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There is so much scenery to view in South Africa that you can fit a scenic route into any holiday trip.
Some of the popular routes include the Garden Route which is an icon of scenic beauty and the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga where you can view Gods Window, Lisbon Falls, Bourkes Luck Potholes, the Blyde River Canyon and three Rondavels .. and of course the Cape Winelands.
A mission station route has been established north of Cape Town, along the sparsely populated west coast. The principal mission stations along this route are Wupperthal, Mamre, Goedverwacht, Wittewater, Papendorp and Rietpoort. Further south are the pretty Moravian mission towns of Elim and Genadendal (Valley of Grace).
The best starting place for the Mission Route is at the Sendinggestig (Mission Association) Museum in Long Street, Cape Town.
The Rainbow Route is suited to the culture vultures among us and to those with a deep love and respect for nature and history. It is a route that follows in the Voortrekker footsteps, as well as exploring the rites and rituals of the noble Zulu nation.
Land of the 'Big Five', with the Kruger National Park as the best known, but also various private Game Reserves in the area. Also hiking, eco-safaris, hunting, fishing, arts & crafts, ethnic villages, wonders of nature, green gold and much more.
The most beautiful region in the Cape, (if not the country!), the Garden Route with its pristine beaches, mountains, forests, lakes, rivers and kloofs is an absolute holiday destination, a place to restore your soul and revitalise your body and mind.
Drive through some of South Africas loveliest landscapes and small towns in the Eastern Cape and discover and the welcoming atmosphere of the Karoo Heartland. Your Karoo Heartland journey begins in the frontier town of Cradock and proceed through Bedford, Somerset East, Steytlerville, Jansenville, Graaff-Reinet, Nieu Bethesda to Middelburg.
Each year Southern Right Whales migrate into the coastal waters of the Western Cape to calve and nurse their young. The animals, often mere meters from the shore, provide unsurpassed whale watching opportunities between June and November.
For brooding mountains, flocks of ostriches, delightful pit stops and the best fresh fruits, try a big road trip through the Klein Karoo.
Adventure travellers who like to veer far from the madding crowd will find South Africas East Coast particularly appealing. Also known as the Wild Coast, its dramatic vistas and largely undisturbed coastline are home to the local Xhosa and Pondo people, who still follow the traditional rites and rituals of their ancestors.
Situated only 50 minutes from central Johannesburg and 40 minutes from Pretoria, the Crocodile Ramble (centered around Magaliesburg and Hartbeespoort) is perfect for those who love to spend their day shopping, lunching, strolling and exploring.
The route meanders past artists studios, country restaurants, galleries, game reserves, craft markets, fossil sites, cultural villages, fine hotels and romantic wedding venues.
Head northwards on the N1 to Makhado, then go to Thathe Vondo Forest and Lake Fundudzi, the sacred places of the Venda. Become immersed in the mystical rain forests, mythology and folklore against a backdrop of sparkling waterfalls carving panoramic forests. Take in the spectacle of The Big Tree, a 3 000 year old Baobab Adansonia digitata, and spend the night in Mutale Falls Safari Camp overlooking the Mutale River near the Kruger National Park.
The region stretching from Clarens to Ladybrand in the Free State offers the perfect self-drive option. The Eastern Free State is a fantastic place to take a self-drive journey, so make your way to experience the amazing sandstone rock formations found in the area. Indeed the Golden Gate Highlands National Park got its name from the sun reflecting off the craggy sandstone mountains.
The Olifants Route takes you through the scenic heart of Limpopo province, highlighting the treasures of this ancient land. See the worlds biggest baobab tree, visit the village of the Rain Queen and explore the vast stretches of bush where elephants have roamed for centuries.
Follow the route of freedom, peace and leadership around the Durban area. Visit the place where President Nelson Mandela cast his historic vote in South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994 and the Phoenix settlement where Mahatma Gandhi developed his philosophy of passive resistance.
Related Links
* Game Reserves & Game Lodges in South Africa
* Southern Africa Safaris & Tours
