Top 5

Top 5 - South Africa - A Walk on the Wildside

South Africa is a country filled with contrasts, where you can hike up mountain trails in the morning and surf perfect waves in the afternoon. It is filled with iconic landmarks such as Table Mountain and Soweto and is a country filled with history and alive with culture. Nothing can match watching a cheetah in full flight or watching a pride of lion, or sighting a dazzle of zebra, but don’t forget to stop, look around and take in your surroundings, as invariably they will be stunning.

Look a little deeper than the incredible Cape Town. Extend that weekend break and take in some of Africa’s natural beauty. View ancient bushmen art in the Drakensberg Mountains, relive heroic tales of bygone days in the Battlefields region. Take a tour to Soweto and visit The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, a very sobering and informative experience. Try your luck in the casinos of Sun City or take a Safari in the malaria-free Eastern Cape (perfect for families).

Wherever you go, the unique sights, sounds and colours of Africa will mesmerise you and make you hungry for more. Enjoy amazing hospitality, incredible food and wonderful wines. Relax in world-renowned spas and sip champagne whilst looking through God’s Window. There is so much choice, something for everyone and of course, something to keep for the next time.

Top 5 places to Visit

Perfect for families as is free of malaria. The Eastern Cape provides a world class safari experience, within beautiful surroundings, complemented by fantastic accommodation and a great attention to detail. A perfect add on to any Garden Route trip.

KwaZulu-Natal is home to the majestic Drakensberg Mountain range, the Zulu culture and miles of golden coastline. Be enticed by great tales of the Zulu wars, visit Zulu villages and observe ancient Bushmen paintings.

This beautiful province can easily be overlooked if you fly into Kruger National Park. Take a couple of days to visit this beautiful area and don’t miss the world’s 3rd deepest canyon and the stunning view from the aptly named, God’s Window.

South Africa’s crowning glory is of course its wildlife. The Kruger National Park and surrounding game reserves are home to a vast array of wild animals. Accommodation is in the form of a luxury lodge supplemented by fine cuisine and great wine.

Johannesburg is a very vibrant city with much to see. Must see sights are Soweto and The Apartheid Museum. Sun City is a great place for everyone. It’s a great place to relax but with enough to keep you entertained and occupied.

Kwazulu-Natal

Experience the highlights of this amazing province at your own pace on this self drive trip. An area popular with the British are the sites of the famous Anglo-Zulu battles of Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift, made famous by the film Zulu, featuring Michael Caine. This is a great place to visit and whilst here you must take an organised tour, to visit the sites and hear the stories of those involved in the wars, including Winston Churchill. KwaZulu-Natal is also home to South Africa’s most dramatic landscape, The Drakensberg Mountains are home to Zulu villages, fantastic views and ancient rock art.

For those who wish to stay a little longer there is so much more to KwaZulu-Natal. Visit Durban’s Golden Mile or relax and revive on one of the beautiful beaches of Richards Bay. Canoe in the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park or take a horse-riding Safari in the Pongola Game Reserve. The region is filled with Zulu culture, colour and history and has a captivating feel to it. This is epitomized by the Battlefields and the incredible stories. For some stories of your own try tracking on foot, wild animal including elephant. What a way to end a trip to this fabulous place.

"The place of the rising sun" and home to the World’s most famous game reserve as well as the world’s third highest canyon, Mpumalanga is a region of outstanding natural beauty. The province is sunny all year round and is full of diverse landscapes, from the dramatic Blyde River Canyon to the grasslands district, home to over 270 lakes, which attract 20000 flamingoes each year. It is an area for long walks, active sports, wildlife viewing, pampering and so much more. Don't rush to the Safari lodges. Take the time, and build the anticipation.

Johannesburg

"Make The Apartheid Museum your first stop in Johannesburg to learn about the challenges that this amazing country has overcome. You'll also have a chance to catch a glimpse what life was like in the townships during the 70s and 80s"

Emma, Flight Centre Hampstead
South Africa Specialist

Sun City

The opulent Sun City is located two hours from Johannesburg and is a large entertainment complex dominated by the kitsch Palace of the Lost City. This 62-acre resort of landscaped gardens has attempted to re-create the mysteries of a mythical civilisation. We recommend this resort for families and couples alike as it is like nothing else in South Africa and is amazing fun. The resort has its own adventure park called the Valley of the Waves that comes equipped with a wave pool, white sand beaches, the Sacred River ride and death-defying chutes. There are also two world-class golf courses, casinos, cinemas, swimming pools and sports facilities as well as the Pilanesberg Game Reserve just next door.

Getting there

AIR: Pilanesberg airport is about five miles from Sun City and there are daily flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town. BUS: There several tour operators running trips from Pretoria and Johannesburg, as well as a local bus company that has weekend departures from just outside Rustenburg. CAR: From Johannesburg it is a two-hour drive via Rustenburg and Boschoek on the R565.

"Sun City is more than just an entertainment complex. Visit Pilanesberg Game Reserve situated next door and you can experience a "Big Five" Safari. The reserve is home to a large number of wild animals and is one of the province’s biggest attractions"

Charlotte, Flight Centre Croydon
South Africa Specialist