Why South Africa

WHY SOUTH AFRICA?!

Spartacus gay guide rates Cape Town (known locally as the “Mother City”!) as one of the top gay travel destinations internationally! From the natural beauty of Table Mountain and the winelands to the fabulous white beaches at Clifton and the nudist Sandy Bay; from the bustling Waterfront to the largest shopping complex in Africa; from superb restaurants to the gay De Waterkant village near the city centre, cosmopolitan Cape Town is the ideal place to start any trip to South and Southern Africa!

Gay guesthouses abound and hotels virtually fall over each other to attract gay and lesbian clientele. It’s hard to find ANYONE who does not use the term “gay friendly”!

From Cape Town one can head off to the awesome beauty of the famous Garden Route and quaff sparkling wine and local oysters while gazing over Knysna Lagoon, and then the near – pristine Wild Coast. Or on to the holiday city of Durban with its beaches, surfers and Indian cuisine. Johannesburg, the financial capital of Africa, is a truly African city, with an energy that is difficult to ignore.

There is wildlife (and wild life!) aplenty in the country. Most will have heard of the Kruger National Park, one of the world’s largest and finest game parks, where the “Big Five” (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros) are to be found.

Strung along the edge of Kruger is a wide variety of private game reserves, all of which offer fabulously luxurious lodge accommodation, knowledgeable rangers and trackers (uniformed!) and incredible game viewing.

For those who enjoy true opulence, The Palace at the Lost City beckons. This unbelievable hotel complex, situated at Sun City alongside the Pilanesberg Game Park, is really breathtaking. From the supreme luxury of the hotel to the Valley of Waves, the botanical gardens, the casino, the golf course, to a game drive in the adjoining park, this is a place not to be missed!

Namibia, to the north of Cape Town, is Africa’s desert paradise. Here, one really comes to grips with just how insignificant we humans actually are. The vastness of open spaces, the canopy of stars at night, the dunes and mountains, all connive to create a truly memorable – and unique – African safari!

Zimbabwe is surely one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and Zimbabweans one of the friendliest populations. The country has been through some major turmoil recently, but is a FABULOUS safari destination. Great hotels, stunning attractions (Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba and the Zimbabwe Ruins), a wide variety of game parks.

Harare, the capital, is a beautiful city, with a small but active gay and lesbian community.

Mozambique – ah, even old Bob Dylan loved the place (remember he wrote a song about it? Featured on the album “Desire”) – WHAT a country. Tropical Africa with a Latino beat. Pavement cafés, Portuguese peri peri prawns, miles of tropical beaches and stunning coral reefs. One of Africa’s future travel hotspots.