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With its rich history, promise of adventure and incredibly welcoming people, South Africa is beckoning travelers from around the world. I was lucky enough to set foot in this remarkable country, hitting Cape Town, Johannesburg and the Madikwe Game Reserve near the Botswana border during a recent trip. As you probably already know, The Points Guy himself is a huge fan of South Africa, and great airfare deals to the country are often featured on our site. Even better for US travelers these days is an advantageous exchange rate, plus the widespread popularity of Uber in the country's big cities, which helps to make everything more accessible than ever. Here's a rundown of other enlightening and exciting ways to absorb some of South Africa's extraordinary culture and history, listed below in no particular order.
- Set out on an Epic Safari
There's no shortage of places to join a truly awe-inspiring South African safari, but it's important to find the right one for you. Ask yourself whether you want a safari day trip or would rather be away for several nights. Would you prefer luxury or rustic accommodations? Do you want to focus on particular animals, or have a guide with a specialty? For me, Madikwe Game Reserve had it all, including the "Big Five" — lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino — and a whole lot more. The one thing it didn't have? Mosquitoes — seriously, not a single bite in four days, which still blows my mind. And even better, at lovely Jaci's Lodges, I was able to join morning and afternoon game drives led by a local who seemed to know everything about this area and its colorful land, air and water inhabitants. We even had wildlife photography expert Andrew Aveley join two drives and supply us with high-end zoom-lens cameras (for about $100 more per day). - Enjoy the View From the Top of Table Mountain
You can see this giant flat-top mountain from anywhere in Cape Town, and when the winds from the southeast drape the summit in clouds, it forms what the locals have nicknamed "the tablecloth." According to legend, the meteorological phenomenon is the result of an annual tobacco-smoking contest between the Devil and the Dutch pirate Jan van Hunks. Better still are the the city and harbor views from the top, reachable via various hiking ascents or an aerial cableway that was installed in 1929. It's always an excellent day when you can roam the lofty hiking trails that snake across the plateau, which can take you anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to complete. Other popular activities on Table Mountain include rock climbing, mountain biking and caving. Whatever you do, it's a good idea to bring a map because the weather up here can be unpredictable and severely reduce visibility.
- Explore the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront — and Relive History at Robben Island
Of the many Cape Town neighborhoods worth exploring, the Waterfront, often just called "The V&A," is a pleasant place to stroll, shop at local boutiques, ride the Cape Wheel and eat. It's home to nearly 500 retail stores, but is still a working harbor so you'll see fishermen bringing in their hauls from the ocean. The names Victoria and Alfred refer to Queen Victoria and her son, Prince Alfred, who proved extremely popular with the locals when he visited the area as a 16-year-old British navy midshipman. The V&A is also the place to catch the ferry to Robben Island, where you can see a local penguin colony and tour the now-closed prison where Nelson Mandela served 18 of his 27 years behind bars. Over the years, the island has served as a leper colony, an animal-quarantine facility, a World War II fortress and a whaling station.
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