South Africa Photos

A male lion nuzzles a female during a moment of repose on the African plains. Lions are the only big cats that live in groups—prides are extended families that include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their young. As recently as the 1940s some 450,000 African lions lived in the wild but today only about 20,000 remain, scattered across an ever shrinking range

Vineyards, Franschoek Valley

,Franschoek Valley (French Corner Valley) was settled by French Huguenot refugees in 1688, when Old World traditions of winemaking and fine cuisine were transplanted to Africa’s rich soils. They’ve taken root with glorious results here in one of the world’s most picturesque wine regions.,



Map showing the major South Africa cities.

Cape town,... 

South African cities - Cape Town South Africa - South Africa cities
(c) South African tourism

The Mother city. "See Cape Town before you die..." That was the vote from viewers of the popular BBC travel programme “Holiday”. Choosing the 50 best overall tourist destinations, they gave our "Mother City", as it is affectionately called by us South Africans, the number 5 spot, after Sydney, New York, Venice and Paris.

It is more than five centuries ago, that the first Europeans set eyes on the natural beauty of the shape of Table Mountain and the coastline of the Cape Peninsula from the decks of their sailing ships. They were Bartholomew Diaz and his crew of seafarers. Quite aptly, they named it the Cape of good Hope. Later it became also known as the Cape of Storms. Sometime later in 1652, the Dutch East India Company sent Jan van Riebeeck and a company of settlers to set up a halfway refreshment station on its trade routes to the Far East. Cape Town was founded. South Africa cities.

The impressive and majestic Table Mountain towers proudly above the City, flanked by the legendary Devil’s Peak and the historical Signal Hill. Beautiful white sandy beaches along a peaceful coastline, frame Cape Town and the surrounding Peninsula. It all makes the Cape peninsula one of the most beautiful and striking sights in the world.

Besides its sheer natural beauty, Cape Town has a myriad of attractions. From catching the cable car up Table Mountain to enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the City and the Peninsula, taking a ferry to the historic Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was exiled, visiting the more than three centuries old Castle of good Hope, Panoramic boat tours around the Peninsula, to an exciting array of eating and drinking places, world-class hotels, exuberant nightspots, glittering shopping malls and open air art and craft markets, to name but a few.

Then there are the great outdoor activities such as water sports(including diving, surfing and sailing), deep sea fishing, wine tasting, mountain biking, hiking, kite flying, parasailing. Bird-and whale watching. And what is more romantic on a wind-still full moon summer’s night then to walk up lion's Head before dark, watch the sun set on one hand and the full moon rise on the other and then to walk down in the silvery light. Come and visit Cape Town, of all the South Africa cities the place to see before you die. 



Johannesburg,… 

South African cities - Johannesburg South Africa - South Africa cities
(c) South African tourism

Egoli, "at the gold" or "the place of gold" as the Zulu people so aptly call Johannesburg in their language. Johannesburg, capital of the province called Gauteng, which also means "place of gold", but then in the language of the Northern Sotho and the Tswana people. Johannesburg the place of gold, capital of the province of gold in, as you can guess, the country of gold, South Africa.

Exaggerating?...well, maybe a little. But when you have your first encounter with Johannesburg, driving into the city on the smooth tarmac of modern multi-lane freeways between modern skyscrapers and you see a modern and vibrant metropolis packed with vitality and a throbbing African rhythm where everyone is on the move, just realize, that you are looking at the economic and financial heart of our country. Of all the South Africa cities this city is literally built on gold.

What you must also realize is the fact that only a little more then a hundred years ago, Johannesburg was nothing more then an unknown and forlorn ridge with rocky outcrops in the middle of nowhere. Witwatersrand it was called, meaning “White waters ridge”. In 1886 it all started happening. The world’s richest deposits of gold were discovered and Man’s obsession with the shiny mineral did the rest. Prospectors, fortune seekers, speculators and adventurers from the ends of the earth flocked to the area.

