South Africa -  the Rainbow Nation

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Introduction

South Africa is a multiracial society. Political violence seems to be a thing of the past and among the vast majority of people there is a desire to get on with building a new nation, a new society of great energy and significance,

For the first time traveler to Africa continent, South Africa is a great place to start: the infrastructure is very good, the climate is kind , and South Africa's natural beauty and wildlife are stunning. 

Like its peoples, South Africa is a land of dramatic diversity. The wildlife of the Big Five - lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant, the sea coasts, mountain ranges, forests, deserts arid plains : all have a special quality that set them apart as uniquely South African. This quality is a combination of climate, wildlife and terrain that must be directly experienced to be understood.

Facts at a Glance

Name:  . The Republic of South Africa
Area: 1,233,404 sq km
Capital: Pretoria (administrative capital; population 1,010,000).
Population:  41 million
People: 75% black, 13% white (60% of whites are of Afrikaner descent, most of the rest are of British descent), 8% mixed race, 3% of Indian descent.
Major Language: English, Afrikaans, seSotho, isiXhosa and isiZulu are the most commonly spoken. 
Official Language: To cater for South Africa’s diverse peoples, the Constitution provides for 11 official languages, namely Afrikaans, English, IsiNdebele, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, SiSwati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
Main religions:  Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and traditional religions.
Currency:    1 rand (R) = 100 cents
US$1 = about 6.1 rands
GDP: US$146 billion. composition by sector  agriculture:5%;  industry:35%; services:60% (1999 est.)
Exports:  $28 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) .  Exports - commodities  gold, diamonds, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
Imports:  $26 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.).  Imports - commodities  machinery, foodstuffs and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments
GDP per head: US$3,395
Annual growth: 0.9%
Inflation: 9%
Major industries: Mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, finance, insurance, food processing
Major trading partners: USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy
Tourism: 1 million visitors per year
Time: GMT/UTC plus two hours
Climate:  The subtropical location, on either side of 30° S, accounts for the warm temperate conditions of South Africa. The country also falls squarely within the subtropical belt of high pressure, making it dry, with an abundance of sunshine.

The wide expanses of ocean on three sides of South Africa have a moderating influence on its climate. More apparent, however, are the effects of the warm Agulhas and cold Benguela currents along the east and west coasts respectively. While Durban (east coast) and Port Nolloth (west coast) lie more or less on the same latitude, there is a difference of at least 6ºC in their mean annual temperatures.

Gale-force winds are frequent on the coasts, especially in the south-western and southern coastal areas.

South Africa has an average annual rainfall of 464 mm, compared with a world average of 860 mm. About 20% of the country has a total annual rainfall of less than 200 mm, 48% between 200 and 600 mm, while only about 30% records more than 600 mm. In total, 65% of the country has an annual rainfall of less than 500 mm – usually regarded as the absolute minimum for successful dry-land farming.
Temperature range: 
Temperature conditions in South Africa are characterized by three main features. 
(1) The temperatures tend to be lower than in other regions at similar latitudes, for example North Africa and Australia. This is due primarily to the greater elevation above sea level of the subcontinent. 
(2) Despite a latitudinal span of 13 degrees, average annual temperatures are remarkably uniform throughout the country. 
(3) The striking contrast between temperatures on the east and west coasts. Temperatures above 32ºC are fairly common in summer, and frequently exceed  38ºC in the lower Orange River valley and the Mpumalanga Lowveld.  

South Africa is famous for its sunshine. Generally speaking, April and May are the most pleasant months. 

In certain areas, however, notably the hot, humid KwaZulu-Natal coast, Mpumalanga and the Northern Province, June and July are the ideal holiday months.

Health risks:

HIV / AIDS.
Malaria is mainly confined to the eastern half of the region, especially on the lowveld. Bilharzia is also found mainly in the east but outbreaks do occur in other places so you should always check with knowledgeable local people before drinking water or swimming in it.

Visas:  Every person wishing to enter South Africa must be in possession of a valid passport for travel to South Africa and, where necessary, a visa.

No visas are required for travellers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, the USA and the European Union for visits of up to 90 days.

Economy 

South Africa is a middle-income developing country with an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy and transport sectors; a modern infrastructure; and a stock exchange ranking among the ten largest in the world. 

However, growth has not been strong enough to cut into the 30% unemployment, and daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era, especially the problems of poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups. Other problems are crime, corruption, and HIV/AIDS.  

The challenges the country is facing are to create a strong and balanced economy in order to eliminate poverty, develop a dynamic human resource capacity, facilitate the creation of a prosperous southern African region and engage itself in the world economy in a sustainable manner.

Tourism

South Africa is a highly attractive tourist destination, and is striving to position itself as a world-class contender within this high-growth global industry. 
Tourism is South Africa’s  fourth-largest industry, supporting some 700 hotels, 2 800 guest-houses and bed-and-breakfast establishments and 10 000 restaurants.. One in every nine jobs in the country is linked to tourism, and  some 740 000 jobs in South Africa are created by the tourism economy. It is projected that in 2010 the South African tourism economy will employ more than 1,2 million people (directly and indirectly).

The fastest growing segment of tourism in South Africa is ecological tourism (ecotourism), which includes nature photography, bird-watching, botanical studies, snorkeling, hiking and mountaineering.

National and provincial parks in South Africa, as well as private game reserves, involve local communities in the conservation and management of natural resources. These  communities are not only benefiting financially from ecotourism, but are also becoming aware of their responsibility to the environment.

The high foreign exchange value of ecotourism enables significant economic values to be assigned to ecological resources, in this way helping to promote their conservation.

South Africa’s top 15 tourist attractions according to international visitors:

• Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town
• Table Mountain
• Cape Point
• The Wine routes in the Western Cape
• Kirstenbosch
• The Garden Route
• Ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn
• Kruger National Park
• Durban beachfront
• Robben Island
• Cango Caves
• Blyde River Canyon
• Pretoria sights
• Drakensberg resorts
• Pilgrim’s Rest.

South Africa is still in the process of transformation, but its unique selling points are becoming increasingly clear. Very few other destinations can offer a wide variety of attractions: beautiful coastlines, mountains, unique fauna and flora and many different cultures.

South Africa’s marketing strategy includes the following:

Welcome Campaign

Launched on 8 December 1999 by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the Campaign seeks to make South Africans aware of the importance of tourism in their everyday lives. The overriding message of the Campaign is that each South African has a role to play  in making visitors feel safe and welcome. The community-based Campaign is led by the Government and driven by South African businesses.

According to a report released by the World Tourism Organization in February 1999, South Africa has one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world. South Africa has gone from being ranked 55th in the world in 1990 to a rank of 25th in the world’s top 40 tourism destinations. South Africa is the highest-ranked African country on the list.

South Africa’s transport infrastructure – airlines, railroads, luxury touring buses (coaches) and cars – is such that tourists can travel comfortably and quickly from their port of entry to any other part of the country.  

Furthermore, foreign tourists visiting South Africa can have their value-added tax (VAT) refunded, provided the value of the items purchased exceeds R20. VAT is refunded on departure at the point of exit.

