| South Africa Cities: Cultural Centres | | | | country, there is an abundance of beautiful |
| South African cities are the meeting places for | | | | beaches, and whichever coastal region you pick, |
| cultures across Africa, making them interesting | | | | you can be sure to find a great beach. |
| places to include on Southern Africa holidays. Local | | | | In Cape Town, Camps Bay and Clifton beaches |
| vendors sell you their traditional African crafts in | | | | on the Atlantic Seaboard are tourist hot-spots. |
| the streets outside international designer stores, | | | | The views on the drive down to the beach are |
| and Indian spice shops are just next door. It's one | | | | breathtaking, and the sunsets are definitely |
| of the few places in the world where you see | | | | postcard-worthy. But for a less crowded and |
| women in traditional African dress carrying their | | | | more natural beach experience, beaches a little |
| shopping on their heads, walking past businessmen | | | | outside the city are like hidden treasures. |
| busy on their Blackberries. | | | | Scarborough (on the other side of the mountain) |
| Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg are the | | | | has a more untouched feel to it, with fewer |
| most popular cities visited by tourists on Southern | | | | people and no beachside shops. The beaches |
| Africa holidays. In Cape Town, Long Street is the | | | | along the West Coast are wilder and attract |
| place to be seen, where you can dine at a deli on | | | | fewer crowds, and they're only about an hour's |
| the pavement and just watch the passers by. | | | | drive from the city centre, making for a beautiful |
| You will see trendy and alternative socialites strut | | | | day out on while on you Southern Africa travels. |
| past, followed by Rastafarians offering to sell you | | | | In KwaZulu-Natal, Durban's city beaches are best |
| their stock. You'll see hippies wandering around | | | | avoided. In summer, they are packed with locals |
| with no shoes on, and people wearing traditional | | | | and tourists trying to escape the heat, and can |
| African dress. | | | | quickly become overcrowded. About 40 minutes |
| Durban's city centre is less of a tourist destination, | | | | outside of Durban lies Umhlanga and Umhloti, and |
| but a stroll down the two main streets, West | | | | while these beaches are very popular with the |
| Street and Smith Street, will certainly be an | | | | tourists, they have a far more relaxed feel to |
| experience while on a South Africa holiday. During | | | | them. You can wander down the shores as you |
| the week the streets are packed with hoards of | | | | search rock pools for sea creatures, or simply lie |
| people. With every step you take, someone will | | | | on the sand and absorb the sunshine. These |
| try and sell you anything ranging from cheap | | | | beaches lie on the Indian Ocean so the water is |
| perfume to the love potions of a local Zulu | | | | warm, but you have to be careful because the |
| sangoma (witch doctor). While these streets are | | | | currents are extremely forceful. Lifeguards are |
| overwhelmingly busy, it is certainly an interesting | | | | always on hand, however, and are ready to |
| experience to be had on a Southern Africa | | | | rescue you should you find yourself in a spot of |
| holiday. | | | | trouble. A Southern Africa travel experience to |
| Johannesburg's city centre is not really one worth | | | | the beaches outside Durban is sure to be a |
| exploring, but the busy areas outside the centre | | | | relaxing summer holiday. |
| are great for shopping and socialising with the | | | | Seeing the Big 5 on Safari |
| South African elite. An abundance of designer | | | | The best game reserve in South Africa for an |
| stores will keep you shopping for days in areas | | | | authentic safari experience while on a luxury |
| such as Sandton, and you can find something to | | | | African holiday has to be the Kruger National Park. |
| wear out to any one of the hip clubs in this busy | | | | A short flight from Johannesburg, this reserve is |
| city, keeping you entertained on your luxury | | | | easily accessible yet set away from the cities. |
| travels in South Africa. | | | | The reserve boasts great game viewing, and |
| South Africa's Seashore | | | | seeing all the members of Africa's Big 5 (lion, |
| Known as a destination for beach holidays, | | | | leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) is almost a |
| spending time on the sunny coast when on a | | | | guarantee. |
| South Africa holiday is a must. Throughout the | | | | |