In just over a century the original ramshackle congregation of prospectors and gold diggers tents developed and grew into the largest of the South Africa cities, third largest on the African continent, currently generating 16% of South Africa’s GDP. A modern fast paced cosmopolitan metropolis, bustling with energy and activity, home to 5 million people in an area no more then 60 km in diameter. A mind staggering explosion of growth and development,…the awesome power of gold.

Come and see for yourself the place of gold in the province of gold in the country of gold. An exaggeration?...you decide. Experience the exciting contrast of high rise glass and chrome corporate headquarter buildings and third world tin shacks, when you visit the sprawling, vibrant township of Soweto. An eye opener to the uninitiated. Spend a day at the unique goldmine theme park Gold Reef City. Go shopping in the upmarket Sandton City or at the Randburg waterfront. These are only but a few of the many sightseeing and pleasure activities to choose from.

Durban,… 


South African cities - Durban South Africa - South Africa cities
(c) South African tourism

eThekwini, "place of the lagoon". That is how the city of Durban is called by the Zulu people. Just imagine. Golden beaches with exotic names like Golden mile beachfront, Hibiscus coast, Strelitzia coast, sugar coast, and Dolphin coast. A tropical somewhat humid climate with a curry flavoured Asiatic atmosphere, quite different from the other South Africa cities. The kingdom of the proud warrior nation of the Zulus and the ancient and mysterious Valley of one thousand hills. An exciting and at the same time mystique mix of African and Asian cultures. And in the middle of it all, Durban, Africa’s bewitching seaside playground in the sun. Yes, that should give you an idea about what this great city is all about. South Africa cities.

The discovery of the natural harbour of Durban, dates back to Christmas Day 1497, when passing Portuguese seafarers named it "Rio de Natal" (the River of Christmas). In 1823, a European trader Henry Fynn and his party became the first white people to settle in the area. Until that time, the only people in the area were the indigenous Zulus. The small white settlement grew into a town and twelve years later it was named after the acting Governor of the Cape colony, Sir Benjamin D'Urban.

The Zulus, having lived there for centuries, did not favour the European settlement, feeling threatened by the incursion into their territory. With the arrival of the Voortrekkers, mistrust and unease grew, resulting in a series of bloody battles. In the end the British government became involved and the area was annexed to the Cape Colony in 1844, becoming the new province of Natal.

The British brought in thousands of Indians as indentured labourers to work on the sugar plantations of Natal. When their contracts expired, they were allowed to stay and their families and friends followed them to South Africa. Today they form the largest Indian population outside India. The mixture of Zulu, Briton, Voortrekker, Indian and descendents of other cultures resulted in Durban's extraordinary Afro-Asian feel and atmosphere.

Today Durban is a major gateway into Africa and is also the largest and busiest port on the continent, with a population of 3 million people. It is the economic powerhouse of the zulu Kingdom, extending a warm welcome to many compelling tourist treasures. It is the gateway to two of South Africa's World Heritage Sites, to the majestic and magnificent Drakensberg mountains and the vast Game Reserves in the Zululand bush, plus history-drenched battlefields, the Valley of One Thousand Hills and a coastal playground that seems to stretch on forever in both directions. 




Pretoria,… 

South African cities - Pretoria South Africa - South Africa cities
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"Jacaranda City", that is how the city of Pretoria with a population of close to two million people is known by us South Africans. Because when its 70,000 jacaranda trees get into blossom in the spring during the months of October and November, the City is completely covered in a glorious cloud of beautiful purple blossoms. Absolutely a sight to be seen. As capital of South Africa and the seat of Government, Pretoria has a stately character, pervaded by a strong sense of history and tranquillity. While providing all the modern comforts of life, it has also sustained a unique and truly rustic ambience. The pace is markedly slower and quite relaxed compared to some of the other South Africa cities.