Geology:

The land

South Africa occupies the southernmost part of the African continent, stretching  from latitude 22° to 35° S and longitude 17° to 33° E.

It has common boundaries with the Republics of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, while the Republic of Mozambique and the Kingdom of Swaziland lie to the north-east. Completely enclosed by South African territory in the south-east is the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.

To the west, south and east, South Africa borders on the Atlantic and southern Indian oceans. Isolated, 1 920 km south-east of Cape Town in the Atlantic, lie Prince Edward and Marion islands, annexed by South Africa in 1947.

South Africa can be divided into three major parts: the vast interior plateau (the highveld), the Great Escarpment at its edge (the Kalahari Basin), and a narrow coastal plain (the lowveld).

South Africa a mostly dry and sunny place but the climate is moderated by its topography and the surrounding oceans. 

The Seas

South Africa is surrounded by the ocean on three sides –  to the west, south and east – and has a lengthy coastline of about 3 000 km. 

This coastline is swept by two major ocean currents – the warm south-flowing Mozambique-Agulhas Current and the cold Benguela. The former skirts the east and south coasts as far as Cape Agulhas while the Benguela Current flows northwards along the west coast as far as southern Angola.

The contrast in temperature between these two currents partly accounts for important differences in climate and vegetation between the east and west coasts of South Africa. It also causes big differences in marine life, the cold waters of the west coast being much richer in oxygen, nitrates, phosphates and plankton than those of the east coast. Consequently, the South African fishing industry is centered on the west coast.

The Coasts

The coastline itself is an even, closed one with few bays or indentations naturally suitable for harbours. The only ideal natural harbour along the coastline is Saldanha Bay on the west coast. However, the area lacks fresh water and offers no natural lines of penetration to the interior.

Most river mouths are unsuitable for use as harbours because large sand bars block entry for most of the year. These bars are formed by the action of waves and currents, and the intermittent flow, heavy sediment load and steep gradients of most South African rivers. Only the largest rivers, such as the Orange and Limpopo, maintain narrow permanent channels through the bars. For much the same reasons, the country has no navigable rivers.

Relief features

The surface area of South Africa falls into two major geographic features: the interior plateau, and the land between the plateau and the coast. 

Forming the boundary between these two areas is the Great Escarpment, the most prominent and continuous relief feature of the country. Its height above sea level varies from approximately 1 500 m in the dolerite-capped Roggeveld scarp in the south-west to a height of 3 482 m in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg.

Inland from the Escarpment lies the interior plateau, which is the southern continuation of the great African plateau stretching north to the Sahara Desert.

The plateau itself is characterized by wide plains with an average height of 1 200 m above sea level.

Surmounting the plateau in places are a number of well-defined upland blocks. The dissected Lesotho plateau, which is more than 3 000 m above sea level, is the most prominent. In general, the Escarpment forms the highest parts of the plateau.

Between the Great Escarpment and the coast lies an area which varies in width from 80 to 240 km in the east and south to a mere 60 to 80 km in the west. At least three major subdivisions can be recognized: the eastern plateau slopes, the Cape folded belt and adjacent regions, and the western plateau slopes.

In the field of natural resources, South Africa is a world in one country.  It shows both faces, that of plenty and that of scarcity. 

The nation’s mineral resources have for a century provided the bedrock for its economic development. The solid base of the mining industry was founded upon the reserves of gold discovered on the Witwatersrand in the then Transvaal (now Gauteng) in 1886. It was a turning point in the country’s history as it led to the emergence of the modern South African industrial state.

Whereas the first gold was found virtually lying on the surface, today it is won with increasing difficulty.  The deepest of the gold mines have workings more than 3 km below the surface. It is a tribute to the industry that, despite this handicap, and the fact that deposits which are easier to mine are being found in other countries, South Africa’s industry has been driven to new levels of ingenuity and innovativeness to remain competitive. 

While gold confronts new challenges, platinum mining keeps South Africa in the forefront of the world’s precious metals producers. It is the world’s biggest producer of platinum and South African-based mining groups play a leading role in other mineral resources such as coal and base metals.

South Africa is a relatively arid country. As in many parts of the developing world, its rainfall is extremely variable and erratic as is reflected even in its largest rivers whose total flow can vary tenfold from one year to the next and a further tenfold from one month to the next.

During the floods of February 2000, twice the average annual flow of the Limpopo River, which forms the northern border with Zimbabwe and Botswana, passed the Beit Bridge gauge in just eight days. This peak flow coincided with similar floods in a number of other river basins and resulted in catastrophic flooding when the waters converged in downstream Mozambique.

The social and economic development of South African society is accompanied by a continued increase in the demands placed on the nation’s erratic water resources.

By 1994, almost 50% of the rainfall that reached the country’s rivers was captured and used. This is a high proportion and can only be achieved and reliably sustained by means of extensive storage reservoirs and transfer systems.

These works, which form the backbone of South Africa’s water management system, have effectively linked the Orange River, which flows into the Atlantic on the border with Namibia in the west, with the Limpopo and Komati, which flow into Mozambique and discharge into the Indian Ocean to the east.

To meet the needs for environmental protection, South Africa’s National Water Policy provides that the requirements of the environment and the supply of water for people’s basic needs must be determined and reserved before water is taken for any other use. The methodologies for doing this are being developed and have aroused great international interest.

In addressing the pressure on water use, economists have found that putting cost pressures on farmers in terms of water policy, leads to a rise in both agricultural productivity and employment. South Africa has also become a leader in the development of state-of-the-art irrigation and hydrological tools.

Because of the resource constraint, the productivity and efficiency of the country’s specialized agriculture has improved markedly, although there would be scope for further improvement if greater access to the western markets for high value fruit and horticulture products were to be achieved.

Whether in forestry, mining or agriculture, it is increasingly being recognized that human impact on the environment has reached the point where the environment needs to be managed as a system.

History:

Although Khoisan tribes of nomadic hunters, gatherers and pastoralists have lived in southern Africa for around 40,000 years, they didn't reach the Cape of Good Hope until about 2000 years ago. By the 15th century most arable land had been settled by encroaching Bantu pastoral tribes.

Southern Africa became a popular stop for European crews after Vasco de Gama opened the Cape of Good Hope spice route in 1498, and, by the mid-17th century, scurvy and shipwreck had induced Dutch traders to opt for a permanent settlement in Table Bay on the site of present day Cape Town. 

The mostly Dutch burghers pushed slowly north, decimating the Khoisan with violence and disease as they went. Towards the end of the 18th century and with Dutch power fading, Britain predictably jumped in for another piece of Africa. 

It was hoped that British settlers would inhabit a buffer zone between skirmishing pastoral Boers and Xhosa, but most of the British immigrant families retreated to town, entrenching the rural/urban divide that is evident in white South Africa even today. Although slavery was abolished in 1833, black/white division of labour served all whites too well for any real attempt to change.

