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Soweto was once at the center of campaigns to overthrow the apartheid state. The 1976 student uprising, also known as the Soweto. Uprisings, began in Soweto and spread from there to the rest of the country. Other politically charged campaigns to have germinated in Soweto include the squatter movement of the 1940s and the defiance campaigns of the mid to late 1980s. The area has also spawned many political, sporting and social luminaries, including Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu — two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, who once lived on the now famous Vilakazi Street in Orlando West. On all of our tours we spend at least half a day or more discovering Soweto. Graaff-ReinetA thriving little town right in the middle of the Great Karoo, Graaff-Reinet rises from the stark desert--a gleaming whitewashed miracle of Dutch Architecture and lush, colorful gardens.
The first time I drove into Graaff I exclaimed: what on earth is this spotless, sparkling city doing in the middle of the Karoo? The fourth oldest city in SA (1786), Graaff-Reinet was named after Cornelis Jacob van de Graaf and his wife Cornelia Reynet. It is one of two towns in the country named after Dutch governors. For years it was a certain stopover for every traveler to the interior. We go through Graaff on our Making a Difference tour. Last time we were there, Harley Davidson was holding their national rally and the town was full of bikers and their custom bikes. We were glad we were staying on a luxurious sheep ranch outside of town! EshoweEshowe is such a pleasant surprise. Set in northern KwaZulu-Natal and about an hour and a half from Durban, this small rural town is like an oasis. Eshowe is built around the lush Dhlinza Forest with its tall swaying trees, wandering paths, and prolific bird life. Said to be named after the soft swishing sound of the wind blowing through these forests, Eshowe is the oldest European settlement and is also the capital of Zululand. We will spend over two weeks in the Eshowe area on our Zulu Empowerment trip. One of our favorite things to do in Eshowe is sit in the George Hotel bar and chat with the locals.
Cape TownEveryone's favorite South African city. From the tip of Cape Point to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, this city offers the visitor an astonishing array of things to do and see.
For beach lovers there are miles of pristine coastline and sun-kissed beaches, for the shopper there are two huge shopping centers and many small boutiques, for art lovers there is both fine and ethnic art to be discovered, for foodies there are many unusual and superb restaurants plus Stellenbosh, South Africa's posh wine region, is only an hour away. For the hope-to-be pampered there are a variety of spas. Visitors can take the tram to the top of Table Mountain, meander through the botanical gardens, swim with the sharks, visit the African penguins, hike or even play golf. One of our favorite things to do is walk the boardwalk along the ocean in Sea Point. Fabulous Game ReservesOne of our favorite game reserves is Phinda. Located in eastern KwaZulu-Natal. Meaning “The Return” in Zulu, Phinda is an exemplary example of successful responsible tourism. Elephants come right up to the lodge plunge pools. Lions laze in the sun. The four lodges are stunning in their views and decor. And there is nothing like an outdoor massage on the deck of Mountain Lodge!
Forest Lodge — sixteen stilted glass chalets. These chalets are literally hand built by local Zulu people to minimize impact on the rare Sand Forest. They seem to float between the forest floor and the towering torchwood trees.
Mountain Lodge — twenty chalets and conference facilities situated at the top of a lavish bushveld world, with panoramas of the Lebombo Mountains and the Lake St. Lucia coastal plains. Vlei Lodge — six stilted suites of thatch, teak and glass overlook Phinda's unique wetland system at the edge of the forest. Rock Lodge — six chalets built into the rock face overlooking the Leopard Rock. On our Animal and Art trip we take our travelers to Pafuri. It is a trek to get there but well worth the long drive. Pafuri lies in the wildest and most remote part of the Kruger National Park and offers varied vegetation, great game viewing, the best birding in all of the Kruger, and is filled with folklore of the early explorers and ancient civilizations. It is well known for its fever tree forests, beautiful gorges and Crook's Corner, where the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers and three countries, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique, meet.
While in Pafuri we have seen adorable leopard cubs, watched a family of lions cross the road at sunset, laughed at elephants splashing in the river, observed huge (and I mean huge!) crocodiles from the safety of our Land Rover, and have had chattering monkeys climbing all over the roofs of our spacious luxury tents. Superb InfrastructureSouth Africa has a modern and well-developed transport infrastructure. Most of the roads and freeways are world-class. The air and rail networks are the largest on the continent. And the country's ports provide a natural stopover for shipping to and from Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia and both coasts of Africa. All the major airports have been modernized in readiness for the World Cup. (I hardly recognized O.R. Tambo airport in Johannesburg last time I was there). South Africa is a very civilized country and it's easy to get around. The best in trendy hotelsThe Melrose Arch Hotel is one of our favorite hotels in the new Melrose Arch district. The lobby decor is stunning and the stylish rooms are adorned with fun, fine art. Another favorite is the Peech Hotel — called Afro-chic by many reviewers. The "rain" showerhead in the bath after a long international flight feels divine. Fire and Ice is another new hotel in Melrose Arch that has a definite African vibe. Our clients simply love Ten Bompas with its lovely one-bedroom suites, garden patios and FREE mini bar and laundry.
Turbulent historyApartheid set South Africa apart from other countries for many years. Apartheid means to 'keep separate' and starting in the 1960's the black and white populations were indeed kept separate. You can see the aftermath of those years as you cross the country with many "black" townships next to the "white" towns. With the end of Apartheid the divisions are less apparent but it will take a few more generations for the effects to entirely disappear. And while Apartheid was a terrible plan, it has given this country its culture, its drive to succeed, and perhaps even its destiny. Visitors to the Apartheid museum in Johannesburg get the full story in all its disturbing detail. It is a place you must visit if you want to understand the past and present South Africa.
Shared hope for the future:
South Africa could have come out of the Apartheid era in a bloody civil war but due to his infinite wisdom and love for his country. Nelson Mandela shaped the future of the country with his example and his deeds and words. He is truly a great leader. “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if it needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” ~Nelson Mandela If you want to know more about this amazing leader, now in his 90s then you must read is his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom.
Friendly faces everywhere you goSouth Africans are warm and friendly. They are curious about visitors and will want to know all about you. They are very proud of their country and like showing if off. Most everyone speaks English but they are thrilled if you can say hello in one of the other languages. Sawubona is a typical Zulu greeting that means "hello, I see you!"
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