Uncovering the Hidden Gems of South Africa
- brandonjbk
- Sep 10, 2023
- 2 min read
Traveling to the continent of Africa from the U.S. is no easy journey, typically requiring a layover in Amsterdam and another long flight into country. For South Africa, it may be 18 hours before you hit ground. But let me tell you, it's absolutely worth every minute. Africa is by far my favorite continent, after traveling there over 5 times. And South Africa is such an incredibly large country to explore. From Kruger National Park to the history of the Apartheid, Robben Island, Boulder's beach, Cape Town, to the less obvious spots of Drakensberg and Franschhoek, South Africa is loaded with gems.
My hope is that everyone has a chance to explore Kruger National Park. It has this odd name to it, but it's absolutely life changing. 2 million hectares of preserved park, one of the largest in the world. It can be a bit overwhelming as to where to stay and how to break down a visit. I would suggest connecting with a travel agent or someone who's been to the area. There are a number of higher end lodges in the area, I wanted to stay just outside of Kruger to get a chance at witnessing the "big 5". Serondella lodge is absolutely stunning, with multiple safaris, bush walks, and engagements with local villagers.
Beyond the beauty of Kruger, there is still an entire country to explore. On my way to Durban, I stopped by Swaziland, which is now called Eswatini. An incredibly poor country with some of the highest rates of HIV. The country is an absolute monarchy and has been under the rule of King Mswati since the mid 80s. They are known for their blown glass factories, of which I still have various glass statutes of the type of game one would encounter in country.
While visiting Durban, I made my way to the top of Mabhida Stadium, that would be later featured in the South African World Cup. You can actually bungee from the top of the stadium. I attempted kite surfing in the Indian Ocean, which is a lot harder than one would think! But some of my favs are on the south side of the country of Oudtshoorn and Franschhoek. Yes, that's me racing an Ostrich and enjoying the beautiful wine country off the cliffs of Franschhoek.
Last, Cape Town. An absolute stunning city, where one can enjoy the bustling city life, to South African penguins, incredible views Tabletop Mountain to the history of Robben Island. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of the 27 years of his imprisonment before the fall of the apartheid.
To capture all the gems in this post is simply impossible. But to underscore the impact of this adventure is a must. It changed my life, as I witnessed the class of nature and humans to a degree I still try and remind myself of everyday. It would set the tone for several more visits across the continent as well as a commitment to return throughout my life. I hope this post inspires you to take this adventure, as it may just change your life as well. Bonne chance!
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