Experience the best of South Africa

South Africa is one of the most enthralling countries in the world supporting a rich diversity of animals, birds, and plants and offering a wide range of experiences. It also has a first class infrastructure, cosmopolitan cities, resorts and fine dining.

For Canadians, it has become an increasingly popular travel destination for the following reasons:

It is easier to visit than before. Now an overnight flight from New York, Washington or Atlanta will get you directly to South Africa.

It offers great value. The Canadian Dollar is strong against the South African Rand which makes food, drink, entertainment and travel affordable. Moreover, South Africa has something for everyone’s travel budget!

The climate is outstanding so year round travel is possible.

It is hard to match the diversity of the destination: Safari, wine tasting, beaches, camping, cultural experiences, hiking; history, golf and more!

Canadians do not require a visa to enter South Africa.

South Africa does not require malaria protection in the entire country. There are many game resers located in non-malaria areas.

If you are a first time traveller to South Africa, you should include some of the following in your itinerary:

1. Cape Town and Table Mountain
Cape Town, the mother city, is rich in history, culture and scenic beauty that includes nearby Cape Point where, by tradition, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. It is home to some of the country’s top museums, the colourful Cape Malay Quarter, The V & A Waterfront and spectacular Table Mountain from where you will see some of South Africa’s most breathtaking views.

2. Robben Island
A short cruise from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront by ferry, Robben Island is a must-see on your itinerary. This is where Nelson Mandela and his comrades were imprisoned for decades during the Apartheid era. Often, the tour is guided by a former inmate who will give you an insightful tour of the prison grounds. You will also learn about the flora and fauna on the island. Robben Island is now a world heritage site and also a proclaimed nature conservation area.

3. The Cape Winelands
An hour’s drive from Cape Town are the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, the centre of the wine industry and home to some beautiful Cape Dutch and Victorian architecture. Include a visit to this area where you can go on a cellar tour and taste the “nectars of the Gods” at many wine estates.

4. The Garden Route
The region from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth provides scenery of contrasts. Lakes, Mountains, lagoons, wineries, farms and sea villages create memorable sights. In contrast, Oudtshoorn, “Capital of the Klein Karoo”, is set in a semi-arid valley, providing the ideal habitat for ostriches and is also home to the Cango Caves.

5. Kwazulu Natal
Over and above the fabulous beaches and the spectacular Drakensburg Mountains, try and incorporate a visit to the Battlefield area in KwaZulu Natal where some of South Africa’s most turbulent wars took place. The interior, north of the Tugela River, is where battles between Boers and Zulus, British and Zulus and the Boers and British took place.

6. Kruger National Park
The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a magnificent wildlife experience. The Park was established in 1898 and is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. You can opt to stay in the park or at a private game lodge on the border of the park where a game ranger and tracker can take you out in open 4 x 4 vehicles and bring you up close to nature.

7. Soweto
Just south of Johannesburg lies Soweto – the largest of South Africa’s ‘townships’. Usually the tours to Soweto include a visit to a traditional shebeen (drinking hall), where you can savour local beer, food and hospitality, a view of the shanty towns and the Baragwanath Hospital, as well as a visit to the homes where Nobel laureates Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu once lived.

There is much more to see and do in South Africa, but that will have to wait for your second visit.

Tourcan Vacations is a Canadian-owned Tour Operator, promoting exotic destinations to the North American Traveller for the past 20 years. South Africa has been a very integral part of the inventory and their range of products to South Africa is extensive. The company prides itself on catering to all tastes and budgets and is willing to customize any tour. Please visit www.tourcanvacations.com for further details.