Frommer's South Africa

by de Bruyn, Pippa; Bain, Keith

• ISBN13: 9781118074787
• ISBN10: 1118074785
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-12-27
• Publisher: Frommers

Summary

Insider advice from our author, a lifelong resident of South Africa, who hits all the highlights, including safaris in South Africa and Botswana, side trips to Victoria Falls, and vineyard tours outside Cape Town. She shares her favorite experiences you shouldn't miss: visiting Nelson Mandela's jail cell, watching whales from the sand dunes in Western Cape, enjoying a sunset from Table Mountain in Cape Town, rafting the churning waters of the Zambezi, and swimming with penguins on Boulders Beach. Where to find the wildest animal encounters, the best private game lodges and camps, the best parks and nature reserves, the best surfing and paragliding, and the best culinary treats--from high tea in Cape Town to braaing kreef (lobster) on the beach. Insightful commentary on South African history and where best to learn about it, including the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, Gauteng (the "cradle of humankind"), and the Vukani Collection of Zulu artifacts in Eshowe. Opinionated reviews. No bland descriptions and lukewarm recommendations. Our expert writers are passionate about their destinations--they tell it like it is in an engaging and helpful way. Exact prices listed for every establishment and activity--no other guides offer such detailed, candid reviews of hotels and restaurants. We include the very best, but also emphasize moderately priced choices for real people. User-friendly features including star ratings and special icons to point readers to great finds, excellent values, insider tips, best bets for kids, special moments, and overrated experiences.

Author Biography

Pippa de Bruyn was born in Durban, raised in Johannesburg, and has now settled in Cape Town. She is an award-winning journalist and is also a coauthor of Frommer's India and Frommer's Kenya & Tanzania. Cape-based Keith Bain is a coauthor of Frommer's India, Frommer's Kenya & Tanzania, Frommer's Eastern Europe, Pauline Frommer's Italy, and Pauline Frommer's Ireland. Both are founders of www.bestkeptshhh.com, which offers bespoke trips to Southern Africa, East Africa and India.

Table of Contents

List of Maps vii

1 THE BEST OF SOUTHERN AFRICA 1

2 SOUTH AFRICA IN DEPTH 11

3 SUGGESTED SOUTHERN AFRICAN ITINERARIES 48

4 THE MOTHER CITY: CAPE TOWN & THE PENINSULA 60

5 SIDE TRIPS FROM CAPE TOWN: WHALES, WILDFLOWERS & WINE 144

6 THE GREAT CAPE ROAD TRIP: THE LITTLE KAROO & GARDEN ROUTE 198

7 THE EASTERN CAPE: GAME RESERVES, SETTLER TOWNS & UNRIVALED COAST 249

8 AFRICA'S BIG APPLE: JO’BURG 275

9 BIG-GAME COUNTRY: KRUGER NATIONAL PARK & PRIVATE RESERVES & CONCESSIONS 302

10 KINGDOM OF THE ZULU: KWAZULU-NATAL 362

11 THUNDERING WORLD WONDER: VICTORIA FALLS & VICINITY 403

12 ORIGINAL EDEN: BOTSWANA 415

13 PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO SOUTHERN AFRICA 440

Index 458