Four Breathtaking Spots for Your Romantic Trip to SA
South Africa is a large, diverse, and incredibly beautiful region. It’s the country with the largest cities on the whole continent and several amazingly picturesque national parks. Thanks to the mix of culture and wildlife, South Africa is an ideal starting point for a romantic getaway and an introduction to African culture. If you decide […]
South Africa is a large, diverse, and incredibly beautiful region. It’s the country with the largest cities on the whole continent and several amazingly picturesque national parks. Thanks to the mix of culture and wildlife, South Africa is an ideal starting point for a romantic getaway and an introduction to African culture. If you decide to take your loved one on a trip to South Africa, be sure to visit one of these spots.
Tsitsikamma National Park
Tsitsikamma National Park is the first marine national park in Africa, located in the heart of the picturesque Garden Route. It’s 50 miles of rocky coast with quiet bays, ravines, forests, and sandy beaches. The park is inhabited by a huge variety of animals, while the marine part of the reserve provides excellent opportunities for diving. People come here for long walks along the curved paths, as well as amazing views of the ocean. The town of Storms River is the main gateway to the park. You can get to the park from 6 am to 7:30 pm.
How to get to the park
Storms River, located near the N2 highway, is easy to reach by car from Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. Buses stop here only for refueling.
Hotels
On the territory of the park, there are only two lodges where you can stay: Storms River Mouth Rest Camp and Nature’s Valley’s Restcamp. Nearby, halfway to Jeffreys Bay, is Tsitsikamma Falls Adventure Park.
Pilanesberg National Park
Pilanesberg National Park is located in the crater of an extinct volcano, and most animals were imported there from different parts of South Africa. The reserve is just a few miles away from Sun City and is famous for its stunning landscapes. The park has a lot of sites for bird watching and picnic areas.
How to get to the park
Near the park, there’s an airport (Pilansberg / Sun City), which accepts daily flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town. The park is also convenient to reach via the N4 or R24 from Pretoria and Johannesburg, through the town of Gauteng. As a rule, the entrance gates to the park are open from April to August at 6 am – 6:30 pm and from September to March at 5 am – 7 pm.
Hotels
There are several lodges on the territory of the park: Kwa Maritane, Tshukudu, Bakubung, Manyane, Bakgatla, Metswedi, Kololo, Mankwe, and Bosela.
Entertainment and attractions
Pilanesberg National Park is home to the famous ‘Big Five’ (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceroses, and buffalos). Apart from these animals, you can meet giraffes, hippos, antelopes, and a lot of birds. Manyane lodge has a special walking route, where you can explore the habits of local birds and simply enjoy the beautiful views. There’s a crocodile farm between the park and Sun City.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a nature reserve that was opened in May 2000 by mutual agreement between South Africa and Botswana, which united Kalahari Park and Gemsbok. For the most part, the park is a protected area of the southern part of the Kalahari Desert. The main inhabitants of the reserve are hundreds of antelopes, birds of prey, lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Almost all of Africa’s fauna is represented here, except for elephants, giraffes, and zebras.
How to get to the park
The easiest way to get here is to fly to Upington by plane, and then rent a car there. At the airport, you’ll find a few rental offices: Avis, Budget, Tempest, Hertz, and Imperial. Planes fly from Cape Town and Johannesburg to Upington three times a day.
You can enter the park both from Botswana and South Africa through two main entry points: Twee Rivieren (South Africa) and Two Rivers (Botswana). Twee Rivieren offers a car rental service.
Entertainment and attractions
While visiting the park, be sure to check out the Kgalagadi Museum. The entrance is free. As a rule, the museum opens an hour later and closes an hour earlier than the gate to the park. You can also spot some meerkats in the Twee Rivieren tourist center if you’re lucky.
Addo Elephant National Park
On the territory of Addo Elephant National Park, there’s the largest elephant population in Africa. But you can also meet black rhinos, lions, buffalos, and leopards here, and the marine part of the reserve hosts dolphins, whales, and penguins.
How to get to the park
Addo is located in the south of the country, about 43 miles from Port Elizabeth. You can’t reach the reserve by public transport, so you’ll need your own car, or you can order a group tour. The main gate is open from 7 am to 7 pm.
Hotels
In Addo, there are two lodges: the Main Camp is in the north-east of the reserve near the village of Addo, and the more compact Matyholweniare Lodge which is located in the south of the park near the entrance gate of Colchester. In the main camp, there’s a restaurant, a shop, and other tourist services, as well as a tent-chalet for guests.
You’ll never forget South Africa after visiting these national parks. In case you have no one to share the bright emotions from the trip, find yourself some company at this Russian dating website.
Sponsored Post