Landscape of South Africa
From the border of Mozambique in the north-east to Cape of Good Hope, south-east, South Africa offers a succession of breathtaking scenery. Mountain Ranges, broad meadows, wide open spaces semi-desert, hills and lush valleys are all panoramas, witnessing the wealth of this vast country.
The Drakensberg
In the Transvaal, on the road from Johannesburg to the Kruger Park, do not miss the incredible panoramic view of the canyon of the Blyde River (Blyde River Canyon National Park: 26 000 hectares). This is one of the major attractions of the Drakensberg (Dragon Mountain, Afrikaner), stretching from Mozambique to Cape Province, which also has majestic peaks of more than 3 000 metres (Cathedral Castle Peak and Giant). The reserve Giant Castle and the Royal National Park Natal (grand amphitheatre rock) are attracting fans touring the world. The Drakensberg is known for his 5000 rock paintings and overlooks one of the largest canyons in the world.
The Western Cape
To the south, the Cape province, framed between Indian and Atlantic Ocean, offers a wide variety of landscapes. The climate is mild all year, making the visit this region very pleasant. The beaches on the coast, still wild, spread over about 1000 km.
The cities also bring their sights: Tulbagh and its 62 historic buildings, Kaaga Kamma and its traditions without the Victorian village of Matjiesfontein (monument historique), Worcester and its wines and spirits, without forgetting the mythical small fishing villages on the coast west.
Landscapes piling up, all more surprising as the others: the Valley of Wine and Roses at Robertson, the red hills of Calitzdorp or the Langebaan lagoon …
The Karoo
In the north-east of Cape Town and its province is the vast semi-desert Karoo, which covers almost one third of the total area of the country. It recalls some parks in the west, however, with American fauna and flora which is much richer. The province includes the main attractions as the beautiful National Park mountain zebras (one of the rarest animals in the world), the Karoo National Park (largest, with 33 000 ha and 61 species of mammals) and its magnificent botanical gardens. Do not forget to visit the beautiful city of Graff-Reinet and its superb architectural heritage.
La Route des Vins
In the Western Cape Province, 30 km from Cape Town, is the famous wine route. Landscapes mainly filled with wine grapes, this is where are cultivated some of the finest South African grapes. A historical reason for this: it is here, and especially in the Franschhoek Valley that have harbored the Huguenots who fled France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
KwaZulu-Natal
In the middle-east and separated from the rest of the country by Lesotho, lies the province of KwaZulu-Natal. This area offers a wide range of landscapes, colours, sights and fauna and flora extremely rich. From North to South, you can in turn discover all its attractions. The Tembe Elephant Park is an impressive sanctuary elephants. Col Pongola offers a panoramic view of the river Pongolapoort, which is full of crocodiles, hippos and fish. A Hluhluwe-Umfozi is the largest concentration of white rhinos in the world. In Saint Lucia Park, hippos and crocodiles are released. The Zulu capital, Umgungundlovu, is inevitable. At the heart of this region in the Midlands, grasslands and forests stretch as far as the eye. And yet, many waterfalls Howick and resorts on the south coast part to the charm of the region. A Fort Sheptone, a small train offers a tour through banana plantations, dunes and planting sugarcane. Finally, on the other hand, the Sani Pass (2875 m summit altitude) overlooks the Drakensberg.
So, hikers, fishermen, nature lovers or curious traditions Zulu, KwaZulu-Natal awaits you …
The Northern Cape
The Northern Cape region is a vast and interesting because it allows mixing wide range of activities. Thus, there are cave paintings in large numbers, diamond deposits, carpets of flowers in the eye and impressive waterfalls. The bush contains y fauna of birds and mammals surprising. You can meet here black and white rhino, antelope, gemsbocks … The parks and reserves grouillent in this region: Vaalbos National Park (Barkly West), Richtersveld National Park (Springbrok, bordering Namibia), Spitskop Nature Reserve (Upington) and still Witsand Nature Reserve (Postmasburg) …
The Eastern Cape
The province of Eastern Cape adjacent to the Cape to the East. This region offers many activities: hiking, water sports, fishing, discovery of fauna and flora or mountaineering. All this in the middle of landscapes. Take for example the “Garden Route” to the west of Port Elyzabeth, where relay mountains and forests, cliffs and beaches. The Gamtoos Valley also between Port Elyzabeth and East London is an oddity in itself since there are 58 varieties of mammals and 293 species of birds. A river, the Great Fish River, crosses the region and allows sports whitewater. Here, we also visit many battlefields, the coast of the sun still wild and it appreciates all year a very mild climate.
The Free State
At the heart of South Africa, is the province of Free State. Between fields of sunflowers and corn, hiking, fishing and water sports, visits to national parks and wildlife discovery of atypical, the Free State promises many surprises. Among the multitude of other things to see and things to do, you can choose including: Bloemfontein or city of roses, heritage bird Springfontein, Gariep Dam and the mountain zebra Cape, the diamond mine Koffiefontein, and Rouxville his temple Protestant historic monument, the colony of vultures of Zastron, Caledon Nature Reserve and its 200 species of birds or Harrismith and sonarbre old petrified 250 million years …
The North
The northern part of South Africa is divided into four distinct regions: Gauteng, the centre, east appélée “region of gold” since one can discover the largest gold deposits. Johannesburg is the main attraction. The Limpopo province further north, contains, among mountains and bush, the biggest copper mines operated open pit but also many parks and reserves, archaeological sites, historical and ornithological. The region also offers a great diversity of landscapes and activities: the sanctity of vendras Lake, the river Levubu its waterfalls, forests, cliffs, its wildlife and its baobabs. In the north east, Mpumalanga province is famous for its bird reserves. You can also practise canoeing, horseback riding, hiking, cycling, fishing and mountaineering. Again, a multitude of places to see around Chrissiesmeer population of 270 lakes and ponds, Wine Region Loospruit, Marble Hall and its ostrich farms, Beslfast, its fields of tulips (September-October) and its 50 varieties of orchids, waterfalls Lone Creek … Finally, the North West province has its interest in its mountains, caves, its landscapes, flora and fauna surprising. Elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes and birds of all sorts have chosen to live. Again, you can practice riding, hiking and water sports.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
May 24th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
[...] company that runs the …Houstoned - http://blogs.houstonpress.com/houstoned/ - Verweise|||Unaccompanied minors in airline17. Mai 2008 admin These unaccompanied minors may be required to purchase nonstop, direct flights to [...]