Spectacular South Africa.

My trip began in Sandton, a city established in 1969. The city was famous for its rich veins of gold and other valuable minerals. It is now the bustling cosmopolitan center of greater Johannesburg. Johannesburg is the heart of South Africa’s cultural hub. It is bustling with museums, vibrant markets, and a rich history.

You cannot go to Johannesburg without visiting the Soweto Township. The township forms an integral part of the rich history of spectacular South Africa. I am writing a separate blog on that topic.

From the township, I traveled through the spectacular Northern Drakensberg Mountain Range to Kruger National Park. It is the highest mountain range in South Africa. The characteristics of the mountain range consist of deep cliffs, rugged peaks, and deep valleys. Volcanic activities formed the mountains. As a result, erosion has created spectacular landscapes. There are scenic wonders on the route. I was fascinated by the beauty as we passed through the “Blyde River” Canyon. It is stunning natural wonder. It is known as one of the largest and greenest canyons in the world. The canyon is mostly of red sandstone and known as one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders.

Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa. It is the home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo). The Safari experience was nothing short of magical. I had my camera ready for an unforgettable day of adventure and excitement. We had two days to enjoy the safari in an open-air vehicle. A local expert was our guide and provided insight into the fascinating animals along the way. There are different Africa tour packages to visit the national Park. I saw the graceful impala, the dazzling zebra and gorgeous giraffe. I am also writing a separate blog on that topic.

We traveled back to Johannesburg from Kruger’s National Park to board our flight to George. Our next stop was the resort town of Knysna in the heart of the Garden Route. It is located on the coast. Knysna was our gateway to the natural beauty of South Africa. The highlight was a visit to the nearby Featherbed Nature Reserve. The reserve is overlooking the Indian Ocean. Before getting there, we did a lagoon cruise out to the famous Knysna Heads. This is the entrance to the lagoon. The Featherbed Reserve is a privately owned reserve. It is located on the Western end of Knysna. We did our tour on a four-by-four vehicle that took us deep into the forest. We discovered the local flora and fauna during a leisurely-paced nature walk. Our spectacular South Africa trip was everything I anticipated.

We said goodbye to Knysna and journey to Stellenbosch. The area is known worldwide for its vineyards and wine-tasting tours. In addition, it is famous for gourmet food experiences for an unforgettable culinary journey. We started our day with a walking tour of Stellenbosch. It is known as a university town and for its vineyards and mountainous nature reserves. We had different wines at dinner. Experiencing the town’s renowned wine culture was fantastic. The remainder of the day was at leisure. Therefore, I discovered the town on my own. I did more wine tasting of the legendary wine as I wandered along the oak-lined avenues.

Cape Town is a beautiful fusion of cultural heritage and modernity. We explored the Waterfront and the neighborhood with its colorful houses. I could see the outline of Robben Island. The island has the prison cell of Nelson Mandella. I did not go to the island although other people in our group did go. We did a city panoramic tour to see the highlights of the city. The architecture that fuses the traditions of the French, German and Dutch was amazing.

During our stay in Cape Town, we explored the coastal scenery and charming towns that populate the Cape Peninsula. The trip to Cape Point was interesting. We came across monkeys at the lighthouse stop. The monkeys were overly aggressive and in search of food from the visitors.