South African Holidays
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when someone mentions “South African Holidays” to you? I’m sure you would do a quick flashback to one of those great safaris you’ve seen on the National Geographic Channel!
But South Africa has much more to offer than just safaris. There are very few people who have gone there and wanted to leave - because just one holiday is not enough to see all of what this country has to offer! Not surprisingly, many of these tourists keep coming back, whenever they can, to become lost in the wonderful wilderness that Mother Nature has given us! There are miles and miles of tropical beaches that are just as enchanting as the miles and miles of hot, barren deserts. You can see whole stretches of earth covered with lovely jungle flowers on one hand, and on the other, you can see that herds of wild animals cover the same land! There is life everywhere, in every form!
South African holidays will give you the strange feeling that you too are a part of the great cycle of events on the planet. Just like each species lead their own lives, we too have been given our chance to lead our own lives. But look at the contrast between human beings and the other animals! Man has always wanted more and the animals have always tried to survive on what we have left them with. Some have been successful while many have not. The important thing is the realization that dawn upon an individual - that, in order to protect life, it is important to protect that which sustains it! And we got only one planet earth, not two! Okay, I’m not an environmentalist and I guess I got a bit carried away! But that’s what South African holidays can do to your thinking - you start thinking about things you have never thought about before!
Expect The Unexpected!
Family Holidays, Honeymoons, Safaris, & even Jungle trips - South African Holidays let you experience all the thrills! How about deep sea diving to watch the Great Whites - Great White Sharks, I mean! Does that get your heart beating just a little bit faster? I know, not many people would feel comfortable to swim around in the ocean along with some of the fiercest predators on the planet. If you still want to watch them but would be more comfortable with a little more protection, you can opt for the deep sea cage diving - where you are put in a cage made of pure steel and lowered into the shark infested ocean! Actually, this is one of the most popular activities among tourists in the region.
For those who are prone to sea sickness, it would be a good idea to take some pills to ward off motion sickness. Okay, if you feel that jumping into the water and watching sharks is too elementary for you, how about this - try bungee jumping from the highest point in the world! I’m talking about what is popularly known as the “Garden Route” in South Africa. This area stretches along the coastline, is filled with some of the deepest gorges, fresh water lakes, and is home to some of the oldest living trees on the planet. If you are not particularly comfortable to watch the Great Whites in the depths of the sea, how about paragliding to watch them from the air! You can also watch the whales and dolphins as they get on with their lives in the ocean!
If you think you need more reasons, here’s another one - how about a trek into the deep jungles and walking with lions? Well, not literally, but yes, you can explore the deep jungles and look at nature at its best! But hey, what do you do if you don’t feel like doing anything? Just lie around in the sun, of course! That’s right, South African Holidays allow you to do even that, and you will still feel like a king!
How Do You Get There?
It is easy to go to South Africa - this country has almost 50 international Airlines operating out of it. A study of the ten most important international airports in South Africa has shown that they handle over 30 million passengers every year. And that figure has been steadily climbing with each passing year! If you want an indication of the number of aircraft landing and taking off from this country, well, that figure is pretty close to 250,000!
So, we are not just talking about one of the busiest places in the world, we are also talking about one of the most popular ones! The Johannesburg airport is one of the most important airports in South Africa. This airport offers you a whole range of accommodation options, starting from a basic dormitory to the most luxurious suites. It all depends on how much you are willing to spend on your South African Holidays.
The other two most important airports here are Durban and Cape Town. Apart from these three airports, there are other airports that can be counted among the most important ones - the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, Port Elizabeth Airport, George Airport, Hoedspruit Airport, and O.R Tambo International Airport. You can land at any of these airports and catch a connecting flight to the smaller destinations. Though South African Airlines is the most prominent player here, there are a number of private and smaller airlines that can take you to any destination in the country when you are enjoying your South African Holidays.
Where To Stay When You Get There?
Accommodation has never been a problem in South Africa. The country is littered with expensive luxury hotels, moderately priced villas, and still cheaper Guest Houses. If you wish, you can also stay in one of the game lodges in the Kruger National Park or choose from a range of five star luxury hotels along the coastline. The specialty of game lodges is that you get huge rooms that overlook the thick forests of Africa and you get to see the animals in their natural habitat. The hotels here are very conscious about the quality of service they offer and it is often acknowledged that they are among the best in the world!
2010 Football World Cup
This one is for all those die hard fans of Football - the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be held in South Africa between 11th of June and the 11th of July! The official mascot for this great event is called Zakumi, a green-haired leopard. Even the match ball has been given a name - Jabulani!
A number of prominent locations have been chosen for the 2010 FIFA World cup - they are Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Polokwane, Nelspriut, Rustenburg, and Bloemfontein. You would be interested to know that five brand new stadiums were built for these games. Three of those, which were already there, were restructured so that they could handle more people and provide better facilities. South African Holidays also give you an opportunity to taste the warmth and hospitality of a great country. Well then, see you soon - in South Africa!