Types of Tourism in South Africa
Beach vacation.
The coastline of South Africa stretches for 2000 km. There are beaches on the west coast and in the Cape Town area, but they don’t swim here. Due to the cold Bengal current, the water is quite cold – about +15..+16 degrees all year round. But 40 km south of Cape Town, the water is already much warmer – about +22 degrees. The most popular resorts in the area are Gordons Bay, Hermanus, Gaansbay. The beaches are mostly sandy. Port Elizabeth on the coast of the Indian Ocean has very beautiful lagoons, in addition, many shops and a very vibrant nightlife. Nearby is the large beach resort of Durban.
Windsurfing.
A very popular place among surfers is the small town of Jeffrey Bay or simply J-Bay on the south coast of South Africa. Only surfers rest here, because apart from one of the longest waves in the world, there are no special attractions here. Every winter, J-Bay hosts the World Windsurfing Championship. Check top-medical-schools.org for travel information in South Africa.
Diving.
The main diving sites are located on the coast of the Indian Ocean. In the town of Sodwana you will see a variety of corals, “potato” perch up to 2 m in size, red gorgons. The local reefs are carefully protected. A wide variety of shark species appear in the Shelly Beach area, including the dangerous Zambezi, hammerhead, whale and tiger sharks. Gansbay area (170 km from Cape Town) is the main place for observing great white sharks. Tourists are lowered under water in a large metal cage with an open top, although the water here is quite cool – about +17 degrees. At Dolphin Coast and Durban, experienced scuba divers can dive on sunken ships and go spearfishing.
Ecotourism.
Ecotourism is the fastest growing type of tourism in South Africa. Most of the mountainous regions of the country are occupied by national parks. Within the Dragon Mountains are the Royal Natal National Park with the Tugela Falls and the Santa Lucia Lakes, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Interesting nature reserves in the western part of South Africa – Loteni, Himeville, Swamp, Giant Castle, Itala, Valley, Ndumo, Mkuzi, Wilderness, Royal National Park, in the eastern part of the country – Umfolozi and Hluhluwe. The Pilanesberg National Park in the North Western Province is home to about 7,000 wild animals and 350 bird species. Near Cape Town is the Bird Sanctuary – one of the largest bird parks in the world. World famous Addo National Park with the largest number of elephants near Port Elizabeth and Kruger National Park, located in the Eastern Transvaal. Kruger Park is the visiting card of the country, representing the fauna of the savannas and semi-deserts. Inspection of local territories takes place in the form of a safari.
Safari.
in South Africa Tourists are offered several types of safaris. The most popular photo safari.
Near each national park there are hotels with a high level of service. Every day, starting at 6 am, an armed driver-escort with a group of tourists sets off in an open jeep through the park. Most often, such trips last about 3 hours. During this time, you will be able to see the most diverse representatives of the fauna of South Africa and capture them on film.
Off-road safari is also developed. Tourists are provided with a wide choice of vehicles on which you can look at the bewitching landscapes of South Africa.
Hunting.
From April to October, you can hunt with local rangers who are licensed for this activity in specially designated areas (most often on private farms). Hunting lasts about 3 days, and for a large animal (elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, etc.) – about 7 days. The variety of animals is simply amazing – they mainly hunt antelopes, of which there are more than 40 species. Weapons are provided on the spot, and for a fee, your trophy will be processed for you, but you will have to give the meat to the farm that owns the territory.
History in South Africa
Nomadic tribes began to appear in what is now South Africa about 100,000 years ago. The colonization of the country began in 1488, after the Cape of Good Hope was discovered by the Portuguese navigator Vasco de Gama. In 1652, the Dutch founded the first European settlement on the site of modern Cape Town. Later, the British also began to settle here, after which a fierce struggle began between the descendants of the Dutch and the British (the Anglo-Boer War) for discovered diamond deposits. As a result of the signing of a peace treaty in 1910, the Union of South Africa was formed as part of the British Commonwealth. However, the legislation of the new union was riddled with racism. Afrikaner nationalists fought those who wanted to strengthen the influence of the British Empire. This struggle ended with the fact that in 1961 the Republic of South Africa was proclaimed.
