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There is more to South Africa than just a soccer pitchAccording to Belinda van Niekerk from Cape Town Tourism, the winter months of June, July and August tend to mark the quieter period of South Africa’s tourism calendar. And unless you are going on a skiing holiday, few people look at the winter season as the ideal time for a vacation.
Of course, for South Africa, this winter looks to be much different. By the time you read this, the country will be awash with tourists, thanks to the Fifa Soccer World Cup.
The international sporting event will ensure that South Africa – in the dead of winter – will be packed wall to wall with foreign nationals; and as their host, it falls to us to ensure they have a good time.
South Africans have been given a golden opportunity to showcase this amazing country and what the Rainbow People have to offer.
Tourists will be considering South Africa as their next holiday destination and investors will be looking for opportunities to invest here as opposed to the rest of the world, which currently lies tattered in ash and debt.
South Africans now have to shine, impress and score!
There is no doubt that the tournament will deliver thrills and spills aplenty, but what will the soccer faithful do between games?
Thankfully, our country has much more going for it than open plots of land occupied by stadiums and fan parks, so we have zoomed in on the top-five of the top-10 rated suggestions for alternative entertainment, when you are not engaged in “The Beautiful Game”.
Game reserves
No time for false modesty here, but South Africa is one good looking country. And the best places to witness our natural beauty are the numerous game reserves scattered all over. So it does not matter in which city you are based, there will be a reserve nearby.
If you can pull it off, though, the Kruger National Park should be at the top of your list. Measuring in at nearly 19 000km2, Kruger is one of the largest nature reserves in Africa. Its imposing size means it is home to the entire Big Five, truly making it the ultimate African safari destination.
Robben Island
Tourist destinations often do not give one the opportunity to take on a daunting emotional journey, but the prison on Robben Island surely must be one of these.
For 27 years, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela reluctantly called this island off the coast of Cape Town ‘home’. As the place of his incarceration, Robben Island offers tourists a rare chance for a glimpse into the life of one of the world’s most important men during his hardest years.
Accessible by ferry from the V&A Waterfront, a trip to this World Heritage Site is a sombre but unforgettable experience.
Soweto
To get a genuine feel for South Africa’s multicultural society, it is not enough to appreciate the wild vistas of our game reserves or to delve into our troubled past. To really absorb the true African experience, the township tour is a must. Visit the country’s number-one township in the country, Soweto.
Contrary to popular belief, Soweto is not a word of African origin, rather its name is an English acronym for “South Western Townships”.
As the staging ground of some of the country’s watershed events, as far as the struggle against apartheid goes, Soweto is a must-see destination for those interested in South Africa’s political history.
Forgetting its rich cultural heritage for a moment, Soweto is also simply a great place to hang out, kick back and grab something to eat.
Cradle of Mankind
The Cradle of Mankind World Heritage Site is home to more early human fossils than any other place in the world. And as such, chances are that it truly is the Cradle of Mankind.
The new Maropeng Visitor Centre at the site makes it much easier – and more exciting – for tourists to view the fossils unearthed there.
In terms of giving you a sense of your place in the history of mankind, the Cradle of Mankind is probably one of the most profound.
Cape Town’s topless bus tours
The famous red buses have been a mainstay of the Cape Town’s tourism collage and in terms of convenience, it is difficult to beat.
City Sightseeing Cape Town, as part of the world’s largest and most respected open-top brand, is the best way to see Cape Town, exploring the city centre and scenic surroundings at leisure.
Tickets are available on www.citysightseeing.co.za, with the main ticket office next to the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront; or you can purchase tickets on the bus itself.
Visitors have a choice of two routes, providing them with either a cultural route or a scenic coastal. Traffic congestion and searching for destinations are no longer a problem – you sit back and listen to informative multilingual commentary in 14 different languages, while getting the best views of Cape Town from above.
City Sightseeing Cape Town won the International Operator of the Year award, beating 86 international destinations,
including London, New York and Paris.
Its tours have increased and it has included a “Cape’s Best Deal” – two kids for free with every full-paying adult.
In conclusion, whatever your itinerary may hold, you should definitely make the most of the beauty and splendour that South Africa offers. Filled with rich delights of culture, history and amazing scenery, locals and visitors alike continue to be awe-inspired.
Zaid Kriel