Upheaval in black southern Africa wasn't generated only by the white invaders. Difaqane was the name given to a terror campaign masterminded by the Zulu chief, Shaka. This wave of disruption through southern Africa left some tribes wiped out, others enslaved and the lucky ones running. Into this chaos disgruntled Boers stomped on their Great Trek away from British rule. Most of the pastures they trekked through were deserted or inhabited by traumatized refugees; they were easily turned into cattle runs. The Zulus were no pushovers, however. They put up strong and bloody resistance to the Boers before eventually ceding to superior firepower. Boer republics popped up through the interior, and were annexed one by one by Britain in a chaotic kafuffle of treaties, diplomacy and violence through the middle part of the 19th century. 

Just when it looked like the Union Jack was going to fly from Cairo to the Cape, diamonds were discovered in Kimberley, and the Dutch resistance became suddenly stronger.

The First Anglo-Boer War ended in a crushing Boer victory and the establishment of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. 

The British backed off until a huge reef of gold was discovered around Johannesburg and then marched in again for the Second Anglo-Boer War, dribbling with Empiric greed. 

By 1902 the Boers had exhausted their conventional resources and resorted to commando-style raids, denying the British control of the countryside. The British quashed resistance with disproportionate reprisals: if a railway line was blown up, the nearest farmhouse was destroyed; if a shot was fired from a farm, the house was burnt down, the crops destroyed and the animals killed. The women and children from the farms were collected and taken to concentration camps - a British invention - where 26,000 died of disease and neglect. The Boers were compelled to sign an ignominious and bitter peace.

Soon after the Union of South Africa was established in 1910, a barrage of racist legislation was passed restricting black rights and laying the foundations for apartheid. 

After a last flutter with military rebellion during WWI, the Afrikaners got on with the business of controlling South Africa politically. In 1948 elections the Afrikaner-dominated and ultra-right National Party took the reins and didn't let the white charger slow down until 1994. Every individual was classified by race, and race determined where you could live, work, pray, learn and shit. Irrespective of where they had been born, blacks were divided into one of ten tribal groups, forcibly dispossessed and dumped in rural backwaters, the so-called Homelands. The plan was to restrict blacks to Homelands that were, according to the propaganda, to become self-sufficient, self-governing states. In reality, these lands had virtually no infrastructure, no industry and were therefore incapable of producing sufficient food for the black population. There was intense, widespread suffering and many families returned to squalid squatter camps in the cities from which they had been evicted. Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi was pivotal in the Inkatha movement, a failed attempt to unite Homeland leaders. 

Black resistance developed in the form of strikes, acts of public disobedience and protest marches, and was supported by international opinion from the early 1960s after 69 protesters were killed in Sharpeville and African National Congress (ANC) leaders including Nelson Mandela were jailed.

After withdrawing from the British Commonwealth in 1961, South Africa became increasingly isolated. Paranoia developed through the 1960s and '70s, as the last European powers withdrew from Africa and black, often socialist, states formed around South Africa's northern borders. 

South Africa's military responses ranged from limited strikes (Mozambique, Lesotho) to full-scale assault (Angola, Namibia). When Cuba intervened in Angola in 1988, South Africa suffered a major defeat and war looked much less attractive. As the spirit of Gorbachev-style detente permeated southern Africa, Cuba pulled out of Angola, Namibia became independent and a stable peace was finally brokered in 1990.

The domestic situation was far from resolved. Violent responses to black protests increased commitment to a revolutionary struggle and the United Nations finally imposed economic and political sanctions. But in the mid-1980s, black-on-black violence in the townships exploded. Although bitter lines were drawn between the left wing Xhosa-based ANC and the right wing Zulu-dominated Inkatha movement, such distinctions are too simplistic in the context of the massive economic and social deprivation of black South Africa. There were clashes between political rivals, tribal enemies, opportunistic gangsters, and between those who lived in the huge migrant-workers' hostels and their township neighbours. President PW Botha detained, tortured and censored his way to 1989 when economic sanctions began to bite, the rand collapsed and reformist FW De Klerk came to power. 

Virtually all apartheid regulations were repealed, political prisoners were released and negotiations began on forming a multiracial government. 

Free elections in 1994 resulted in a decisive victory for the ANC and Nelson Mandela became president. De Klerk's National Party won just over 20% of the vote, and the Inkatha Freedom Party won 10.5%. South Africa rejoined the British Commonwealth a few months later.

Despite the scars of the past and the enormous problems ahead, South Africa today is immeasurably more optimistic and relaxed than it was a few years ago. 

The international community has embraced the new South Africa and the ANC's apparently sincere desire to create a truly non-racial nation. 

Among whites there is dazed relief, and among blacks there is the exhilaration of freedom gained. Although it will be some time before the black majority gain much economic benefit from their freedom, the political structure seems strong enough to hold the diverse region together. There are huge expectations for the new South Africa.

In 1999, after five years of learning about democracy, the country voted in a more normal election. 

Issues such as economics and competence were raised and debated. There was some speculation that the ANC vote might drop with the retirement of Nelson Mandela. The ANC's vote didn't drop - it increased to put the party within one seat of the two-thirds majority that would allow it to alter the constitution. Thabk Mbeki, who took over the ANC leadership from Nelson Mandela, became president in the 1999 elections.

The People

The South African population consists of the Nguni people, who account for two thirds of the population; the Sotho-Tswana people, who include the Southern, Northern and Western Sotho (Tswana); the Tsonga; the Venda; Afrikaners; English; Indians, and people who have immigrated to South Africa from the rest of Africa, Europe and Asia and who maintain a strong cultural identity. A few members of the Khoe and the San also remain.

The mingling and melding in South Africa's urban areas means that old cultures are fading and new synchretism are emerging, but traditional black cultures are still strong in much of the countryside. All the traditional cultures are based on beliefs in a masculine deity, ancestral spirits and supernatural forces. Polygamy is permitted and a bride-price (where the groom's family reimburse the bride's family for the loss of their daughter) is usually paid. Cattle play an important part in many cultures, as symbols of wealth and as sacrificial animals.

The art of South Africa's indigenous populations can be one of the only ways to connect with lost cultures. Rock and cave paintings by the San (Bushmen), some of which date back 26,000 years, fall into this category. In other cases, such as the elaborate 'coded' beadwork of the Zulus, traditional art has been adapted to survive in different circumstances. Zulu is one of the strongest surviving black cultures and massed Zulu singing at Inkatha Freedom Party demonstrations is a powerful expression of this ancient culture. The Xhosa also have a strong presence; they are known as the red people because of the red-dyed clothing worn by most adults. The Ndebele are a related group, who live in the Northern Transvaal in strikingly painted houses.

The Afrikaners' distinct culture has developed in a deliberate isolation which saw them wandering around with cows and a Bible while 18th-century Europe experimented with democracy and liberalism. Today's rural communities still revolve around the conservative Dutch Reform churches, but 'Afrikaner redneck' is far from a tautology.

Aside from the Afrikaners, the majority of European South Africans are of British extraction. The British are generally more urbanised and have tended to dominate the business and financial sectors. The Afrikaners feel that they are more committed to South Africa, and have a charming term for the man with one foot in South Africa and one in Britain. There is also a large and influential Jewish population and a significant Indian minority.

