretching for miles go to Graskop, Sabie and Pilgrims Rest.

Art lovers are sure to be in heaven with a visit to the little Town of Clarens in the Free State Province of South Africa. There, a feast of Africa’s best artists will captivate you as you lazily explore all it has to offer while sipping wine from a farm in Stellenbosch.

Serious diving and fishing should be done in Mozambique on the East Coast of Africa. With the same warm water, coral reefs and unspoiled white beaches it is the poor mans island holiday.

Visit these places first and then come back for the rest.

About the Author:

Annette Hendley lives in Gauteng South Africa with her husband and 2 children. She loves to travel and share her personal travel experience about Travelling Southern Africa and many other locations such as What to Do in Pilgrim’s Rest on Clivir.com.

Travel Them » Annette Hendley

Top Ten Traveling Locations in Southern Africa

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