Rare is the visitor who expects everything to be quiet and placid on South Africa holidays – it is, after all, a place where people go for excitement. It is one of the few places in the world where a ride on a 4 x 4 can put you in the path of hippos, rhinos, lions and an elephant or two!  For those who can’t stand still, here are a few of the more heart-pounding activities guaranteed to give the ultimate thrills on South Africa holidays:

Mountain Climbing

There’s definitely no shortage of mountains to climb on South Africa holidays – the bigger problem might be deciding where to start!  This topographically gifted country boasts several mountainous regions offering a wide choice of conquests for climbers of different levels, all offering picturesque locations filled with breathtaking views. These include Lion’s Head in Cape Town, the Drakensberg Mountains of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, with its famous Restaurant At The End of The World, and Hogsback on the Eastern Cape.

Rock Climbing And Abseiling

For those who want to take their climbing to a whole new level, there’s nothing quite like scaling sheer cliffs and rock faces for an exhilarating time on South Africa holidays! Table Mountain is the favoured location for both casual rock climbing and extreme abseiling. It  boasts the highest commercial abseil, measuring 112 metres off an otherwise impassable cliff. Mpumalanga is another favourite of rock climbers the world over, offering great rock climbing opportunities in the area, with numerous faces that have yet to be scaled.

If your South Africa holidays take you to the Eastern Cape, there’s Van Stadens Gorge, the Grips, Windmill Hole and Lady’s Slipper to satisfy your rock climbing and abseiling needs. The Blouberg in Limpopo, the Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal and the Magaliesberg in the Northwest Province also offer a wide range of options suitable for climbers of various levels of expertise.

Kloofing (Canyoning)

Said to have been introduced in the Western Cape, and rapidly growing in popularity among visitors on South Africa holidays, kloofing (also called canyoning) involves following a mountain stream or river gorge down its course, by floating along, swimming and most often, abseiling and jumping over waterfalls into the icy waters below.

Suicide Gorge and Steenbras River Gorge are among the popular kloofing spots in the Western Cape. They involve a series of very high mandatory jumps. The Mfongosi River in KwaZulu-Natal, on the other hand, offers steep rockslides, and is the ultimate challenge in extreme South Africa holidays.

Bungee Jumping And Bridge Swinging

Bungee jumping, bridge swinging and bridge jumping can also offer loads of fun as well as a healthy, heady rush of adrenaline on South Africa holidays!

The Bloukrans Bridge jump, the third highest commercial bungee jump in the world, which involves plunging head-first in a full body harness 216 metres down towards Bloukrans River below, and the Gouritz River Bridge for both bungee jumping and bridge swinging, remain two of the most popular destinations for adrenaline junkies on South Africa holidays.

Obviously, all these extreme adventures offer elements of risk and danger, especially for visitors on South Africa holidays not familiar with the geography. Fortunately, there are a number of specialists offering guided adventure tours for these various activities, to ensure safety for both beginners and more advanced adventurers.

Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made South Africa holidays as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury South Africa holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!

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With all the diversity it has to offer – natural, ethnic and cultural – there’s just so much to see on South Africa holidays. Even better, there are so many different ways to see it all! Whether it’s by land, by sea or by air, every ride you go on in your South Africa holidays will certainly be a unique experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Here are just a few suggestions for the most memorable rides in South Africa.

1.   The Table Mountain Cable Car. Definitely the first thing on the “must-do” list of any visitor on South Africa holidays, is a trip to Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain on the rotating cable cars for a breathtakingly view of Cape Town and its environs. The spectacular views don’t end with the ride – it’s only the beginning. Once you reach Table Mountain, look around, there are even more wonderful sights to see.

2.    Yacht/ Cruise. Nothing spells luxury quite like a cruise or a ride on a yacht. And nothing shows off the uniqueness of South Africa more than a view from the sea. Being bounded by two oceans, the Rainbow Nation is uniquely gifted with wonderful sailing for the sea-loving visitor on South Africa holidays. Whether it’s a one-hour sightseeing cruise from the V&A Harbour, or a five-day luxury cruise with stops at the major ports, you’ll certainly agree that it’s one amazing ride!