The British can take most of the blame for the food dished up in South Africa. Steak or boerwors sausage, overboiled veges and chips are the norm, and where the food gets more adventurous it often turns out pretty scary. Vegetarians will not have a good culinary time. African dishes are not commonly served in restaurants, although you can get a cheap rice and stew belly-filler from street stalls in most towns. Beer and brandy are the popular swills, and South Africa's excellent wines are becoming more and more popular.

Although South Africa is home to a great diversity of cultures, most were suppressed during the apartheid years when day-to-day practice of traditional and contemporary cultures was ignored or detroyed. In a society where you could be jailed for owning a politically incorrect painting, serious art was forced underground and blandness ruled in the galleries and theatres. The most striking example of this was the bulldozing of both District Six, a vibrant multicultural area in Cape Town, and Johannesburg's Sophiatown, where internationally famous musicians learned their craft in an area once described as 'a skeleton with a permanent grin'. Groups like Ladysmith Black Mambazo have managed to bring South Africans sounds to a wide western audience, both during and after apartheid.

One of the most exciting aspects of the new South Africa is that the country is in the process of reinventing itself and, with such a large proportion of the population marginalized from the economic mainstream, this is occurring without much input from professional image makers. Hopeful signs include gallery retrospectives of black artists, contemporary and traditional, and musicians from around Africa performing in major festivals. The new South Africa is being created on the streets of the townships and the cities.

Biological diversity

South Africa has among the world’s greatest diversity of plant and animal species contained within one country and is home to many species found nowhere else in the world.

The remarkable richness of South Africa’s biodiversity is largely the result of the mix of tropical and temperate climates and habitats occurring in the country.

South Africa ranks as the third most biologically diverse country in the world and of major global importance for biodiversity conservation.

Some 3 435 (15%) of South Africa’s plant species, 102 (14%) of its bird species, 72 (24%) of its reptile species, 17 (18%) of its amphibian species, 90 (37%) of its mammal species, and 142 (22%) of its butterfly species are listed as threatened in South Africa.

Wildlife

When it comes to land mammals, South Africa hogs the superlatives: it's got the biggest (the African elephant), the smallest (the pygmy shrew), the tallest (the giraffe) and the fastest (the cheetah). The country is also home to the last substantial populations of black and white rhinos - with horns intact. You're most likely to encounter these critters in one of

South Africa is home to the ostrich (the world's largest bird), the Kori bustard (the largest flying bird), as well as sunbirds, flamingoes, and the sociable weaver birds who live in  'cities' of woven grass.

The country hosts an estimated 5,8% of the world’s total mammal species, 8% of bird species, 4,6% of the global diversity of reptile species, 16% of the total number of marine fish species in the world and 5,5% of the world’s described insect species. 

South Africa has a diversity of spiders – 66 families comprising more than 6 000 species. The country also boasts 175 species of scorpion.

Marine Life

South Africa’s marine life is similarly diverse, partly as a result of the extreme contrast between the water masses on the east and west coasts. Three water masses – the cold Benguela Current, the warm Agulhas Current and oceanic water – make the region one of the most oceanographically heterogeneous in the world. Over 10 000 plant and animal species – almost 15% of the coastal species known world-wide – are found in South African waters, with about 12% of these occurring nowhere else.

Ecological Zones - Biomes

South Africa is one of the six countries in the world to have an entire plant kingdom within its national confines. Known as the Cape Floral Kingdom, this area has the highest recorded species diversity for any similar-sized temperate or tropical region in the world.

Some 18 000 vascular plant species occur within South Africa’s boundaries, of which 80% occur nowhere else.

 One third of the world’s succulent plant species is found in South Africa.

There are seven major Ecological Zones or Biomes in South Africa. 

(A) Savannah biome

This biome is an area of mixed grassland and trees, and is generally known as Bushveld.

In the Northern Cape and Kalahari sections of this biome, the most distinctive trees are the camel thorn (Acacia erioloba) and the camphor bush (Tarchonanthus camphoratus). In the Northern Province, the portly baobab (Adansonia digitata) and the candelabra tree (Euphorbia ingens) dominate. The central Bushveld is home to species such as the knob thorn (Acacia nigrescens), bushwillow (Combretum spp.), monkey thorn (Acacia galpinii), mopani (Colophospermum mopane), and wild fig (Ficus spp.). In the Valley Bushveld of the south, the trees euphorbias and spekboom (Portulacaria afra) are predominant.

An abundance of wild fruit-trees provide food for many birds and animals in the Savannah biome.

Grey louries, hornbills, shrikes, flycatchers and rollers are birds typical of the northern regions. The subtropical and coastal areas are home to Knysna and purple-crested louries and green pigeons. Raptors occur throughout the biome.

The larger mammals include lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, zebra, rhinoceros, giraffe, kudu, oryx, waterbuck, hippopotamus and many others.

Approximately 8,5% of the biome is protected. The Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park  and other reserves are located in the Savannah biome.

(B) Nama-Karoo biome

This biome includes the Namaland area of Namibia and the Karoo area of South Africa.

Because of low rainfall, rivers are nonperennial. Cold and frost in winter and high temperatures in the summer demand special adaptations from plants. The vegetation of this biome is mainly low shrubland and grass, with trees limited to water courses. The bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal, ostrich, suricate and ground squirrel are typical of the area.

Only 1% of the Nama-Karoo biome falls within officially protected areas, of which the Karoo and Augrabies national parks are the largest.

Overgrazing and easily eroded soil surfaces cause this semi-desert to creep slowly in on the neighbouring Savannah and Grassland biomes.

(C) Grassland biome

This biome is a summer-rainfall area with heavy thunderstorms and hail, and frost in winter. A number of perennial rivers such as the Orange, Vaal, Pongola, Kei and Umzimvubu originate in and flow through the area. Trees are scarce and are mainly found on hills and along river beds. Karee (Rhus lancea), wild currant (Rhus pyroides), white stinkwood (Celtis africana) and several acacia species are the most common.

The Grassland biome has been identified as an area with a high percentage of plants indigenous to the country. Eight mammal species endemic to South Africa occur in a wild state in this biome. Three of these, namely the black wildebeest, blesbok and eland, do not occur outside the Grassland biome.

The area is internationally recognized as an area of high species endemicity in so far as birds are concerned. Birds commonly found in the area include the black korhaan, blue crane, guinea-fowl and other grassland birds.

Only 1,1% of the Grassland biome is officially protected. The wilderness areas of the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg are the most significant.

(D) Succulent Karoo biome

One of the natural wonders of South Africa is the annual blossoming of the Namaqualand wild flowers (mainly of the family Asteraceae) which transforms the semi-desert of the Northern Cape into a fairyland. After rain, the drab landscape is suddenly covered from horizon to horizon with a multicoloured carpet (August to October, depending on rainfall).

This is a winter-rainfall area with extremely dry and hot summers. For this reason, succulents with thick, fleshy leaves are plentiful. Trees mostly have white trunks to reflect heat.

