South Africa

South Africa is one of the most developed countries in Africa which makes it an important target for safaris. Unfortunately it has huge income disparities that leads to areas that are considered no-go zones especially in cities. But the nature parks and sights can be breathtaking and being reasonably danger aware allows you also to visit the major cities, or at least Cape Town. Kroger National Park is especially famous as a safari destination but we really enjoyed the wildflowers of Namaqualand and the beautiful sights of the western coast.

Our only visit to South Africa is part of an almost three week self drive safari in Namibia and South Africa taking in the spring flowers in Namaqua, seeing the Cape of Good Hope and the nearby penguin colonies and visiting Cape Town. It seems quite safe to us outside Cape Town and inside Cape Town during the day in the tourist areas was safe enough also. We drove all around and especially the Cape of Good Hope is very popular with huge groups of tourists hogging the sights.

Map of Travels

Trips

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  Exploring the museums of Cape TownSeptember 10, 2012
  We spend the last day in Africa exploring the Slave Lodge and National Museum before driving to the airport to leave after a very special trip
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  Dinner at the V&A WaterfrontSeptember 9, 2012
  We end the day exploring the shops at the V&A waterfront and a great dinner at a recommended restaurant
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  Castle of Good Hope, the oldest building in South AfricaSeptember 9, 2012
  We stop for a relatively short visit of the Castle of Good Hope the oldest standing building in South Africa built by the Dutch to protect their interests
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  Company Gardens, the center of Cape TownSeptember 9, 2012
  We start our visit of downtown Cape Town with the Company Gardens a major attraction anchored by multiple museums and steeped in history
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  A couple of nights overlooking Cape TownSeptember 9, 2012
  We spend our last two nights in South Africa in a special room that we splurged on in a B&B overlooking the downtown area with some great views
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  Exploring the Cape of Good HopeSeptember 8, 2012
  We finish the nature part of our safari at the Cape of Good Hope exploring the protected area and the flowering fynbos and discovering that ostriches like the ocean shore
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  The amazing penguins of Boulders BaySeptember 8, 2012
  This morning we start with a visit of Boulders and then Foxy Beach while seeing countless African penguins, both adults and chicks
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  Impressive Sevilla Rock Art Trail petroglyphsSeptember 7, 2012
  We make a detour to see the surprisingly interesting and varied pictographs of the Sevilla Rock Art Trail and also enjoy the spring flowers and beautiful trail
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  A night in Clanwilliam between major destinationsSeptember 6, 2012
  We spend the last night before Cape Town in Clanwilliam enjoying the relaxing B&B and the many birds in the gardens as well as drinking lots of rooibos tea
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  Skilpad Wildflower Reserve, an orange wonderland in springSeptember 6, 2012
  We end our wildflower tour at the magnificent Skilpad Wildflower Reserve with orange flowers covering the fields as far the eye can see
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  Flower watching in Goegap Nature ReserveSeptember 6, 2012
  Goegap Nature Reserve is the first stop of the day to explore the fields of flowers that are covering the desert
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  One night in Namaqualand at Naries Namakwa RetreatSeptember 5, 2012
  We stay our first night in South Africa at a beautiful retreat right in the middle of the blooming spring flowers with some great trails and good food