The fertile valleys of Gauteng have been inhabited from the earliest times. More then three centuries ago the Sotho tribes who lived there were joined by "Nguni" speaking settlers from the north, known as the Ndebele (derived from the Sotho nickname "ma Tebele", meaning "refugee"). They were the first people to recognize the Apies river valley as a suitable place to settle. They named the river after Tshwane, a son of one of their chiefs named Mushi. The word "Tshwane" means "little monkeys". In the Afrikaans language it means "Apies". The next people to settle in this beautiful valley were Europeans in the form of the 19th century "Voortrekkers". They were mainly farmers who had sought to get away from British rule and domination in the Cape Colony.

Pretoria was founded by the Voortrekkers in 1855 on the banks of the Apies river. They named it after one if their leaders, Andries Pretorius. In 1860 it became capital and seat of government of the Transvaal Republic, retaining that status until today. The City Council of Pretoria has recently decided to give the city a new name. The city that was named after voortrekker hero Andries Pretorius, will soon officially be known as the City of Tshwane. South Africa cities.

Pretoria has a strategic location, within easy reach (about 50 km) of Johannesburg International Airport. It is a gateway to many favourite tourist destinations, from the famous Kruger National Park, Sun City, Pilanesberg Game Reserve and other popular game lodges to the beaches of Kwa-Zulu natal. The cultural minded visitor has a choice of 35 museums with spectacular displays of all aspects of the country's heritage. In Pretoria you can walk in the footsteps of heroes, follow the tracks of game, dance and gamble the night away, or sip cocktails amidst breathtaking scenery. Whatever your fancy, Pretoria has it. 



Bloemfontein,… 

South African cities - Bloemfontein South Africa - South Africa cities
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Bloemfontein, meaning "Fountain of flowers", is what Rudolph Marthinus Brits called the flowery peace of land around a strong natural well that he had bartered from the local tribal chief in the year 1840. He had left Swellendam in the Cape colony in search of farming land and better grazing for his cattle. His cousin joined him and soon they had developed the land into a flourishing farm. A popular stopover with the migrating Voortrekkers and passing travellers, it soon grew into a bustling little town, which was officially founded in 1846. Up to today the well is still flowing in downtown Bloemfontein.

Bloemfontein, the Capital of the Free State province and also the Judicial Capital of the country, is the sixth largest of the South Africa cities, with a population of close to a million people. The area in which it lies in the province is called the Motheo region. Motheo is the Sesotho word for "foundation" or "strong base of a building", a reference to the fact that the region is situated in the centre of the free State province. It is a region of golden fields of wheat and maize, and endless grasslands where sheep and cattle graze. Being situated in the geographic heartland of South Africa, Bloemfontein is an important stopover at the crossroads of important road, air and railway links, running from north to south and east to west between the South Africa cities across the country.

The city earned the nickname "City of Roses" because of the splendour of the 4000 rose bushes planted at Kings Park. The annual Rose Festival held in October each year, celebrates this beautiful feature of the city. The local Sesotho people have long ago given Bloemfontein the name "Mangaung", meaning "the place where cheetahs dwell", a reminder that this area was teeming with wildlife long before man arrived here.

When driving through this beautiful and charming city, one notices the unobtrusive and almost natural inclusion of an impressive architectural and historical heritage into the bustling life of a modern and developing city. A unique blend of past, present and future. Today this city offers the tourist excellent accommodation facilities, entertainment ranging from first class restaurants, art galleries, theatres, night clubs and pubs to historical buildings, monuments, stately museums and a game reserve uniquely situated in the heart of the city. South Africa cities. 



Kimberley,... 

South African cities - Kimberley South Africa - South Africa cities
(c) South African tourism

Kimberley,…from a diamond diggers shanty town called “New Rush” to Kimberley, the Diamond Capital of the world. What a story! The year is 1866. The place, the farm "De Kalk" near a little town called Hopetown on the banks of the Orange river. Event, Young Erasmus Jacobs picks up a pretty white pebble and puts it in his pocket. "Eureka", the pebble was called, after somebody discovered that it was a diamond of 21,25 carats. The year is 1871. another place, a small hill called "Colesberg kopje" on the farm "Vooruizicht" of the de Beer brothers. A labourer called Damon picks up three strange looking stones and shows them to his boss. Later, one of those stones would become the famous 83,50 carat "Star of Africa".