In the Richtersveld to the north, the quiver tree (Aloe dichotoma) the humanlike elephant’s trunk (Pachypodium namaquanum), many species of aloe and the spekboom (Portulacaria afra), very typical of the Little Karoo, are also present. Grass is scarce.

Animal life is similar to that of neighbouring biomes (Fynbos and Nama-Karoo).

The Richtersveld, Tankwa-Karoo and recently established Namaqua national parks have improved the conservation status of this biome considerably.

(E) Fynbos biome

The Fynbos biome is one of the six accepted floral kingdoms of the world. This region covers only 0,04% of the land surface of the globe and is the only floral kingdom in the world found entirely within the boundaries of one country.

Fynbos occurs mostly in the Western Cape within an area of about 70 000 km². It is mainly a winter rainfall area, and the fynbos vegetation is similar to that of other Mediterranean regions.

Fynbos is the name given to a group of evergreen plants with small, hard leaves (such as the Erica family). It is made up of three groups of plants, namely the proteas, the heathers and the restios, and incorporates a diversity of plant species (more than 8 500 kinds, more than 6 000 of which are indigenous).

The Fynbos biome is home to the protea, for which South Africa is renowned. The biome also contains flowering plants now regarded as garden plants, such as freesia, tritonia, sparaxis and many others.

Protected areas cover 13,6% of the Fynbos biome and include the Cape Peninsula and Agulhas national parks.

The biome is not very rich in bird and mammal life, but a few animals like the grysbuck, the geometric tortoise, the Cape sugar-bird and the protea seed-eater are endemic to the area. The mountains are the habitat of the leopard, baboon, several types of eagle, honey-badger, caracal and rhebuck.

(F) Forest biome

South Africa is poor in forests. The only forests of significance are the Knysna and Tsitsikamma forests in the Western and Eastern Cape.

Other reasonably large forest patches that are officially protected are in the high rainfall areas of the eastern escarpment and on the eastern seaboard. Forest giants such as yellowwood (Podocarpus spp.), ironwood (Olea capensis) and lemonwood (Xymalos monospora) dominate.

The indigenous forests are a magical world of ferns, lichens and colourful forest birds such as the Knysna lourie, the endangered Cape parrot and the rameron pigeon. Animals include the endangered samango monkey, the bushpig, the bushbuck and the delicate blue duiker.

(G) Thicket biome

Subtropical thicket is a closed shrubland to low forest dominated by evergreen succulent trees, shrubs and vines, many of which have stem pines.

It is often impenetrable and has little herbaceous cover. Thicket types contain few endemics, most of which are succulents of Karoo origin.

 The region's flora is spectacular, with wildflowers from peaceful lilies to raging red hot pokers in the grasslands, weird succulents blooming after spring rains, and one of the world's six floral kingdoms - the Cape kingdom - prettying up the Western Cape. Large areas in the north are covered by a savannah-type vegetation, characterised by acacias and thorn trees, and there are forest remnants along the southern coast and in the north-east.

Conservation

According to the National Register of Protected and Conservation Areas in South Africa, there are 431 formally protected areas covering 5,6% of the land surface area. These areas are under the control of national, provincial and local government. 

There are also 463 private reserves in South Africa, bringing the number of protected areas to 1 174 or nearly 7% of the land surface area. About 74% of the plant, 92% of amphibian and reptile, 97% of bird and 93% of mammal species of South Africa are estimated to be represented.

There are eight management categories of protected areas in South Africa:

(1) Scientific reserves

Scientific reserves are sensitive and undisturbed areas managed for research and monitoring and maintenance of genetic sources. Access is limited to researchers and staff.

Examples of such areas are Marion Island and the Prince Edward Islands near Antarctica.

(2) Wilderness areas

These areas are extensive in size, uninhabited and undeveloped, and access is strictly controlled since no vehicles are allowed.

The highest management priority is the maintenance of the intrinsic wilderness character. Examples of wilderness areas are the Cedarberg Wilderness Area and Dassen Island in the Western Cape and Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area in the Eastern Cape.

(3) National parks and equivalent reserves

These areas include national parks, provincial parks and nature reserves, and indigenous State forests. 

Geographical information systems and other computer-driven systems are extensively used in the Kruger National Park and other parks. Through sophisticated computer systems, researchers keep accurate records of mammal distribution and densities, as well as environmental facts such as veld conditions and water supply.

In October 1999, South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe signed a major cross-border agreement  which will combine the Kruger National Park with Mozambique’s Gaza Park and Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou Park to form the world’s largest conservation area.

In October 1999, Southern African Development Community (SADC) Environmental Affairs Ministers and senior officials from 13 countries committed themselves to establishing a binding environmental protocol for the region.

(4) National and cultural monuments

These are natural features or features of cultural significance, or both, and may include botanical gardens, zoological gardens, natural heritage sites and sites of conservation significance.

(5) Habitat and wildlife management areas

These areas are subject to human intervention, based on research into the requirements of specific species for survival. They include conservancies, provincial, regional or private reserves created for the conservation of species habitats or biotic communities, and marshes, lakes, and nesting and feeding areas.

(6) Protected land and seascapes

These areas are products of the harmonious interaction of people and nature and include natural environments protected, scenic landscapes and historical urban landscapes.

(7) Sustainable use areas

These areas emphasize the utilization of products on a sustainable basis in protected areas such as the Kosi Bay Lake system in KwaZulu-Natal. Nature areas in private ownership are proclaimed and managed to curtail undesirable development in areas with high aesthetic or conservation potential.

(8) Wetlands

Wetlands include a wide range of inland and coastal habitats – from mountain bogs and fens and midland marshes to swamp forests and estuaries, linked by green corridors of streambank wetlands.

National Parks and Game Reserves 

The national parks are: 
- Kruger National Park, 
- Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (now part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park), 
- Addo Elephant National Park, 
- Bontebok National Park, 
- Mountain Zebra National Park, 
- Golden Gate Highlands National Park, 
- Tsitsikamma National Park, 
- Augrabies Falls National Park, 
- Karoo National Park, 
- Wilderness National Lakes Area, 
- West Coast National Park, 
- Tankwa-Karoo National Park, 
- Knysna National Lakes Area, 
- Marakele National Park, 
- Richtersveld National Park, 
- Vhembe/Dongola National Park, 
- Vaalbos National Park, 
- Agulhas National Park, 
- Namaqua National Park .
- Cape Peninsula National Park, which incorporates the Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain and Silvermine nature reserves.

Kruger National Park - The flagship of South African National Parks

Kruger is one of the most famous parks in the world and the oldest one in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms with advanced environmental management techniques
It is 350 km long from north to south, at most 60km in width and covers a surface area of 1 948,528 hectares.

Kruger is the home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals, including the Big Five. The sight of elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo is always a thrill, especially at close range on a conducted wilderness trail. But many visitors get as big a kick out of spotting a kudu, a warthog or one of the eagle species.

Man's interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries - from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela - is very evident in the Kruger National Park. These treasures represent the cultures, persons and events that played a role in the history of the Kruger National Park and are conserved along with the park's natural assets.

