 |
With post-apartheid optimism melding South Africa into a new society of energy and significance, travellers are returning to a place that has been off the trail for most of the century. Political violence seems to be a thing of the past and among the vast majority of people there is a desire to get on with building a new nation. It's an exciting time to visit. For the first-time traveller to Africa, South Africa is not a bad place to start: the infrastructure is constantly improving, the climate is kind and there are few better places to see Africa's wildlife. But if you want to understand the country, you'll have to deal with the full spectrum. Poverty still exists alongside riches, the AIDS pandemic is devastating and violence remains a problem. It's necessary to take some precautions: keep money and valuables out of sight; take care when using local public transport and around railway stations; and note that car hijackings and armed robbery are risks in parts of the country. But balancing the downside is the almost tangible sense of pride and hope across all communities (rich and poor, black and white), particularly at the way South Africa has emerged from the nightmare of apartheid.
Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Nothern province
Western Cape
|
|
|
