Experiences labelled with 'south africa'
Every year Cape Town, South Africa hosts a wondrous celebration to welcome back the Southern Right Whales to Walker Bay. These majestic mammals intrigue and astound any and all that have the opportunity, or should I say privilege, to see them. Booming in popularity the Hermanus Whale Festival outgrew its original name, 'Whale of A Festival’; surging on to become the most acclaimed Enviro-Arts Festival in the country. During the winter and spring season the Southern Right Whales return from their Antarctic migration and dance along the shorelines of the Hermanus Coast for all to enjoy. Spottings are frequent and to help ensure that you catch an excellent show, the town of Hermanus employs a "whale crier" to walk through town announcing the latest locations ...
There’s nothing better to do on a hot summer day in South Africa then to visit Cape Point Nature Reserve on the Cape Peninsula, a place synonymous with wind. Explorer Sir Francis Drake claimed that Cape Point was “The most stately thing and the fairest Cape [he’d seen] in the whole circumference of the earth.” Although he witnessed the Cape over 400 years ago, the man wasn’t lying! This famous section of the Table Mountain National Park, close to Cape Town, has over 7,750 hectares of untouched wildlife, and 40 km of coastline. The overall space and diversity of this expansive reserve is amazing. Cape Point Nature Reserve is filled with rocky cliffs, white sand and pebbled beaches, as well as long stretches of land ...
Although it’s a fairly unknown destination for most tourists, a trip to the top of Cape Town’s Lion's Head Mountain is a must for trekkers in the area. Situated between the famous Table Mountain and Signal Hill, Lion's Head is a valuable part of the Table Mountain National Park. The uniquely descriptive name, Lion's Head (Leewen Kop), was given by early Dutch settlers during the 17th century due to its likeness to that of a sphinx or lion, while Signal Hill was dubbed the lion's tale (Leewen Staart). Rarely does a hike live up to a promise of non-stop breathtaking views. But, elevated 669 meters above sea level, hiking Lion's Head Mountain does just this, with soaring views of Table Bay, Clifton and Camps Bay, ...
The Lion Park is by far the top thing to do in Johannesburg. It’s a bit of a drive to Lanseria, about a twenty-minute drive from the northern suburbs, but definitely worth the trip. There is another game park around Johannesburg, The Lion and Rhino Park, but it does not offer nearly the experience of The Lion Park, with animals few and far between, and overgrown bush hiding those animals you happen to spot. At the Johannesburg Lion Park, enjoy the white lions, giraffes, hyenas, cheetahs, jackals and more at your own personal risk. The only fences are between the carnivores and the herbivores, leaving the animals free to wander up to your vehicle. It’s therefore important to stay respectful of the animal’s habitat, and ...
Nelson Mandela Square at Sandton City hosts some of Johannesburg’s most elite shopping and fine dining experiences. The upscale shopping and dining surrounds an open courtyard featuring a 6-metre, 2.5-ton bronze statue of national icon Nelson Mandela, sculpted by Kobus Hattingh and Jocob Maponyane in commemoration of a decade of democracy in South Africa. While it is intended as an opportunity for tourists to reflect on the events of the past and the creation of “The Rainbow Nation,” for most, the Nelson Mandela statue at Nelson Mandela Square offers a great photo opportunity on the way to dinner. Nelson Mandela Square is the perfect location if you do not have a specific plan for dinner, as their wide variety of international cuisines will suit every ...
You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that a trip to Cape Town wouldn’t be complete unless you visited Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. Made up of over 500 hectares of rugged mountainside and luscious green gardens, it’s the perfect setting for a vigorous hike or a relaxed picnic. You would be mad to miss it! Located on Table Mountain's eastern slopes, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is, without doubt, one of the most picturesque places on earth. With over 7,000 species of plant life within its borders, it’s a botanist’s dream. Historically, Kirstenbosch Gardens is unique. Laid out in 1913, it was the first botanical garden to showcase its nation state's indigenous plant life. In 2004, as part of the Cape Floristic region, it ...
In the waters just off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, there exists a natural phenomenon considered by some to be the greatest sardine shoal on earth. Every year, tourists from around the world travel to South Africa to witness this seasonal migration of millions of sardines from the colder southern oceans off Cape Point to the warmer waters along the South African coast farther north. It is one of the most unique migrations in the world to watch, and this annual sardine run has become a major tourist attraction, known around the world as the Sardine Run. What makes the Sardine Run so spectacular for the many spectators that participate—is the massive number of silvery sardines crossing the ocean in such huge waves. ...
The ocean off the coast of Cape Town is rich with marine life. Whales, sharks, dolphins and seals swim off the Cape Town coastline frequently, and they are spotted by visitors several times a day. From a boat you can actually view some of the most incredible feats of nature, including the birth of baby seals, and the perilous hunt that ensues. One of the best times to visit Cape Town is when the South African fur seals give birth. Seal Island and Duiker Island are the main areas where the seals mate. Usually in other seasons, these seals bask on the rocks in the warm waters of the Atlantic. Seal birthing season is a time for seal predators to hunt without exerting too much ...