Most people choose to explore in the comfort of their own cars, to stop and stare, to take the perfect photograph, and to follow at whim when the unexpected beckons. After an exciting day in the bush, sunset heralds the crackle of campfire, sundowners and shared anecdotes.

At night, you'll be lulled to sleep by a chorus of nocturnal birds or you may share in a never-to-be-forgotten bush experience on Kruger night drives. Powerful spotlights slice through the mystery of the African night, revealing the secret, the undiscovered - the comical porcupine, the wheeling nightjar, smartly turned out civets and genets as well as the sinister predators and scavengers of the night.

The park's genuine African atmosphere has an enchantment that entices the visitor to return. Those who wish to experience it have to relax, look and listen. Once one has learnt to appreciate every aspect of bush life, there is no end to the surprises it holds and it becomes possible to enjoy the park to its fullest extent.

The Park has embarked on a new approach to environmental management, instituting education programmes and development aid in an attempt to reconcile its approach with neighbouring communities.

About 15 researchers work full-time in the Kruger National Park on topics ranging from HIV-positive lions to contraception for female elephants. The medicinal value of plants used by traditional healers is also under study. 

According to 1999 surveys, the elephant population of the Kruger Park constituted 9 152 of the approximately 12 000 African elephants in protected areas in South Africa. The ideal elephant population for the Park is about 7 000. Over the past two decades, 1 626 elephants have been translocated to other protected areas. 

In March 1999, the Kruger National Park announced the launch of a research initiative, the Lion Watch Awareness Programme. The R300 000-project, funded by South African Breweries, invites visitors to the Park to participate by taking photographs and recording details of any lions they see during their visit.

All roads leading to the park's eight access gates are tarmac, while inside the park the roads are tarred or have good gravel surfaces. There are daily flights from Johannesburg to the main camp, Skukuza, where cars can be hired.

Marine and Coastal National Parks - Tsitsikamma ; West Coast ; Wilderness

Tsitsikamma National Park

Tsitsikamma, Africa's first national marine park, comprises a narrow coastal plain bounded by cliffs and beaches and extending five kilometres out to sea.

 Beautiful and wild, the park encompasses 80 km of rocky coastline  featuring quiet tidal pools, deep gorges and evergreen forests. The name Tsitsikamma is derived from Hottentot words, tse-tsesa, meaning clear, and gami, meaning water, probably referring to the clear water of the Tsitsikamma River.

Fynbos, small mammals and a prolific bird life add to the enchantment of the region. From Storms River Mouth, nature trails meander into the forest and along the coast. One of the most scenically rewarding, the five-day Otter Trail follows the shoreline for most of its route.

For an experience with a difference, a snorkeling and scuba trail will introduce you to an underwater world inhabited by fascinating marine creatures. But if you only want to relax and soak up the sun, two exquisite beaches provide the setting.

Fully-equipped log cabins and oceanettes enjoy stunning views of the Indian Ocean. 

The park is situated halfway between George and Port Elizabeth in South Africa's temperate forest belt.

West Coast National Park

The 20,000 ha park, situated 122km north of Cape Town, was proclaimed in 1985 to protect a portion of the Cape west coast, the Langebaan Lagoon - the heart of the park - and an adjoining tract of land. 

This famous wetland of international importance (a Ramsar site) harbours thousands of waders which migrate from the northern hemisphere to spend the southern summer here. 

The off-shore islands offer predator-proof roosts and nesting sites for an estimated three-quarters of a million seabirds. The park supports 25% of the world population of Cape gannets, 12% of the population of the African oyster catcher and 70000 migratory waders, and is one of the world's richest fish sources. It also contains 40% of the world's strandveld fynbos.

The Geelbek bird hide, situated in a salt-marsh and mudflat feeding area, is one of the best spots to study waders between September and April, at close range. At Seeberg, up to 400 flamingoes can be observed at high tide during winter. Malgas Island is breeding ground to a quarter of the world's Cape Gannet population. It may be visited by boat under the guidance of a park official.

Life on the west coast is dominated by the Benguela current and the rich marine life associated with the upwelling of cold fertile water. This accounts not only for the huge kelp beds and the abundance of fish, crayfish, abalone, seabirds and mammals, but also for the arid climate and cool sea breeze. In spring (August to October) the park is ablaze with wild flowers - a major attraction.

The Langebaan Lagoon is zoned to benefit both man and nature and is a popular yachting venue. It is also a prime boardsailing site, with daily southerlies in summer of 20+ knots.

Just inland from the secluded harbour of Saldanha Bay one finds the azure waters of the Langebaan Lagoon, focal point of the West Coast National Park. Thousands of seabirds roost on sheltered islands, pristine golden beaches stretch endlessly into the early morning mist and brooding salt marshes are home to vast concentrations of migrant waders from the northern hemisphere. During the spring the strandveld is embroidered with a tapestry of multi-hued flowers, while in the Postberg section many antelope are to be seen in a setting that is as unique as it is idyllic.

Wilderness National Park

The Wilderness National Park lies in the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains in a region of incomparable beauty.

In the  heart of South Africa's famous Garden Route, a charming world of lakes, rivers, fens, estuaries and beaches gently unfolds against a backdrop of lush forest and lofty mountains – all elements that characterize the Wilderness National Park. 

Nature trails wind through densely wooded forest and along tranquil rivers, affording you the opportunity to encounter the brilliantly coloured Knysna lourie, or one of the five kingfisher species that occur here. During the spring, the lakes are surrounded by a carpet of flowers, further enhancing the verdant beauty of this wetland national park.

Knysna loeries glide through the forests, cormorants soar in the sky, and the giant kingfisher skims across the lakes in search of prey. About 160 bird species frequent the lakes and coastal terrace and forests. Often incompatible elsewhere, conservation and recreation enjoy a harmonious relationship at the park.

Watersports are a major feature of the region. The park has introduced a permit system for the using of any type of vessel within the boundaries of the National Park of which the lakes form a part. The park has been rezoned into four different zones:

• zone 1 is zoned as a nature area, and only hand-propelled, sailing or electrically propelled vessels are allowed, and only if the vessel has a separate permit for zone 1
• zone 2 is a idle speed zone
• zone 3 is a general purpose zone e.g. water-skiing, fishing, sailing, canoeing etc.
• zone 4 is a NO GO zone, and includes Langvlei and Rondevlei whose systems are proclaimed International RAMSAR sites because of the vast diversity of water birds they accommodate.

On the Touw River and the Serpentine, canoeists can paddle for miles upstream. Hikers have a selection of one-day trails and romantic board walks to choose from, traversing the lakes, the beach and the indigenous forest.

Accommodation comprises log cabins, family cottages, a small rustic restcamp and caravans. Camping sites are also available.- Easily accessible on good roads, the park is within easy reach of the airport at George. 

Life in the Deserts - Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park; Augrabies Falls National Park ; Karoo National Park ;  Richtersveld; Vaalbos

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Mile upon mile of rolling rust-red sand dunes, solitary trees and scattered grasses. For lovers of the ambience of untamed Africa, this hauntingly beautiful region has a special appeal all of its own. 

