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West Coast National Park, South Africa. Author and Copyright Marco Ramerini.
West Coast National Park, South Africa. Author Marco Ramerini.

South Africa tourist attractions: what to see in South Africa

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South Africa is often referred to as the world in a country, and this is really true, the variety of landscapes, places and populations is truly impressive. South Africa has unique tourist attractions. The country has typical African environments, but also areas very similar to old Europe. But also mountain scenarios like in the Drakensberg mountains. The country is made up of jagged and rocky coasts or rich in beaches. There are deserts and forest areas. The country is inhabited by black, mixed, Asian and white populations with their customs, languages, traditions, religions and customs.

Cape Town, the capital of the Western Cape province, is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a major tourist attraction in South Africa for its location. The city is in fact immersed in a spectacular natural setting, located on the sea around the famous “Table Mountain” and at the beginning of the Cape of Good Hope peninsula.

South Africa boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world: from the pristine expanse of Cape Vidal in KwaZulu-Natal, to the wild Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape, from the penguin colony of Boulders Beach in the Western Cape, to the sunny beaches of Camps Bay, near Cape Town.

Namaqualand, South Africa. Author and Copyright Marco Ramerini..

Namaqualand, South Africa. Author Marco Ramerini..

THE UNESCO SITES OF SOUTH AFRICA

Among the tourist attractions of South Africa, a dozen are the South African sites registered by UNESCO in the list of Cultural Heritage of Humanity. They include places such as the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas, one of the richest areas for plant variety in the world, which includes the Cape Peninsula, the Cederberg, the De Hoop Nature Reserve, and many other natural areas in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. The cultural and botanical landscape of the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape, which is the only desert mountain park in South Africa, is also very interesting.

In the UNESCO list there are also natural parks such as Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (iSimangaliso Wetland Park) with an estuary of a river and an important wetland rich in flora and fauna in KwaZulu-Natal. The spectacular natural landscape and San rock art (Bushmen) of Maloti-Drakensberg Park in KwaZulu-Natal. The Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape in the Northern Province with the remains of the cultural landscape of the ancient kingdom of Mapungubwe. The Khomani Cultural Landscape which is located on the border with Botswana and Namibia in the northern part of the country, in correspondence with the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. The meteor impact structure of the Vredefort Dome, which are the remains of the oldest meteor impact structure found on Earth.

Located in northeastern South Africa, the Barberton Makhonjwa mountains are one of the oldest geological structures in the world. Unique in the history of humanity are the fossil hominid sites, the so-called Cradle of Humanity, of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, in Gauteng, Limpopo and North-west. The infamous Robben Island is also part of the UNESCO sites.

Augrabies Falls, South Africa. Author and Copyright Marco Ramerini

Augrabies Falls, South Africa. Author Marco Ramerini

THE WINE REGIONS OF SOUTH AFRICA

In the Cape area, the Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and rainy winters, together with the richness of the soil, has created the ideal conditions for the development, since the 17th century, of an important wine-growing area. The Cape, in fact, boasts five wine regions: the coastal region, the Olifants river, the Boberg, the Breede river valley, and the Klein Karoo.

South Africa has always preserved and protected its wildlife and floral heritage. On a trip to South Africa, a visit to some of its many national parks should not be missed. The most famous of which is undoubtedly Kruger National Park. Another very interesting park is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari desert on the border with Botswana and Nambia. Then there are other superlative natural destinations such as the Augrabies waterfalls, the Karoo, the spectacular Namaqualand, the flowered desert etc.

Not many people know it, but thanks to the incredible variety and beauty of the landscapes that South Africa offers (deserts, vineyards, beaches, mountains, hills, savannas, etc.), many of the commercials we see on our televisions are shot in this country. Here are some examples: Kinder Choco Fresh, Ringo, Fiat Idea, Mega Big Babol, 3 video-mobile phones, Arena, Sony GN111, Yahoo !, COOP, Fernet Branca, Vodafone, etc …..

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