3.    Canoe/Raft/Kayak. If your taste leans towards the adventurous, and if excitement is what you’re looking for in your water rides, the big, fast rivers, such as the Umkomaas, Umzimkulu, Mooi River, Umgeni, Thukela, Buffalo and Pongola rivers flowing across the Zulu Kingdom and the lakes of Maputaland, Lake St Lucia, Lake Sibaya and the Kosi system might be just what you’re looking for to get your thrills on your South Africa holidays. Whether you prefer white water rafting at top speed or leisurely paddling to enjoy the wildlife sharing the water with you, you’re never starved for choices on how to explore the different bodies of water in South Africa.

4.    Bicycle. If the bicycle is your vehicle of choice, you’ll certainly love South Africa! Holidays here can provide you with the most amazing tours you can ever experience on two wheels. Take an unforgettable mountain bike tour through the tougher trails of the Drakenberg Mountains, or a slow, easy route through the rolling Cape Winelands. There’s certainly a vast array options for the cycling enthusiast in South Africa.

5.    Hot Air Balloon. Imagine never-ending panoramas for miles and miles around you as you float through the skies on the gentle wind, sipping champagne watching the sun as it rises. For the many who’ve tried it, hot-air ballooning is one of the most magical and unforgettable experiences on South Africa holidays. It’s a peaceful yet awe-inspiring experience and safe for people of almost all ages. Popular spots for hot air ballooning are Magaliesberg, Sabie and Hazyview in Mpumalanga, and the Cape Midlands.

Those are just five of the most thrilling and memorable rides of your life awaiting you on South Africa holidays. There’s others, of course, such as rides on ostriches, elephants and more, but definitely, the most important one you’ll ever take is the one that gets you there!

Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made South Africa holidays as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury South Africa holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!

This article was provided by LeadGenerators – the smartest SEO agency in London, and the proud host of a series of Internet Marketing training seminars and Social Media breakfasts.

Much has been about the magnificent terrain and glorious landscapes to be enjoyed on South Africa holidays – its breathtaking scenery, geological wonders and rich wildlife definitely make it a great land to visit. The land isn’t all there is to South Africa, however – its waters are just as awesome as well.

Saltwater Or Freshwater?

Those with an affinity for water, whether fresh or salt, will find plenty to make their South Africa holidays unforgettable. Bordered by two oceans, with 3,000 kilometres of coastline, majestic rivers in spectacular settings, picturesque lake systems, and rich wetlands, there is no end to the possibilities for those who don’t mind (or even prefer) getting their feet and more, wet!

Surfer’s Paradise
Considered one of the top surfing countries of the world, its hundreds of surf spots offer ideal surf for various levels of expertise. The beautiful coastline and high-quality waves mean many surfers on South Africa holidays wish they could stay forever. J Bay, the collective term for the area around the Eastern Cape that includes Cape St. Francis, Jeffreys Bay and Port Elizabeth, is world-renowned for its world-class waves.

The coastline of KwaZulu-Natal offers amazing surfing at whatever time of the year you schedule your South Africa holidays, with its classic reef breaks, hollow beach breaks and warm water temperatures all year round. Western Cape’s Camps Bay, Clifton, Hermanus, Bloubergstrand and Muizenberg also offer great waves and beaches – as well as a dolphin or penguin if you’re lucky.

Not to be forgotten is scenic Garden Route: Plettenberg Bay’s Robberg and Lookout beaches, as well as the Wilderness and Victoria Bay, have amazing waves that make for unforgettable surfing on South Africa holidays.

Not So Gently Down The Streams

For those who prefer watery excitement of the freshwater kind, South Africa holidays definitely won’t disappoint – there are canoeing, kayaking and whitewater rafting opportunities all year round.

The Orange River and the Breede River are the two favourite rivers for kayaking and rafting on South Africa holidays. They offer great scenery as well as both gentle stretches and fun rapids, which can be navigable by people of various skill levels. For more serious white water rafting, the Blyde in Mpumalanga, the Umkomaas in KwaZulu-Natal, and the Buffalo have some beautiful yet challenging rapids that can test your technical skills.