The Kalahari Desert is a part of the largest continuous area of sand in the world. The area covers approximately 2,5 million square kilometres and the sand is sometimes well over 100 metres deep. Its sand plains cover nine African countries: Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (in the north), Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe (in the centre), Botswana, Namibia and South Africa (in the south). 

Today, the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park forms Africa's first transfrontier park with the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana, The new 38000 km² park, known as Kgalagadi ('land of thirst'), represents an increasingly rare phenomenon in the world: a vast ecosystem relatively free of human influence.  

The ultimate game viewing experience is to watch thousands of antelope gallop as one across the sands. Roads skirt the dry beds of the Nossob and Auob rivers and the relatively barren terrain ensures superb opportunities for observation and photography.

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is the home of the Kalahari lion, the gemsbok and the tsamma. The park is characterized by its red sand dunes. Most of the animals such as blue wildebeest, eland, springbok, red hartebeest, duiker and steenbok live in the dry river beds which cross the park. Predators include lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyaena, wild dog, and black-backed jackal. 

The park is also one of the finest areas in South Africa for viewing birds of prey. No fewer than 215 bird species have been recorded. In the heat of the day, black-maned Kalahari lions shelter beneath shady bushes and leopards take refuge in the branches of camelthorn trees, while visitors may cool off in the pool at Twee Rivieren or enjoy a refreshing drink in the restaurant.

There are more than 400 plant species in the Kalahari Desert.  The Narra (Ancanthosicyos horrida) belonging to the cucumber family, is a shrub with a moist rich fruit. Narra pips, better known as butter pips, have a distinct almond flavour. The Wilde Okkerneut (Ricinodendron rautennii) tree (Mokongwa in Setswana) has a hollow trunk, which serves as water reservoir and its fruit, the Manketti nut, is a part of the staple diet of the Khoisan.

The park is situated 358 km from Upington, in the Northern Cape, and 904 km from Johannesburg.

Augrabies Falls National Park

In this region of dramatic contrasts, the mighty Orange River surges across a rocky lunar landscape and suddenly plummets in a torrent of sound and fury into a deep ravine. This is the Augrabies Falls. The name Augrabies is derived from a Bushman phrase meaning 'place of great noise'.

According to legend, a fortune in diamonds lies at the bottom, washed down by the river, but the sheer awe of cascading water provides an effective deterrent to fortune-hunters!

On game viewing drives, you'll be rewarded by prolific bird life and a rich variety of plants which have adapted to the environment. Kudu, springbok and klipspringer inhabit the reserve, as well as baboons and vervet monkeys.

The Khoi people called it 'Aukoerebis', the place of the Great Noise, referring to the Orange River thundering its way downwards for 60 metres in a spectacular waterfall. Picturesque names such as Moon Rock, Ararat and Echo Corner are descriptive of this rocky region, characterised by the 18 kilometre abyss of the Orange River Gorge and craggy outcrops dominating scrub-dotted plains. Klipspringer and kokerboom (quiver trees) stand in stark silhouette against the African sky, silent sentinels in a strangely unique environment where only those that are able to adapt ultimately survive. The 28 000 hectares on both the northern and southern sides of the Orange River provide sanctuary to a diversity of species, from the very smallest succulents, birds and reptiles to springbok, gemsbok and the endangered black rhino.

Karoo National Park - Semi desert, fossil rich area

The Great Karoo is the largest natural ecosystem in South Africa - and one of the world's great scientific wonders. Its rocks contain fossil remains spanning 310 million years.

Dominated by the cliffs of the Nuweveld Mountains, the Karoo National Park is particularly beautiful in spring when the rugged landscape is transformed into a multi-coloured carpet of flowers.

Often harsh in the glare of the midday sun, this is a place of many moods. At dawn and sunset, the Karoo assumes its most flamboyant mood when the crystal-clear skies erupt into dramatic displays of red and gold.

Nights are resplendent with a million twinkling stars ... Whether you choose to explore by car, four-wheel drive or on foot, you'll probably encounter Cape mountain zebra, gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, kudu, black wildebeest and even black rhino. While cooling off in the pool, you might even spot a majestic black eagle - one of 180 bird species which frequent the park.

The more adventurous may prefer one of the many nature trails of discovery. A fascinating fossil trail caters for those with an interest in natural history. 

With its cosy Cape Dutch style accommodation, a camping site and excellent cuisine, the park provides a delightful stopover on the drive from Cape Town to the north.

Richtersveld National Park - Mountain Desert Park

The park encompasses 162445 ha of rugged mountain desert and was proclaimed on 16 August 1991. In terms of the contract signed with the Richtersveld community, the park remains a contractual area which allows for the continuation of existing activities, including stock-farming. This is a unique area in South Africa both in terms of its natural elements and the participation of local inhabitants.

Situated in the Northern Cape, bordering with Namibia along the Orange River, the region is arid. The western mountains receive predominantly winter rains and the west coast fog or 'malmokkie', while the eastern area along the Orange is much drier, receiving sporadic summer thundershowers. While summer day temperatures may reach 52 degrees Celsius, it is generally cool and pleasant at night.

The area appears to have been named after a member of the Rhenish Mission Society, a certain Rev. W Richter. Many German place names in South Africa and Namibia were furnished by the Society.

A staggering variety of succulents characterise this area which is said to be 'the richest area for succulents in the world'. There are no large herds of game, but klipspringers, rhebok, steenbok, Hartmann's mountain zebra, baboon, caracal and leopard, amongst others, can be seen. Birds are abundant, particularly along the river courses and in the scrubland.

Rugged kloofs, high mountains and dramatic landscapes that sweep away inland from the Orange River divulge the fact that you are now in the vast mountain desert that is the Richtersveld National Park, an area managed jointly by the local Nama people and the South African National Parks. This is a harsh and unpredictable land where water is scarce and life-sustaining moisture comes in the form of early morning fog – called 'Ihuries' or 'Malmokkies' by the local people – which rolls in from the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, sustaining a remarkable range of small reptiles, birds and mammals. A staggering assortment of plant life, some species occurring nowhere else, is to be found here, with gnarled quiver trees, tall aloes and quaint 'halfmens' keeping vigil over this inscrutable landscape.

Specialised Parks for endangered species - Addo Elephant ; Mountain Zebra; Bontebok; Bontebok National Park

Addo Elephant National Park

Situated 73km from Port Elizabeth in South Africa's Eastern Cape, the conservation success story of this park is world famous. Since its proclamation in 1931, the last eleven elephants (55 kbyte file) in that region have bred to number 170, its 11718 ha also offering sanctuary to the last Cape buffalo and 21 black rhino of the very scarce Kenyan sub-species. Also notable is the unique flightless dung-beetle which is found almost exclusively in Addo. Day sightings of animals are frequent and an illuminated waterhole provides excellent night-time viewing.

Protection of the elephant has resulted in simultaneous protection of an ecosystem which supports a fair number of antelope, numerous reptile, amphibian and insect species and a recorded 170 bird species.

