Zipto Travelers Corner

South Africa – Exceeds all Expectations!

January 19, 2011

This blog is especially important to me because it’s always been a life dream of mine to travel to South Africa! I can’t even describe how I long to go on a safari in Kruger National Park and see wild animals roaming freely without a care in the world. Imagine having a beautiful dinner with gourmet cuisine and delicious South African wine under the stars in the middle of the park. Can life get better than that?

There’s even the opportunity to sleep in a real tree house in the middle of the bush when visiting this amazing country! This tree house is a secure bush bedroom under the African stars, with all the comforts that a guest can experience at a five star safari lodge… sign me up!

I hope one day we will all be able to experience South Africa – from the safaris in Kruger to the busy city of Johannesburg. A colleague of mine actually just returned from what I hear was an unforgettable adventure in South Africa, so let’s read below and see what she had to say!

How did feel did you get when you first stepped off the plane?
Landing first in Johannesburg, I was shocked to see the size of the airport. It was huge! I’ve traveled frequently and I’m used to the simple airports… Sure, a terminal or two, but for some reason I didn’t expect the size of Johannesburg’s airport to be so large.

As for the destination itself, I wasn’t sure what to expect with South Africa. Sure, I’ve seen the typical pictures in magazines, or the scenic shots from the World Cup when it was held there this past summer, but other than that, I had no expectations. So with my first stop of Cape Town I was surprised to see the hustle and bustle of the city, yet the laid back quaint atmosphere of the Waterfront area.

What different areas did you travel to and what were the highlights at each destination?
My first stop was Cape Town - while there I was able to explore the Victoria & Albert Waterfront which has great shops and restaurants with Table Mountain in the background. While staying in Cape Town, I took a day trip to Cape Point, the most southwestern point in Africa. On the way back to Cape Town, I stopped at Boulders Beach, home to over 2,500 African Penguins, which was quite a sight! The next day I took a day trip up to the winelands and explored the towns of Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl.

The next day I traveled out to the quaint town of Hermanus for a 2-night stay. Hermanus is home to the Southern Right whales from July to early December. Although it was late in the season, I was lucky enough to see some of the whales even from shore! Each night there was a gorgeous sunset.

The next two nights I spent in Knysna. As a city in the Garden Route, Knysna is picturesque with beautiful mountains, valleys and national parks to explore. While there I took a boat trip on the Knysna River to see the Knysna Heads which is an impressive geological feature with two rock cliffs forming the opening for ships to pass through.

I then flew up to Johannesburg for a short stay. I toured Soweto and was able to see the house where Nelson Mandela lived and visited the Hector Pieterson museum which documented the origins of the Soweto uprisings and the struggle that made the country stronger.

After a quick flight I landed in Hoedspruit for a short drive to my hotel in Kruger. Nothing compares to seeing the animals roam freely without a care in the world while barely noticing the vehicles. I saw tons of zebras, giraffes, as well as all of the Big 5 – cape buffalo, rhinos, elephants, leopards, and lions! It was a very surreal feeling watching a lioness and her 3 cubs frolic in front of our vehicle.

How would you describe the grounds of South Africa?
South Africa has everything! From white-sand beaches to mountains, as well as valleys, bays, and rivers. There is so much open space with fields and pastures. In Kruger there are trees and bushes as far as the eye can see.

How would you describe your overall travel experience?
Incredible! From the moment I arrived, I began to think about how I could arrange to go back again another time.

About what were you most surprised?
I knew the game drives would be phenomenal, but I didn’t expect the sheer natural beauty of the rest of South Africa. From the vineyards rolling up the hillsides, the valleys and the bays, to the gorgeous beaches. There were many times I had to think to myself, wow, this is South Africa!

What was the most meaningful part of your trip?
The people of South Africa were so genuine in everything they did. There wasn’t anything else they could have done to make me feel more at home. The guides that I had throughout the trip were so knowledgeable and anyone can see how much they love their country and couldn’t wait to show me everything it has to offer.

If you had to use three words to describe South Africa, which words would you use?
Beyond my expectations!