Tropical reef diving- Sodwana Bay (on
the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal) is similar to the Florida Keys in the USA
while Aliwal Shoals (on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal) is where divers look
for ragged-tooth sharks.
Wreck diving -
The rugged Cape Coast is notorious for the number of sunken ships;
Cape Diving - Conditions here vary from those in
KwaZulu/Natal and compare favourably with those off the California coast in the
USA. Diving for abaloni, crayfish and great white sharks is popular.
Tsitsikamma Coastal Park offers excellent opportunities for underwater
photography with two underwater diving trails.
Shark dives - Sharks migrate through False Bay, at the Cape, from June
to August, and ragged-tooth sharks move into the Durban (KwaZulu/Natal) area
from October to January.
More than 10,000 scuba divers are trained in
South Africa each year and over 100,000 dives took place in the coral reefs of
the St Lucia Marine Reserve in a single year.
Large areas of South Africa's
vast tracts of diverse scenery are not accessible by vehicles. That's why
increasing numbers of visitors are voting with their feet and turning to
hiking. Not only does hiking provide the opportunity of getting close to the
natural environment, it is also an inexpensive way of exploring the country.
There are self-guided as well as guided off-the-road hiking trails. The
self-guided trails are ideal for groups of family and friends and are well
marked, with sleeping huts for overnight stays on the longer routes. Be sure to
take enough food, water and bedding, if necessary, for the trip. Guided trails
in nature reserves could span a few days and are less demanding as the hike is
usually led by a trained, armed and experienced game ranger, who provides
information about ecology, plants and animals. There are more than 300 trails
to choose from and for those backpackers on a budget (the great majority!)
there are nearly 50 hostels featured by the HISA (Hosteling International -
South Africa), which is recognised by the International Youth Hostel
Federation. Here is a brief, region by region description of some of the
best know trails.
Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Northern Province The most popular hiking and nature walks in the region are situated on the
plateau, which dominates the landscape. There are sections of evergreen forest,
rivers, panoramic views and rocks eroded into strange formations. Birds of prey
are abundant and small game such as rhebok, oribi and duiker can be found in
the area. The Kruger National Park offers guided walking trails under the
supervision of game rangers.
KwaZulu-Natal The province
consists of four main regions: the South and North coasts, the Midlands and the
Drakensberg. Lake St Lucia attracts a large number of hikers and coastal paths,
such as the Ngwanase Trail in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, also draw many
visitors. But by far the most popular area is the Drakensberg Mountains. With
its peaks, steep gorges and basalt outcrops, the Drakensberg has become
synonymous with hiking and backpacking. In the Midlands region trails take in
many of Pietermaritzburg's historic buildings and sites.
Free
State The Golden Gate National Park, with its strikingly coloured
sandstone cliffs, is a major draw. Hikers can see small game, such as blesbok,
zebra and wildebeest as well as birds such as the black eagle and the
lammergeyer. A number of other nature walks exist, some established along the
edges of the major dams.
Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape
and North-West This area covers the majority of South Africa's total
landmass and offers a wide range of scenery. Many hikers flock to the
Swellendam Hiking Trail at the foot of Table Mountain, while wilderness areas
such as Cedarberg and Boo smanbos, are popular amongst more experienced hikers.
The Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma forests offer numerous walking and hiking trails,
whilst along the shoreline of the Garden Route, hikers can follow the renowned
Otter Hiking Trail. Dense, coastal forest and dune vegetation can be explored
in the Alexandra State Forest while the Amatola Trail passes through stunning,
mountain terrain. In the Great Karoo, hikers on the Mountain Zebra Trail can
spot eland, kudu, red hartebeest, jackal, the Cape Fox and duiker. To the
northwest, Namaqualand and the west coast offer magnificent vistas when the
wild flowers come to life with the rains in July/August. Guides will also take
hikers through the Pilanesburg National Park.
The Cape Peninsula Walking Trail excellent trail
allows active visitors to walk the entire length of the Cape Peninsula, from
Table Mountain to Cape Point accompanied by a licensed professional guide. The
emphasis of this route is on enjoying world class walking while learning about
the unique flora, geology and ecology of the Cape Peninsula Mountains as well
as the rich history of the surroundings and places of interest encountered en
route. The walk is fully supported by vehicle, so that participants need carry
only the most basic requirements of water and foul weather clothing while their
luggage is transported to that night’s accommodation. Click to view full itinerary and request
more info...
Diamond Coast 5-day Hike A unique safari along the
Diamond Coast of Namaqualand in South Africa. The hike takes place in the Namib
Conservation Area. We set up the camps and one guide does the actual hike with
you. A real safari in an undeveloped, safe and malaria-free conservation area
Click to view full itinerary and request
more info...
Recommended Maps & Books
Landscapes of South Africa: the Cape Car tours,
walks, picnics (Maps Worldwide) Published by Sunflower Books Series
The Landscape Series This Landscape Countryside Guide on the South African
Cape is designed to take visitors away from the tourist centres and out into
the countryside, exploring by private or public transport, or on foot. Divided
into three sections the book covers car tours, picnics, and walks for all ages
and abilities.
An alternative way of getting
off the beaten track is by mountain bike, where the backpack can be relegated
to the saddle bag! Some reserves and parks are putting in mountain bikes
trails. There are several outfits that organise trips.
South Africa's coast and its many
lakes make it a favourite destination for yachtsmen and women from all over the
world. The Cape to Rio Yacht races takes place every third year, the next being
held in 2006.