The Eastern Cape climate, influenced by the nearby Indian Ocean, provides rain evenly distributed throughout the year. Winters are chilly and summers warm to hot, though rarely exceeding mid-twenty temperatures (degrees Celsius). Days of sunshine are plentiful.

Two walking trails have been laid out in the park, and conducted night drives can be arranged, offering a rare experience of nocturnal life in the bush.

A large waterhole near the chalets and cottages enables guests to watch game from the comfort of their verandas. Illuminated at night, it provides exceptional opportunities for game viewing. Accommodation is also available in self- contained rondavels as well as caravan and campsites. Facilities include a swimming pool, an a la carte restaurant and attractive picnic sites.

Mountain Zebra National Park

A number of factors contributed to an alarming decrease in the numbers of Cape mountain zebra at the beginning of this century. In the 1930s, the species was on the brink of extinction. To ensure their survival, the Mountain Zebra National Park was established in 1937 and today some 200 mountain zebra inhabit the park.

The scenery is exceptionally beautiful, encompassing mountains, ravines and high plateau, with attractive trees and a great variety of aloes and flowering shrubs. Nature trails and the three-day Mountain Zebra Hiking Trail hold the promise of exciting discoveries. Game viewing is rewarding throughout the year, particularly on the Rooiplaat Plateau. Antelope species originally found in the region, as well as small predators and 200 species of birds, including the magnificent black eagle, may be seen.

Swimming and horse riding are popular leisure options. 

Situated within easy reach of Port Elizabeth, this tranquil haven is well worth the detour for travellers on a self-drive Garden Route tour.

Bontebok National Park

This compact little park, situated six kilometres south-east of Swellendam in the Western Cape, was established in 1931 to save the bontebok of the Cape, which, by 1930, had been hunted down to fewer than 30 animals. Today it provides sanctuary to 300 bontebok, as well as other antelope species, the Cape mountain zebra and smaller mammals.

Situated in the Cape Floral Kingdom (one of the richest floral kingdoms on the planet), the park is host to more than 470 plant species, among them, erica, gladiolus and protea.

In addition to game viewing, bird watching and hiking, swimming and fishing in the Breede River are popular pastimes. Abundant bird life includes the secretary bird, fish eagle and francolin.

The camping ground, situated on the river bank with splendid, panoramic views of the Langeberg mountain range, also contains fully-equipped six-berth caravans, ablution blocks and barbecue facilities.

Sheltered by the rugged bastion of the Langeberg Mountains, and bordered to the south by the peaceful Breede River, the Bontebok National Park provides a refuge for not only bontebok, but also for other species such as Cape mountain zebra, red hartebeest and grey rhebok. The park is situated within the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest, but richest of the world’s six floral kingdoms.

Mountain enclave  - Golden Gate National Park; Marakele National Park

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Renowned for its superlative scenery, invigorating climate and excellent accommodation in either hotel rooms or self-catering chalets and rondavels, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park has become a tremendous holiday drawcard.

The park derives its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the region's imposing sandstone cliffs. The landscape also encompasses wooded ravines, gullies and grasslands.

Outdoor options include tennis, bowls, horse riding, swimming in a crisp mountain pool with a natural waterslide and visiting Bushman paintings. A visit to the park should always include at least one leisurely walk along one of its winding nature trails, some of which start at the Glen Reenen camping site.

The more adventurous should follow the 31 km Rhebok Hiking Trail where eland, zebra, red hartebeest and black wildebeest are often seen, as well as the bearded vulture, bald ibis and the black eagle. Some 140 bird species have been identified in the park, and a hide at the vulture restaurant enables bird lovers to observe these scavengers closely without being detected. Situated near Clarens, the park lies on the scenic Highlands Route in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains, approximately 360 km south of Johannesburg.

The Marakele National Park

The Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains, as its Tswana name suggests, has become a 'place of sanctuary' for an impressive variety of wildlife due to its location in the transitional zone between the dry western and moister eastern regions of South Africa. 

The park is characterised by contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass-clad hills and deep valleys. Rare finds of yellowwood and cedar trees, five metre high cycads and tree ferns, are some of the plant species found here. 

All the large game species from elephant and rhino to the big cats as well as an amazing variety of birds including the largest colony of endangered Cape vultures (more than 800 breeding pairs) in the world, have settled here.

Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains of the north-eastern Free State lies the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The park derives its name from the brilliant shades of gold cats by the sun on the park's sandstone cliffs, especially the imposing Brandwag rock, keeping vigil over the main restcamp. 

This 11 600 hectares of unique environment is true highland habitat, providing home to a variety of mammals – black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, oribi, springbok and Burchell's zebra - and birds, including the rare bearded vulture (lammergeier) and the equally rare bald ibis, which breed on the ledges in the sandstone cliffs. Generaalskop, the highest point in the park, reveals a breathtaking tapestry of red, yellow and purple hues as its warm shades merge with the cool mountain shadows towards evening.

Agulhas National Parks  - The South-most Tip of Africa

Agulhas National Park

The area around the southern-most tip of Africa, often referred to as the Agulhas Plain. This windswept, ruggedly beautiful coastal plain, with its rich cultural and natural heritage, has recently been proclaimed as the Agulhas National Park. 

Amongst the mysteries associated with this region, is the legendary 'Cape of Storms' which wrecked many ships en route to the east via Cape Agulhas.    Ancient people also left their mark on the landscape.  For example, archaeological middens remind contemporary man of a successful hunter-gathering culture that was in harmony with its natural environment; and a cultural heritage that dates back thousands of years to when the Khoi-khoi people trapped fish using ingeniously constructed tidal traps. 

The Agulhas Plain is of international significance due to its rich plant biodiversity, with species richness values equalling those of tropical rain forests.  It has approximately 2000 species of indigenous plants including 100 which are endemic to the area and over 110 Red Data Book species.  Consequently, the Agulhas Plain is a very important component of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest and richest of the world's six plant kingdoms.

The Agulhas Plain is unique in that a wide variety of wetlands occur in the area, contributing to a high diversity of wetland plants and aquatic invertebrates. This is also home to the endangered Cape platanna and the micro frog. In addition these wetlands attract a host of water birds, with over 21 000 migrant and resident wetland birds estimated to occur in the area annually.

The coastline supports a rich marine and intertidal life, with breeding sties of rare coastal birds such as the African black oystercatcher. The nearby islands are home to a variety of seabirds and seals. In spring and early summer southern right whales frequent the waters of the Agulhas coast.

Besides its ecological importance, the Agulhas area has a rich cultural heritage. A reconnaissance of the area has established the presence of significant archaeological sites along the coast. The discovery of stone hearths and pottery, together with shell middens, link the archaeological deposits with the era of Khoisan migration and settlements.

The Agulhas area also provides history of a different kind – numerous shipwrecks of the early explorers attempting to conquer the wild seas off the southern tip of Africa, dot the coastline.Many national monuments are found in the area, such as the historical Cape Agulhas lighthouse, which has been in operation since 1849. In addition, historical buildings such as the water mill at Elim and certain homesteads reflect the European influence in the history of the region.