Say the words 'South Africa' and people immediately conjure a paradise of diverse culture and untamed beauty. Archbishop Desmond Tutu described South Africa as 'the Rainbow Nation'-a name very much befitting its diverse people and rich culture, not to mention its riotous natural splendour.
South Africa is a country that is on many people's 'bucket list' for good reason. Considered the most modern country in Africa, many of its rural areas nevertheless have preserved true African culture, with entire villages still living in huts and following the traditional ways of life. For example, in many villages, the tradition of men paying dowries for their brides persists, and cattle are still considered the main measure of wealth. It is a country with undeniable historical significance, and serves as testament to freedom and human equality. It is a rare combination of modernity and tradition, development and untouched landscapes, and progress and wildness that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Due to its wide biodiversity and its spectacular scenery, walking holidays are especially popular here as they allow travellers to soak up the culture and be as closure to the glory of nature as possible. Listed below are some of the places that should not be missed during your walking holidays in South Africa.
The Eastern Cape's Wild Coast
The Wild Coast stretches from the Mtamvuna River in the north to the Great Kei River in the south. Composed of primarily untamed wilderness, this spectacular coastline features jagged cliffs, sheltered coves, virgin beaches, rolling hills and valleys, and ancient forests. Its natural beauty makes it an ideal area for walking holidays-in fact, one can see the entire coastline on foot via the Wild Coast Hiking Trail. This area is especially pleasing to birdwatchers due to the more than 320 species of birds that can be found among the cycads and yellowwood trees, as well as to fishing enthusiasts, who can choose between deep sea, rock, surf, fly and spear fishing.
The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
Also known as the Deep Green Canyon, the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga is another must-visit site for your walking holidays in South Africa. The canyon covers 29,000 hectares and is the third largest canyon in the world. Here, you can have access of spectacular vistas encompassing verdant forest canopies, majestic cliffs, and glorious waterfalls throughout the year - such as the view from God's Window or the Pinnacle, a single quartzite column rises skyward from a wooded canyon. The area surrounding Blyde River Dam is home to more than a thousand species of flora, which means that, in the springtime, the canyon is carpeted with wildflowers of every shape and colour. The canyon is also teeming with birds and animals, including the Verreaux Eagle, the Bald Ibis, Vervet and Samango monkeys, Chacma baboons, and Bushbabies.
Kruger National Park
If you're all about big game such as lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalos, in addition to other bird and wild life such as the Crowned Eagle, the Wattle-eyed Flycatcher, the Bohm Spinetail and the Pels Fishing Owl, Kruger National Park is a can't-miss spot on your South African walking holidays. For those who prefer to humans and human history, you can check out sites where homo erectus walked and lived well over a million years ago, or spend some time with the Makuleke people, upon whose ancestral lands this majestic park is located.
Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Join us on walking holidays to see scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices. We offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in over 65 different countries.
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