There's nothing tame about
sports angling off the coasts of South Africa, with fishing trips often taking
on a tough, pioneering atmosphere. At least 250 species of fish are caught by
sea anglers. Where the Atlantic and Indian Ocean currents meet near the Cape of
Good Hope, a greater concentration of game fish can be found than anywhere else
in the world. The Cape is famed for its concentration of large tuna, including
the albacore, yellowfin and southern bluefin, whilst the recently discovered
populations of swordfish have drawn international attention amongst the world's
big game fishing fraternity.
There are about 750,000 marine anglers
in South Africa and the staging of regular tournaments has been well-developed
throughout the region - so the infrastructure for angling is excellent, with
accommodation, charter boats, party boats and specialist guides available at
most venues. There are some important fish runs which take place. The highlight
of the Sardine Run (June), along the Natal coast, is the hordes of feeding game
fish and sharks. In the summer, tuna and king mackerel abound, while the autumn
and winter brings huge runs of snoek. Inshore there are opportunities for
freshwater fishing all year round. Trout fishing is also available in various
places from September to May.
In the far north-west,
bordering with Namibia, rafting and canoeing trips on The Orange River have
become very popular. The main attraction is the scenery on route which passes
through the desert wilderness and between the banks of the high and dry
Richtersveld Mountains. More challenging rafting can be had on the Tugela River
located in KwaZulu-Natal, when the river is at it's highest during the months
of late December to mid-March. Other rivers suitable for canoeing include the
Komati in Mpumalanga and the Olifants, Berg and Breede in Western
Cape.
South Africa offers one of the best and
perhaps least crowded surfing destination in the world. Jeffrey's Bay is the
most popular place but there are many other alternatives particularly along the
east and south coasts where the best time of the year for surfing is between
April and July. Surf boards and equipment are on sale in most the major coastal
towns.
South African
Hand Gliding and Paragliding Association the internet site of the
South African Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (SAHPA), the controlling
and licensing Authority for the recreational sport of hang gliding and
Paragliding in South Africa. Gives details of clubs and schools in South
Africa.
Microlight Aviation
South Africa The unofficial home page of Microlighters in South
Africa. Updated regularly with loads of stories, pictures events and
more...
For years, South Africa has been proud to be home
to the "Big Five" - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Now the country
is starting to boast about the "Big Six", the addition to the list being a
creature somewhat larger then even the elephant - the whale. The Western Cape
Tourism Board, together with the local Hermanus Publicity Association, recently
established a Cape Whale Route, to guide visitors to the best spots for
observing these leviathans of the deep as they swim close to the shoreline - so
close in fact that it is not unusual for observers to be soaked from their
spray!
Whaling along the Cape coastline dates back to the 1770s but
was discontinued many decades ago. Little remains of the whaling stations, but
implements from this era can still be seen at the South African Museum in Cape
Town and at the Residency Museum in Simon's Town. The whales themselves,
though, are very much in evidence from June to September.
The most
common is the Southern Right Whale, so called by whalers because it is fat and
slow-moving and was therefore considered to be the "right" whale to catch. In
1940, the species was given complete legal protection in South African waters.
The Southern Right Whales are easy to recognise because they have no dorsal fin
and carry light coloured patches of roughened skin on the head called
"callosities". Adults average 14m in length and probably weigh about 40 tonnes.
The highest concentration of Right Whales occurs in Walker Bay, between
Hermanus and Gansbaai and the picturesque stretch of coast between Hermanus New
Harbour and the mouth of the Klein River lagoon. These sites provide
outstanding viewing as the creatures come particularly close to the shore. At
the height of the season they can also be seen in False Bay. The reason they
swim so close to land is because the females have just given birth and they use
the inshore waters as nursery areas. Humpback Whales and Bryde's Whales, can
also be seen. Both have small dorsal fins and lack callosities.
A
'Whale Festival' is held at Walker Bay every year during the last week of
September, an event celebrated with music, theatre, cabaret and sporting
events, which include a cycle race, a triathlon, a fun run, volleyball ' kite
stunt flying and competition flying- Thousands of people flock to the seaside
resort of Hermanus to join in the fun. During the day, craft markets fill the
streets and everyone enjoys the star performers - the magnificent Southern
Right Whales.
Birds of Southern Africa(amazon.com) - USA(amazon.co.uk) - UK by Ber Van Perlo describing all
1,250 bird species one might see not only in South Africa but in Zambia and
Malawi (both long neglected elsewhere), Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana,
Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. And this is the only guide to illustrate the birds of
Angola (including Cabinda), home of the striking White-headed Robin Chat of
river basins and the Angolan Cave Chat, a dweller of rocky hillsides.
South
Africa has one of the widest diversities of bird types in the world, featuring
over 870 different species and making it a paradise for bird-watchers. The
Kruger National Park and Kalahari Gemsbok National Park are amongst the last
strongholds of the large raptors, such as vultures and eagles.
The
main breeding ground for migrating flocks of pelicans and flamingos are in
reserves such as Nduma, Mkuzi, Lake Sibaya and St Lucia in northern
KwaZulu-Natal and a visit by bird enthusiasts is highly recommended. An
impressive range of birds inhabit the fynbos reserves of the Western Cape and
the Langebaan Lagoon is populated in the summer months by over 50,000 birds
including enormous numbers of curlew sandpipers.
In the Free State,
the goldfield pans and Seekoeivlei, also support large populations of bird.
Inland regions such as Nylsvlei and Barberspan in the Northern Province are
good locations. Waterbirds and birds peculiar to the bushveld are found in
great numbers, especially at Nysvlei. There are bird watching clubs in major
cities in South Africa.
Zest for Birds A
site about birds, birdwatching and birding tours in Southern Africa with lots
of interesting information and many photographs.
