South Africa Vacation
Vacation Ideas

While not on the standard tourist destination lists, I had the best trip of my life to this country and I think that everyone should experience the beauty and diversity of this beautiful land.

The plane trip is really the only downside when visiting South Africa. It averages thirty hours, and can be a little cramped, though I can say Delta Airlines did an amazing job of keeping me comfortable on the long flight, with amazing snacks and good in-flight movies.

Once I touched down in Durban, South Africa I was met by a representative from the company I was working with, a charity called Soul of Africa which supports children affected by AIDS.

Though I know a standard visitor wouldn't have such connections, I also know that it was a snap to arrange most of our visit through a travel agent, and I could have easily navigated without the help of our connections in the city.

We stayed in a smaller hotel, and honestly the name of it escapes me. I learned that such hotels are fairly standard across Durban. Initially I thought I had arranged to stay at a larger chain hotel, my travel agent suggested the smaller hotel because for a lower price I could get more features - fully cooked breakfast, lunches and dinners and it was in a safer area of the City.

I spent my first two days touring the child care centers that Soul of Africa supports, which was a humbling and enlightening experience. Though a standard traveler wouldn't necessarily have the opportunity to make such visits, it is possible to assist a charity while in the country.

It is amazing to see the things people take for granted in more affluent countries. After visiting with the Soul of Africa child care centers, I spent three days on safari at the Thanda Private Game Reserve.

This was the most luxurious resort I have ever witnessed. The guides at Thanda are incredibly knowledgeable about their animals, and the staff made sure every possible need was attended to - meals were five-star and customized every night with the freshest of ingredients.

We had meals before every trip out into the wild, and the guides packed mid-ride snacks which we enjoyed incredibly.

And the trips into the bush – what can I say? It was just overwhelming. The Thanda Private Game Reserve took land that been used and abused and rehabilitated it into an environment where the native wild animals can thrive. Seeing these proud, strong creatures made me appreciate this wonderful world we live in more than ever.

The caretakers here also removed large masses of plants that are not indigenous to South Africa, replacing it with native plants. As the bush and land animals were restored, the bird population has returned.

My favorite was the Bush Walks. I like this better than going out in the Land Rovers. For one thing it’s more eco-friendly. Walking in the bush is a fantastic way to really feel the pulse of the bush country.

Another very memorable part of this South Africa vacation was the incredible sight of the stars at night. I’ve heard that man-made lights will obscure the stars. Well, there was nothing around but dark open African sky and the stars were more magnificent than I had ever imagined they could be.

South Africa is a beautiful, awe inspiring country with some of the most amazing views and terrain I have ever witnessed. Its people are friendly and welcoming, and despite its occasional violent history, I felt very safe everywhere we traveled.

I wish everyone could experience what I did with this wonderful vacation idea. And I hope that on my recommendation at least one person will embark on a South Africa vacation.

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