For those who prefer paddling on placid flat waters, canoeing on the Garden Route lakes, as well as those of the beautiful Kosi Bay, can be quite a fun way to spend your South Africa holidays. You may even see some crocodiles and hippos in the lakes of the wetlands such as Lake Sta. Lucia and Lake Bhangazi.

Make A Splash!

For those who crave variety in their water sports adventures, there are plenty of other activities that promise exhilaration on South Africa holidays: windsurfing, kite surfing, deep sea diving, snorkelling, and even shark cage diving.  So come on over to South Africa and jump in – the water’s fine!

Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made South Africa holidays as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury South Africa holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!

This article was provided by LeadGenerators – the smartest SEO agency in London, and the proud host of a series of Internet Marketing training seminars and Social Media breakfasts.

Many South Africa holidays include the Garden Route, a famous coastal route that takes in the region’s beautiful flora. One town along the route, Knysna, is well worth a stop – especially in July. Knysna, 72 kilometres east of George and west of Plettenberg Bay on the N2 Highway, is the premier destination for eating oysters in South Africa. Holidays that include it on their itinerary will be even more memorable for the lucky traveller.

Welcome to Knysna

Knysna is a lovely destination all year round, due to its warm climate and seaside location. It is popular with both local visitors and international tourists on South Africa holidays, as well as people looking to settle – both young and old.

The town is built on a large warm-water estuary, fed by the Knysna River, which opens to the ocean after passing between two large headlands called “The Heads”. These have claimed many lives in their treacherous waters. Nearby geological formations are known as “The Map Stones”. Away from the sea, rainforest stretches from the town’s edges to the Outeniqua Mountains. It is a beautiful region in its own right, well worth visiting on South Africa holidays.

The Oyster Festival

Every July, Knysna hosts the Pick n Pay Oyster Festival, a fantastic event for families, sports enthusiasts, children – and gourmands. 2011’s festival will be the twenty-eighth, since the late Dick Ginsberg organised the first in 1983. The wide range of events makes the festival a worthy addition to a South Africa holiday’s itinerary.

Sports enthusiasts can run in the Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon, or cycle in the Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour, which offer amazing opportunities to see the ancient indigenous forests of the region. For those who prefer different sports, there’s a full programme of activities. Children will enjoy the adventure activities, the youth theatre, puppet shows, creative workshops and cookery classes.

But the jewels of the festival are the oysters. Approximately 200,000 of them are consumed at each year’s festival. There are all sorts of oyster-related events, including the oyster-shucking (opening) competition, the oyster-eating competition, and the Pick n Pay Oyster & Wine Mardi Gras – a delicious evening of oysters and wine tasting. Oysters are also for sale at shops and stalls throughout the festival. Any gourmands on South Africa holidays are well advised to sample the oysters here, although there’s really something for everyone at Knysna’s festival.

Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made South Africa holidays as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury South Africa holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!

This article was provided by LeadGenerators – the smartest SEO agency in London, and the proud host of a series of Internet Marketing training seminars and Social Media breakfasts.

A great event to add to any South Africa holidays itinerary is the Joburg Fashion Week. It is held in the city of Johannesburg during the month of February, gathering together some of South Africa’s most pioneering, inspiring and creative designers. It is a must for any true fashionista worth their salt, and this year looks set to be an event full of surprises and innovation.

New Directions

Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, the Chairperson for African Fashion International (AFI), and some of the big names in the African fashion world attended a star-studded event that announced the dates and venues for the 2011 Joburg Fashion Week. If you are planning to visit this event on your South Africa holidays then hold on to your hats for big changes this year. Dr. Moloi-Motsepe also revealed her desire to make the city of Johannesburg the fashion capital of Africa, and the new direction that Fashion Week would be taking. She spoke of a “stronger company vision that will serve as a catalyst for the development and growth of the fashion industry, ensuring both local and global participation.”

