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London To Johannesburg - The Gateway To The Rainbow Nation
South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation due to the complex variety of cultures, languages and tribes. Since the release of Nelson Mandela and the democratic elections of 1994, the country has risen as the leader of the African continent.Tourism is growing rapidly, but most of the world has not seen the real South Africa yet.
Flying into any of the major cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, a whole new world opens up. South Africa is a country to visit all year round if you have the knowledge of the different regions. Flights from London to johannesburg are the shortest connection. Flying into Johannesburg airport, now known as O. R. Tambo airport, the hub of the financial centre, one quickly notices the mixture of rich and poor.
Johannesburg is the starting point to visit the excellent game farms and the Kruger National Park. The best time for these visits are the winter months May, June, July and August. The reasons for this are mainly the lack of mosquitoes, with a lower risk of malaria, the dry season, that forces the animals to go to the watering holes and thus easier to spot. At the same time the temperatures are mild during day time, cold at night, but much more bearable than the 40 degree plus in summer time. Even the bushes and grass are at a shorter level, so wild animals can easily be seen.
Visiting Cape Town via a two hour flight from Johannesburg or with the luxury Blue Train, is best from end December to mid April. The reasons are really less tourists, less south easterly winds and incredible long sunny days.This is the best time to visit the wine growing regions like Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschoek. Franschoek is also widely known as the French Quarter of South Africa. Shopping and dining is out of this world, due to the influence if the Indians, Malaysians, French and Dutch.
The views from the top of Table Mountain across the bay and harbour , now the possession of an American syndicate, are exquisite.
From Cape Town a two hour flight takes you to Port Elizabeth, or an eight hour drive. This excursion can really be for a week or two, as you will be driving along the most scenic part of the country, the Garden Route. Port Elizabeth is known as the "windy city," but the locals will tell you a different story. Get out early at six in the morning and onto the famous beaches until ten during summertime, and you will have perfect weather. This region is highly undervalued, due to the fact of being the motor manufacturing hub of South Africa, especially Uitenhage, known as "Beetle City," due to the presence of Volkswagen of South Africa. Properties along the coastline can still be snapped up for a fraction of the cost when compared with the Western Cape, although the beaches and weather along the Indian Ocean are far better than those along the cold Atlantic!
From Port Elizabeth a two hour flight takes you eastwards to Durban, the subtropical tourist paradise. Humidity can be high, but the pure beauty and cultural variety, make this a must visit in South Africa. Durban considers putting in a bid for the next Olympic Games.This region has excellent coastlines, private game parks, national parks and a variety of cuisines. One of the biggest attraction annually is the "great sardine run." People will flock from all over the country to collect the sardines as they "run" in the waves and onto the beaches of Durban.
North of Durban one find excellent game reserves and at Sodwana Bay one can enter the testing ground of nature. A 4x4 vehicle is essential and so is a permit for entrance into this beautiful Sodwana National Park.
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