South Africa Overview


	The coastline stretches more than 2 500km from the desert border with Namibia on the Atlantic coast southwards around the tip of Africa and then north to the border with subtropical Mozambique on the Indian Ocean. On dry land, going from west to east, the country shares long borders with Namibia and Botswana, touches Zimbabwe and Mozambique to the east, and lastly curves in around Swaziland before rejoining Mozambique's southern border. Despite being classified as semi-arid the country actually has considerable variation in both climate and topography.

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FAIRVIEW TOURING

TOURING HIGHLIGHTS IN THE CAPETOWN REGION

"The Fairest Cape in all the circumference of the earth" Sir Francis Drake, 16th century.
CAPE TOWN, 'The Mother City' - Dominated by a towering, table-shaped mountain and nested on a peninsula with both rocky heights and lush valleys where the Indian & Atlantic oceans converge this is a modern city with spectacular natural beauty. As well as world-beating clean natural beaches and a wealth of galleries and museums the city highlights include: The World Heritage Site of Table Mountain, covered in a wide variety of wildlife and soaring over a 1000m above sea level it is reached by cable car for stunning 360° views of Cape Town. Robben Island; First used by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a staging post but more recently the site for a jail for those considered dangerous to the previous government, including its most famous prisoner, Nelson Mandela. Castle of Good Hope; Built between 1666 - 1679 and located in the heart of Cape Town is the oldest building in South Africa. It is a pentagonal fort with a moat at each corner. Today it houses a military museum and a fine collection of paintings and antiques. The Western Cape is one of the world's richest plant kingdoms, there are hundreds of botanical sites (National Parks, game & marine reserves), in the area worth a visit including... KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDENS - One of the great botanical gardens of the world, situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, the estate covers 500 hectares and includes over 5000 species of indigenous plants including many rare and endangered ones. THE GARDEN ROUTE 'A Taste of Eden' - The breathtaking forests of the Garden Route, including those at Knysna, George, Sedgefield, Tsitsikamma and Grootvadersbosch are one of South Africa's greatest natural heritages. Managed to strict conservation rules here rolling fields, peaceful inland lakes, evergreen forests, dazzling bays and pristine beaches, bask in a sultry Mediterranean climate. Towering mountains breachable by stunning passes and gorges form a natural barrier for the route's entrance to the interior.The forests contain many common well-known species including Stinkwood, Real Yellowwood & Blackwood. Additionally wildlife especially birdlife is abundant.