SOUTH AFRICA SAFARI VACATIONS

South Africa is renowned for its wonderful scenery, however, few are prepared for a diversity of terrain that ranges from lush, verdant forest to misty mountain ranges, from glorious golden beaches to wildlife-rich bushveld, from arid desert to fertile wineland - much of South Africa's charm lies in the breathtaking beauty of the its landscape. The visitor can easily see why it is known as the 'world in one country'. This diversity is not confined to geography. Ultra-modern Johannesburg skyscrapers contrast with elegant Cape-Dutch farmhouses, hi-tech agriculture co-exists with basic subsistence farming and the enlightened democracy that was fought for so hard has brought wealth to many but has not yet solved all of the country's problems. Each area of South Africa offers something of value and has fascinated travellers for centuries.

Johannesburg, known by the miners as 'Egoli' which means 'City of Gold', is the bustling business capital of the country. Here you will find a vibrant culture that offers great entertainment and nightlife and a serious interest in the arts. The centre of the city offers good museums and galleries but is particularly unsafe at night and so it is far more pleasant to use a hotel in the wealthy northern suburbs. Johannesburg, with its modern international airport, is also the ideal jumping-off point for northern and central South Africa.

Cape Town, sitting snugly under its famous Table Mountain, is probably the most charming of South Africa's cities. Sited magnificently with dramatic mountains, lovely beaches and the beautiful sweep of the bay it is easy to see why Sir Francis Drake called it 'the fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth'. Cape Town is also a great city to visit. There are endless trips to be made and places to visit. The bustling, and safe, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront area has excellent hotels, great craft markets, restaurants, cafes and shops. From here you may take a trip to Robben Island, to see for yourself the prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for many years.

Cape Town's beaches are sandy and uncrowded, surfing is good and there are plenty of bays to choose from. A trip up Table Mountain is a must - the mountain dominates the landscape - and the cable car is fun.

Cape Town is also the ideal base from which to move on to the Western Cape. This is the region of the famous winelands, where any sightseeing trip is likely to be lengthened considerably by tasting sessions at the estates that produce South Africa's highly rated wines. The spring in the Western Cape is absolutely spectacular. This is when the 'Fynbos', the flowering shrubland particular to Cape and much of which is found nowhere else in the world, bursts spectacularly into flower. There are many nature reserves in the area where you can observe the fynbos at close quarters.

The Garden Route, the strip of land between Stilbaai and Port Elizabeth on the south coast, is one of South Africa's best known areas. Lushly verdant, in contrast with the theatrically craggy Western Cape, it lies between the deeply forested peaks of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains and beaches lapped by the Indian Ocean. Many of the resorts are perfect for traditional beach holidays, but also offer excellent walking, watersports, old manor houses, pretty towns offering arts and traditional crafts, superb golf courses, birdwatching, dolphins and whale watching during their migration between the months of July and October. Shamwari Game Reserve, only an hour's drive from Port Elizabeth, allows the traveller to easily combine a big game experience with the delights of the Garden Route.

South Africa is justly known for the excellence of its wildlife and is one of the classic safari destinations. The big five - elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo - are all to be found here, as are a multitude of other animals and birds. National Parks such as Pilanesburg, near to Sun City, and of course the vast and magnificent Kruger National Park, combined with a proliferation of private reserves and highly trained guides and rangers, offer a wonderful game experience to the visitor.