At the very mention of South Africa, a large number of people are the first association of wildlife, dance, exotic animals.

However, South Africa is much more than that. The Republic of South Africa is a country in the extreme south of the African continent, along the coasts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It has three capitals: Cape Town, which is the seat of parliament, Pretoria, which is the seat of the executive, and Bloemfontein, which is the seat of the court. The interior of the country is occupied by a large hilly plateau that slopes steeply to the east, south and west towards a narrow coastal plain.

According to many, Cape Town is the most beautiful, most romantic and most visited city in South Africa. It is known for its hospitality, where a mixture of friendly locals and a modern state is measured by the world's major centers. The cultural scene of the city is very relaxed, especially when it comes to music that seems to spring from every corner. The city has been inhabited by the Khoi people for thousands of years, and recent history begins in the 17th century when the city was an important trading post on its way to India. The main feature of Cape Town is also one of its main tourist attractions - Table Mountain.

The top of the mountain can be reached by cable car, and the top itself delights with views of the city and ocean. An impressive experience for all visitors is also provided by a visit to Robben Island, which was once a famous prison for men and a former leper colony. It used to be home to a large number of African statesmen who were imprisoned for their political beliefs, the most famous prisoner among them being Nelson Mandela. The wildlife on the island also leaves no text, thanks to colonies of penguins and seals. Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is one of the most visited tourist attractions created thanks to the great idea of ​​turning a neglected port area into a major tourist center. There is also the famous Two Oceans Aquarium, where you can enjoy the beauties of the sea world, but also participate in feeding large fish and mammals.

Cape Town is home to one of the seven best botanical gardens in the world where over 5,000 different plant species can be seen. The Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden is unique and a pleasant place to walk and get to know the rich offer of flora. Cape Town is located near the Cape of Good Hope, a high and steep cliff whose name is based on the fact that sailors coming to this place believed that they had found a way to reach India. Unfortunately, for many of them, those hopes did not come true, because there are over 3,000 shipwrecks on the seabed. However, Cape of Good Hope is not the southernmost point of the African continent as is often thought, but it is Cape Agulha.

The meridian passing through it is considered the border between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa in terms of area and population. The whole city is full of trees, especially the Jacaranda wood, which in the spring the whole city turns purple. The center, which is characterized by a tall antenna tower with a lookout tower, architecturally resembles North American cities in office buildings. In the center is the Museum of Africa, the most important museum of culture and history of Johannesburg, where you can learn about the history of the city or learn what the difference is between the Bantu and Zulu tribes. The history of Johannesburg begins on October 4, 1886, when George Walker got stuck for a piece of gold ore on his estate in Witwaterstand. 40% of the world's gold was later mined at the site. One of the quietest places in the city is the Johannesburg Botanic Garden, which houses a terraced rose garden that is reportedly the largest in the world. 330 kilometers east of Johannesburg is Kruger National Park, the largest wildlife reserve in South Africa. It is one of the largest national parks in the world with a very rich flora and fauna.

The most famous tourist center in South Africa, Sun City, was built in the middle of the desert, in the area of ​​an extinct volcano several million years old. Exclusive hotels with numerous restaurants, bars, casinos and a rich program are a real paradise for hedonists who love this form of vacation. Sun City is rightly called the "Las Vegas" of South Africa. Fans of active holidays can also find numerous facilities, but also animal lovers. The most spectacular part of Sun City is definitely Lost City. Originating from a legend, according to which a once wandering tribe found a protected valley in which it built a civilization of peace, it provides the visitor with rich facilities.

INTERESTING FACTS:

In 1905, the largest known 3,106-carat diamond, part of the British Crown's rich jewelry collection, was found in South Africa's Cullinan diamond mine, not far from Pretoria.

One of the oldest prehistoric sites is located in the Republic of South Africa, more precisely in the northwestern part of Johannesburg. It is a network of caves called the Cradle of Humanity, which is under the protection of UNESCO.

The city of Vredefort is home to the largest confirmed crater on Earth. It is believed to have been formed by a meteor impact about 10 kilometers in diameter, several billion years ago. The crater has a diameter of 200 kilometers and is also under UNESCO protection.

Mount Table is believed to be one of the oldest in the world.

South Africa is the first country in Africa to host the World Cup (2010).

The crocodile farm in Sun City houses 300 crocodiles, which is the largest farm of these animals in Africa.