I remember being very excited on the day of the flight. For the first time I was going to be a part of an organized travel group, joining by myself, without knowing any of the other members other than my future roommate on the trip, who I met for the first time a few days earlier. I spent the day wondering how the trip is going to be, would I be alright, with pictures and ideas going through my mind from everything I’ve heard about the African continent. Excitement was at a peak.
During the flight and when we finally landed, I realized I’m in good hands. Our smiling tour guide Arik, everyone else with me on this journey and the amazing atmosphere that greeted us when we arrived in South Africa managed to work their magic. This was the beginning of a two weeks journey, the start of a collection of experiences that will stay with me for a long while.
While we met random people at the airport who were quick to offer help with our luggage, we realized that even though they showed kindness they were also looking for money. It is very recommended to be careful with your belongings and make sure it is under your possession as much as possible. If you do not have an international phone package when you arrive, it is recommended to buy a Vodacom Sim card at the airport. It is easy to find a store belonging to that brand later, if you need to expand the purchased plan when necessary. I personally used an international plan that works for most countries purchased from a British company called World 8 that you can get easily from the post office (in Israel).
From the airport we travelled to Port Elizabeth, a harbor town on the shore of the Indian Ocean, where you can watch the port and Nelson Mandela’s famous statue. The weather was a little chilly, it was the end of winter and the beginning of spring there while it was the exact opposite in Israel, the beginning of autumn. We were lucky to have cool weather only during those first two days, and had a nice warm spring sun to accompany us for the rest of our stay.
The following day we travelled out of the city for an incredible safari experience called Pumba where we boarded open top jeeps. The longer we were out in the open, more and more animals came out. It was an amazing sight, both thrilling and exciting, and I spent it clicking away on my camera, working not to miss the shot. It is very unique to be able to see nature like this, in all its glory, something that you are not able to witness when you live in the city back here in Israel, that it was hard to stay indifferent.
We moved on to a safari experience at the Addo Elephant National Park, as shown in the photo.
The days went by and the experiences kept coming. We stayed at different hotels every night or two, all of which had absolutely incredible service, very clean rooms and a lot to offer. South Africa is considered “the Europe of Africa” for a reason, combining the unique nature of the continent with progress and development in the main cities.
The Garden route we travelled through on the way to Cape Town includes some incredible locations such as the Tsitsikamma National Park that has some very old trees, a famous hiking trail (the Mouth Trail) that has a lot of stairs, a nice waterfall and breathtaking views, and end with two beautiful bridges crossing the river. The best, though, was the Birds of Eden Park, a rehabilitation haven for birds who never got to experience freedom, a very magical place.
On the rest of the days we visited an ostrich farm, another animal reserve, a great local winery and more, a lot of different and diverse places that exhibit the unique nature of the country. Another location that shouldn’t be missed are the Cango Caves, a fascinating and beautiful geological wonder with stalactites that was discovered in 1780.
We spent our last few days in South Africa in and around Cape Town, where you can find an impressive lookout at Table Mountain that overlooks the city of Capetown, its great beaches, the ocean and the mountain ridges that surround it. It has a spectacular view of the edge of the continent and the country.
You should take advantage of daylight well.
In addition to Table Mountain, it is also recommended to visit the Cape of Good Hope, the southernmost area in the continent of Africa that is also the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and has beautiful beaches along its shores. On the way it is recommended to stop at the Hout Bay neighborhood, where you can take a short cruise to watch the seals island, and a stop at the cute African penguin colony on Boulders beach. They are so cute.
The nights can be spent wandering through Cape Town’s major streets, that have a lot of good restaurants and bars. The only warning is to make sure you go in groups and not alone at night, and keep an eye on your bags / wallets.
If you have a little more time to spend on this trip, a visit to Kruger National Park shouldn’t be missed. It is one of the largest parks in Africa, and the world, and has day and night safari routes, as well as a hiking trail. It is considered one of the best safaris, which we were not fortunate enough to experience.
Overall South Africa can be considered a good starting point for anyone who is a little weary of an African experience. It is more advanced and has a lot of shops, restaurant and entertainment that can still be combined with a safari experience and a chance to see some nature. It is a country that can be a right fit for young and old, singles or families.
GOODBYE SOUTH AFRICA, HELLO ZIMBABWE
Just a short flight away and the green scenery changes into a more yellow one. The roads are not as developed, there are no sidewalks, and alongside them you can see women walking carrying big bags on their heads. You arrive in a less rich country, simpler, but with plenty of joy.
At the hotel on the edge of the Zambezi river we were welcomed with authentic African dancing. The hotel itself was not a tall building but a string of wood cabins that had small monkeys running around in between. While we did not get to spend a lot of time in Zimbabwe, we did get to sail down the Zambezi river, on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, where we saw a lot of animals such as hypos, alligators, elephants on the banks and many more.
If you manage to get to Zimbabwe, do not pass on going to see the Victoria Falls, who are on the Zambezi river and are considered one of the seven wonders of the world. They are 1.7 kilometres wide and fall between 80 meters on the sides and 108 meters in the center, twice as high as Niagara Falls. For these it is recommended to make sure you have a rain coat and a good cover for the camera to protect it from the water spray (girls, make sure your hair isn’t blow dried beforehand).
I hope I managed to give you a little taste of southern Africa, whether you are a photographer or just someone who likes to collect some experiences. I will certainly be back to this special and unique continent.
And if you get to visit as well, I’ll be happy to hear all about it 🙂
