Liberty International South Africa - A trip around the country

Introduction to South Africa Useful facts Climate & geography History Getting there in style Touring South Africa By the seaside Cities Cape Town Winelands Garden Route Safari Golf Hiking Food and drink Accomodation Spa & Wellness Filming in South Africa Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events	Touring the country behind your own steering wheel South Africa’s exceptional appeal can be largely attributed to its unique diversity. Cities and people of every description come into view as steppes and mountains glide by Landscapes of a scale found nowhere else on earth are unsurpassed in their breathtaking beauty. A kaleidoscopic adventure awaits the traveller, best when savoured at a pace that allows you to digest a host of impressions and sensations. Instead of flying from one end of the country to the other, explore South Africa close up and let it seep into your soul. The road network and signposting are of European standard — if not better. Distances are easily overcome. Hemingway’s knows this country inside out. We have years of experience behind us organising routes complete with maps and detailed travel guidelines customised to the visitor’s individual needs and interests.

		The road to Sun City But, it can be difficult to decide where to start. Johannesburg is the northern hub and key to most of southern Africa. With its multitude of enticing routes within easy reach of the city, and its international airport, it’s the ideal starting point for a round trip. Glitzy Sun City, with its luxury hotels, casino and artificial lake excellent for water-skiing and swimming, is a mere two and a half-hour drive from Johannesburg. Golf, of course, is high on the agenda here on two PGA courses designed by the veteran Gary Player. Malaria-free Pilanesberg and Madikwe Here in North West Province you will find the country’s finest (and malaria-free) national parks. Pilanesberg, Madikwe and the dramatic Waterberg Plateau. From here you can hop over the border to Botswana and watch the great elephant herds wandering along the Limpopo River in the Mashatu Game Reserve, in the Tuli enclave.

	The scenic road to the Kruger Park After wild animal watching, sandstone and the baobab tree, perhaps it’s time for a little pampering. In Limpopo Province to the north, near Tzaneen, the comfortable Coach House Hotel and a little further south the exclusive Blue Mountain Lodge are two notable options. Take a few rounds on the nearby golf courses. Try your wits with fly-fishing on the lakes. Or pick up a packed picnic basket and explore the abundant bird life. Flowering flame trees, fruit plantations, tea farms and fields of resplendent azaleas stretch for miles along what the locals call the Panorama Route, which is in reality the lower northern outlines of the Drakensberg Mountain range. Even though the peaks do not reach as high as their sister ranges to the south, its ravines are broad and dramatic, and a drive through is an awesome experience. The road meanders east bringing you to the Greater Kruger Reserve, where the Big Five and smaller but just as enticing wildlife await in the park proper, and in the private game reserves on Kruger’s western outskirts.

		Towards Zululand´s old battlefields Back in the car again driving towards the coast. You are now in Zululand with its sunny typical African atmosphere. A province, wich has witnessed some of the bloodiest turning points in South Africa’s earlier history. Notaby at the legendary battle at Blood River when the Trekboers fought off an overwhelming Zulu onslaght. A few years later, Britain attempted to subdue the warring Zulu people and then turned on the Dutch boers. The battlefields of the Boer Wars are marked and monuments have been erected to the fallen. More safari or some relaxing days on the beach A little more safari, perhaps? One of the smallest yet most beautiful wildlife reserves, Ndumo, with its luxuriant river landscapes, is situated on the border with Mozambique. Or is it time for a trip to the seaside? Rocktail Bay’s coastal forests and long, deserted beaches provide a tropical respite on the warm Indian Ocean. Stroll through peaceful and protected surroundings, and be on look out for birds and sea tortoises. And, so, mind and body is fit again for new sensations.

	Zululand´s many attractions Safaris are a feature almost everywhere in South Africa. Take, for instance, the Phinda Private Game Reserve, which in addition to the Big five offers canoeing, Sunset Cruises and sea tortoise watching. Or what about something more strenuous like hiking in the mighty Natal Drakensberg? The lively seaside resort of Durban may seem a little loud after the peace and quiet of the nature reserve, but it provides a springboard to even more exploration. Next stop The Garden Route A short flight west to George or Port Elizabeth brings the entire former Cape Colony within easy reach. From small holiday towns on the Indian Ocean you follow the coast up the Garden Route taking in impressive views and overnighting in cosy guesthouses. Africa’s most southerly point, Cape Agulhas, is on route, from where you can view dolphins and whales. The Winelands and Cape Town Inland you will find vineyards and small inns in the Winelands, and South Africa’s famous wine is surely reason enough to visit the region. And then to Cape Town, South Africa’s oldest city, where an energetic, almost European ambience gives the tourist a feeling of coming home.

		The World´s most luxurious train If you feel like letting go of the wheel for a while, turn back time and hop on a Rovos Rail or Blue Train. These exclusive, fully renovated steam trains ooze of the long ago, of an era when travel was travel, although each coupé does come equipped with every modern convenience. From Pretoria to Cape Town, along the Garden Route to Durban, or perhaps all the way up to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. There is lot to see and do. The choices are endless. Select a few in the order and combination you prefer. Hemingway’s is here to provide your made-to-order holiday of a lifetime. So, when you need anything, just ask.

Touring the country behind your own steering wheel

South Africa’s exceptional appeal can be largely attributed to its unique diversity. Cities and people of every description come into view as steppes and mountains glide by