Cape Town, South Africa Travel Facts

Cape Town, South Africa
Sea to Shining Sea

South Africa, a country of 57 million people, has one of the largest economies in Africa. It also has an unemployment rate of over 25% and significant income inequality. This contrasting picture reflects the challenges South Africa faces in the wake of apartheid, a system of institutional racial segregation that ended in 1994.

Despite these challenges, South Africa is a vibrant, colorful country, with varied terrain and climatic regions, and more than 1,700 miles of coastline that stretches from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. The country features modern cities, beautiful beaches, and large game reserves, where visitors can view lions, leopards, wildebeests, hyenas, white rhinos, zebras, impalas, hippos, and giraffes. 

Imagine viewing some of this exotic wildlife from a hot air balloon as it drifts above the Magalies River Valley!

That’s just one of the many recreational offerings you’ll find in Africa’s southernmost country.

Another is Table Mountain,

Cape Town’s most visible landmark, rising 3,500 feet above the city. Of course, you can take a cable car to the summit, but if you want to get some steps in, choose one of 350 hiking paths to the top.

Surfing - All that coastline provides some amazing surfing. Jeffreys Bay,

located at the southern tip of the continent in Eastern Cape, ranks among the best surfing destinations in the world. In July, Jeffreys Bay hosts the annual World Surf League “Super Tubes” event. A shark attack during the 2015 finals, however, has put surfers on notice to be extra vigilant.

Fun Fact: The world’s tallest rope swing can be found at a soccer stadium in Durban, South Africa.

You’ll have to hike up 550 stairs first, and then it drops 288 feet. Not for the faint-of-heart, but an experience you won’t soon forget!

Now be sure to click here to check out Harare, Zimbabwe.