Taking the Fashion to the City

One way organisers hope to make the Fashion Week more interesting is to involve the entire city in the fashion extravaganza; so they took the events to the streets and used the beautiful buildings and monuments that populate the city. For example, if you happen to be perusing the National Gallery sometime in February while on your South Africa holidays, you may be fortunate enough to see Stiaan Louw show off his provocative menswear collection. Or maybe the Nelson Mandela Bridge is on your list of ‘things to do while on South Africa holidays’. If that is true then you may be lucky to catch a glimpse David Tlale, whose show will be the closing highlight of this exciting week of fashion.

The Key Players

The event is populated with a range of journalists and stake holders as well as designers, and the AFI introduced some of the new faces that will be the driving force behind the vision of this year’s Fashion Week. Among the illustrious names are Paul Leisegang, the new Managing Director, and Jan Malan of Umzinggeli.

Joburg Fashion Week, starting on February 15th, will run for four days and looks set to be an exciting series of fashion events – something you don’t want to miss out on if on your South Africa holidays fall in that month.

Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made South Africa holidays as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury South Africa holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!

This article was provided by LeadGenerators – the smartest SEO agency in London, and the proud host of a series of Internet Marketing training seminars and Social Media breakfasts.

There are a lot of reasons to visit South Africa. Holidays there can be spent on the beaches, exploring the nation’s history and culture, or taking in the sights of the cities. But the number one tourist draw is still the wildlife. South Africa has some of the largest concentrations of animals in their natural habitat on the continent. There are numerous game reserves, large and small, state operated and privately owned. Here are six of the best of South Africa’s protected wildlife sanctuaries.

Kruger, Pilansberg and Madikwe

Kruger National Park is the most popular destination for animal lovers on South Africa holidays. It is the flagship of South Africa’s game parks, and one of the best places on the continent to view wildlife. Just think of it: 147 species of mammals including the Big Five – lions, elephants, leopards, Cape buffalo and rhino – 112 species of reptiles, 49 of fish, 39 of amphibians, and 507 of birds. The park is huge, stretching from the Crocodile River in the South to the Limpopo in the north, and from the foothills of the eastern escarpment to the plains of the lowveld. Pilansberg, which is South Africa’s fourth largest national park, is stocked with animals from all over Southern Africa: elephants, buffalo, black and white rhino, eland, zebra and waterbuck. It is also the natural home of the brown hyena, Cape hunting dog, sable antelope and cheetah. Madikwe, which covers 60,000 hectares, has the second largest elephant population in South Africa. Since the release of 10,000 animals into the reserve in the 1990s, it now has zebras, lions, buffalo, white rhino, spotted hyenas, kudu, leopards and cheetahs. Visitors can see the animals during game drives or on morning walks with guides. Special community projects allow local people to benefit from and contribute to sustainable ecological management in Madikwe.

Addo, Hluhuwe-Imfolozo and Kgalagadi Transfrontier

The names of these reserves might not be as familiar to people on South African holidays as Kruger, but these parks are sure to amaze wildlife enthusiasts. Thanks to the reintroduction of lions to Addo in 2003, visitors now have the opportunity of seeing the Big Seven – the Big Five plus whales and great white sharks. Addo has the densest elephant population on earth. This park is one of the most ambitious conservation projects ever undertaken. Hluhuwe-Imfolozo is one of the best wildlife reserves in KwaZulu Natal, and its star attraction is the rhino population. The rest of the Big Five are here, as well as such rarely seen animals as the nyala. Among the 350 species of birds seen here is the elusive bateleur eagle. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is one of the least visited reserves in South Africa. It is remote and largely undeveloped, and the summer heat is extreme. But for those who are willing to endure the sun and the dusty roads, this park has some of the best game viewing in South Africa. Here you can see the dark-maned Kalahari lion. Other predators include cheetah, black-eared fox, black-backed jackal, and honey badger. You’ll also see giraffes, Burchell’s zebra, and huge herds of wildebeest and springbok. The best time to see the animals is between February and May, especially if the rains have been good.

Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made South Africa holidays as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury South Africa holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!

This article was provided by LeadGenerators – the smartest SEO agency in London, and the proud host of a series of Internet Marketing training seminars and Social Media breakfasts.