This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
south africa


FEATURE 55


T


his year is a signifi cant one for South Africa. Two decades ago this was a country in isolation, struggling with a divisive apartheid


system and exclusion from the world stage. All that changed in 1994, with the fi rst ever democratic elections, and ever since then South Africa – the Rainbow nation – has barely looked back, successfully hosting the 2010 World Cup and taking its place as the economic powerhouse of Africa. Twenty years on, and with elections due again, the


mentor of that resurgence, Nelson Mandela, may be no longer with us, but his infl uence remains strong. “The recent passing of Mandela has brought South Africa back into the media spotlight,” says John Parker of Premier Holidays, “with people being reminded of the great changes that he brought to this beautiful and special country. We have noticed an increase in requests that include excursions to sights that were an important part of the Mandela story, such as Robben Island and Soweto.” South Africa is again on our screens daily with the current trial of ‘blade runner’ Oscar Pretorius and such publicity means that the wider world is again being made increasingly aware of the nation at the southern tip of Africa. The New York Times recently highlighted Cape


Town as the world’s top place to visit in 2014, and anyone who does head down to the tip of Africa can hardly fail to fall in love with the relaxed waterfront city, wedged under bright blue skies between Table Mountain and the sea. Other cities, too, are coming up, particularly Durban and Port Elizabeth, but it is the great outdoors that is South Africa’s big attraction. From the huge game parks like Kruger, where you can drive yourself around to fi nd the Big Five, to super-luxurious private reserves where the quality of the food and accommodation is second to none. These wildlife areas have another advantage,


too, as Michael Creighton of Travel 2 points out: “Malaria tablets can make children and adults feel unwell, but the Eastern Cape, with wildlife regions such as the Kariega Game Reserve, is malaria free, making it a great family-friendly safari destination.”


Opposite: Table Mountain looms large over Cape Town


Besides safari and city there’s also beach holidays


– something South Africa is not widely known for – along the southern coast and the Garden Route where the water is warmer than along the west coast. The country will also appeal to history buffs, particularly those heading to KwaZulu-Natal, with its stories and battlefi elds of the late-nineteenth century Anglo-Zulu wars. There’s hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains,


adventurous train journeys across the Karoo, plus elegant gastronomy-rich homestays in the Cape Dutch manor houses that preside over rolling winelands in the Western Cape. In short, the nation is a true feast of tourism possibilities, always spectacularly good looking, and now currently particularly good value, too, thanks to the steady decline of the rand, which has dropped by over 50% against the pound over the last four years. As Louise Turner from Virgin Holidays points


out: “Right now South Africa is a very affordable destination and it is possible to eat and drink on a budget. For example, a three-course dinner with a bottle of wine costs approximately £20pp.” In short, South Africa has two powerful draw cards: there are few parts of the world where the pound stretches so far and none which have quite as much to offer to tourists.


What’s new Airlines: British Airways (batraveltrade.com) is


introducing an Airbus A380 on the London to Johannesburg route, and putting on three extra fl ights a week to Cape Town. South African Airways (fl ysaa.com) reported a 14% increase in income in 2013. Later this year it will move to the renovated Terminal Two at Heathrow. Emirates (emirates.com) has introduced an Airbus A380 service on its fl ights from Dubai to Johannesburg. Qatar Airways (qatarairways.com) has added three


extra fl ights a week from Doha to Johannesburg. Low-cost domestic airline Mango (fl ymango.com)


continues to launch new routes – Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth and Port Elizabeth to Cape Town – as well as increasing its code-share arrangements with South African Airways. Trains: The Blue Train (bluetrain.co.za) has been


www.sellinglonghaul.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80