At the southernmost tip of the African continent lies a country that offers endless opportunities for adventure, relaxation and cultural sharing: South Africa. It is a large and scenically diverse country, ringed by beautiful beaches and the blue-green waters of two oceans.

With an area of approximately 1,218,000 km2, South Africa is larger than Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and Holland put together and offers just as much cultural diversity.

South Africa has 2985 km of coastline offering plenty of opportunities for swimming and water sport. Some of the beaches host regular international surfing competitions and the harbours and marinas are popular destinations with yacht owners from all over the world.

South Africa shares borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Kingdom of Swaziland. The small Kingdom of Lesotho lies in the southeast of the country and is completely enclosed by South Africa. A well developed road and transport system and excellent accommodation and telecommunications facilities enable visitors to enjoy their stay with all the comforts and luxury they may desire against the backdrop of the unspoilt splendour of Africa.

South Africa offers an amazing diversity of fauna, flora and geographical features within its borders. This great diversity is a result of the climatic influence of the cold, north flowing Benguela current on the west coast and the warm, south flowing Mozambique-Agulhas current on the east coast. The east and west coasts of South Africa have significant differences in climate, vegetation and marine life.

South Africa’s surface is divided into two major physiographic features; the interior plateau and the land between the plateau and the coast. The boundary between these two areas is the Great Escarpment, the most prominent and continuous mountainous feature in the country. Its height above sea level varies from 1,500 m in the south-west to 3,482 m in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg Mountain Range. Inland from the Escarpment lies the interior plateau with its wide-open plains.

Within these contrasting zones some of the world’s most diverse animal and plant reserves are found.

Provinces: South Africa is divided into nine provinces, each with its own distinct character and identity.

Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is the second largest of the nine provinces and its diversity is ranging from the dry desolate Great Karoo landscape to lush forests, fertile valleys, sandy beaches and the mountainous southern Drakensberg region. The main attraction of the Eastern Cape is its astonishing coastline. With its wide sandy beaches, endless sweeps of rocky coves, secluded lagoons and towering cliffs, the Indian Ocean coastline provides the province with a rich natural resource, offering an attraction for every taste.