It sparked off the biggest diamond rush the world has ever seen, a mad scramble for fame and fortune. Within a matter of months some 50,000 diggers from all corners of the world were swarming all over the "Colesberg kopje". When the hill was gone, they simply kept on digging, creating the biggest and deepest manmade hole in the word with a perimeter of about 300 by 200 meters and a depth of close to 1100 meters, known worldwide as the "Big Hole". Around the hole a shanty town sprang up, aptly named "New Rush". In 1873 The name of the mushrooming town was changed to Kimberley, after the Earl of Kimberley, who was British Secretary of State for the colonies at that time.

Surviving many important battles of the devastating Anglo-Boer War, the history of Kimberley tells of success and vast wealth, but also of heartbreak and lost hopes. After buying out his main competitor Barney Barnato, the famous Cecil Rhodes became the key role player in consolidating diamond mining operations and fortunes into the "De Beers Mining Company Ltd." in 1888. To this day "De Beers" has remained the largest supplier of diamonds in the world.

Today Kimberley is a prosperous and thriving metropole, worthy of the title "Diamond Capital of the World". Without the frenzied pace of some of the larger South Africa cities, it offers a wealth of tourist attractions. From tracing the origins of humankind at archaeological sites, plunging a kilometre deep into mother Earth visiting a working "De Beers" diamond mine, viewing an ancient collection of more them 3000 San rock paintings and exploring everyday life in a township, to fly-fishing, game viewing and dune climbing, to name but a few. South Africa cities. 




Port Elizabeth,… 

South African cities - Port Elizabeth South Africa - South Africa cities
(c) South African tourism

Port Elizabeth, "The Friendly City" as it is known by many visitors. Friendly because of its great hospitality and its fantastic weather. It is rated as having the fourth best weather conditions in the world. Locals affectionately just call their city "The Bay" (English), or "Ibhayi" (Xhosa people), or "Die Baai" (Afrikaners). Port Elizabeth is South Africa’s fifth city and third largest port situated at the Algoa Bay coastline. Together with the municipalities of Uitenhage and Despatch it forms the "Nelson Mandela Metropole", with a population of close to 1,5 million people. With its 80 km coastline of beautiful beaches, its fantastic weather and its enormous range of attractions, it is probably South Africa’s best-kept tourism secret. South Africa cities.

The first European to venture into the Bay was the Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Diaz who, after having rounded the Cape of Storms (Cape Town) in March 1488, stepped ashore in the bay which he named "Bahia de la Roca". Later it was renamed "Bahia de Lagoa" (from which the name Algoa Bay was derived, meaning "Bay of the lagoon"), by a later explorer Manuel de Perestrelo in 1576. Until the 18th century it did not become more then just a refreshment station on the sea routes to Mozambique and the Far East.

The year is 1820. The place, a small refreshment station settlement at Algoa bay, no more then a handful of people. The event, 4000 British settlers arrive at its shore, to strengthen the population of the British colony. Acting Governor Sir Rufane Donkin was there to receive them. He named the settlement after his late wife Elizabeth on 6 June 1820. That put Port Elizabeth on the map and it quickly established itself between the other South Africa cities as the main port of the Eastern Cape province, developing rapidly.

Today Port Elizabeth is the gateway to the famous Garden Route region, including game reserves, the Addo Elephant Park, the historical town of Grahamstown, Jeffrey’s Bay, "the place of the perfect Wave", and many more. It offers the perfect combination of warm water, a calm sea, and fair breezes. It is one of the best sailing venues in the world and a mecca for all beach and water sport enthusiasts. At the end of each enjoyable day, a relaxing evening including sundowner cruises, top notch restaurants, sparkling night clubs, late night music spots and fine art theatre performances. ,,,,