South Africa: Lesotho & Swaziland

1197 Pages·2012·54 MB·English

by  James Bainbridge

TABLE OF CONTENTS
South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland Cover
How to Use This Guide
South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland Map
PLAN YOUR TRIP
ON THE ROAD
UNDERSTAND SOUTH AFRICA, LESOTHO &
SWAZILAND
SURVIVAL GUIDE
Behind the Scenes
Icons Legend
Our Writers

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Plan Your Trip
Welcome to South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland
Top Experiences
Need to Know
If You Like...
Month by Month
Itineraries
Travel with Children
Regions at a Glance
Top of section
welcome to south africa, lesotho &
swaziland
Rhinos at waterholes, township art, clouds pouring over Table
Mountain, Kalahari dunes, Drakensberg peaks, Swazi and Zulu
ceremonies: Southern Africa’s famous trio is rich with
adventures and experiences, culture and scenery.
Vineyards, Franschhoek (Click here)
MASSIMO RIPANI/CORBIS ©
Rainbow Experiences
South Africa, its mountains, deserts and rivers leading to vibrant cities
and sprawling townships, is truly a rainbow nation in the experiences it
offers. This vast and beautiful, troubled but developing land’s diversity is
reflected by its world-famous associations: Table Mountain, Soweto, the
Big Five, Zulu culture, Robben Island, big skies, broad smiles and the
Drakensberg. To get the most out of your time here, ditch any
preconceived ideas about South African history and society, pack a pair
of binoculars for spotting lions – and get ready for a country that stuns
and surprises at every turn, from the Wild Coast’s bendy back roads to
Cape Town’s lanes.
Accessible Africa
South Africa has a reputation as ‘Africa light’ – an accessible corner of
the continent, relatively safe and comfortable. It does indeed shine on
this front, offering superb accommodation and opportunities to interact
with various African people and cultures; wildlife watching in terrain from
bushveld to the Kalahari, at prices well below some nearby countries;
and scenic spots where you can just relax and enjoy the lekker (tasty)
views and hospitality, including the Cape Winelands, Indian Ocean
getaways, wilderness lodges and refined Karoo towns.
Cultural Experiences
Groups including the Brits, Boers, Zulu and Xhosa have jostled for
position at the tip of Africa, resulting in today’s multicultural mash-up. In a
country with 11 official languages, you can learn how to cook Cape Malay
curries, visit a shebeen and catch some township jazz, see reed dances
in Zululand (and over the border in Swaziland), visit craft cooperatives in
former homelands, and eat samosas in Indian-dominated Durban.
Meeting locals whose lives were directly affected by momentous 20th-
century events, you will hear stories laced with the courage and humour
that got them through apartheid. Escaping the westernised bubble of the
tourist trail rewards with a broader view of this fascinating, fragmented
land.
Landscapes & Activities
Nature reflects social diversity in the region’s landscapes, ranging from
the parched Kalahari and Namakwa to the Drakensberg’s towering
peaks, overlooking Zulu rondavels (round huts with conical roofs) and,
across the Lesotho border, Basotho ponies trekking between villages. In
just a couple of weeks, you could travel from the predator-stalked Kruger
National Park, down the tropical east coast, and across the wide-open
Karoo to the Cape’s sublime mix of mountains, vineyards and beaches.
In such varied terrain, activities range from shark-cage diving to some of
Africa’s greatest multiday hikes, and from wine tasting to spotting
southern rights in the world’s best land-based whale-watching spot.
Xhosa woman, Lesedi Cultural Village (Click here)
MARTIN HARVEY/CORBIS ©
Top of section
TOP
experiences
Table Mountain
1 Whether you take the easy way up in a revolving cable car, or put in
the leg work on the climb, attaining the summit of Table Mountain
(Click here) is a Capetonian rite of passage. Weather permitting, your
rewards are a panoramic view across the peninsula and a chance to
experience the park’s incredible biodiversity. Schedule time for a hike –
the park’s 24,500 hectares have routes to suit all levels of fitness and
ambition, from gentle fynbos -spotting ambles to the five-day, four-night
Hoerikwaggo Trail.