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South Africa Travel Blogs

Background: After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments, but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule.

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By CardiffJenks
November 6th 2009

Cape Town 2009 Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Boulders Beach

Rain!!!!
No way to start a day

Thursday 5th November Got up and looked out the window at……….. RAIN! Just what we’d come here to avoid. Luckily it started to clear later in the morning so we headed off towards False Bay on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula. Conveniently the motorway out of Cape Town begins close to our hotel (the downside being that the traffic noise can be a bit loud in the mornings), so it was an easy drive through the leafy suburbs of Constantia (the prime real estate in Cape Town) and along to False Bay. The East coast of the Cape Peninsula [View Full Entry]

By ThembaThemba
November 5th 2009

amongst the sugar cane...and the stigmas... Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal

Saturday-- there I was, sitting in a loud smokey pub- surrounded by farmers clad in shorts and safari shirts-- straight out of the movies-- really enjoy that though-- sitting there with Neil, he is already drunk I think, from the brandy he had been drinking all day. he has been out sick from work--which just means he gets to drink more brandy -- the rugby match has started and everyone is yelling--cheetahs--blue bulls , seems to be split-- across the room two TV sets jarring the sound of fans cheering along with those cheering here in my surrounds. it is one [View Full Entry]

By Natpants
November 2nd 2009

Sooo how it goes.... Africa » South Africa » Limpopo » Tzaneen

Well! So I've been here for 3 weeks now... Feels like forever actually! In a good way and kinda in a not so good way.... I've been really homesick for the past 2 weeks. First week I had the usual homesick jitters but as I had to focus on learning the ropes it passed but it came back and has been pretty bad. Kinda made a week or so not so good to the point where I wanted to go home last week but I'm trying to push through. Still not sure I can last the remaining 7 weeks here but [View Full Entry]

By Kelsie
November 1st 2009

25 days left! Africa » South Africa » Eastern Cape » Port Elizabeth

The crew
Erik, me, Mary, and Josh.

One thing I have learned during my time here in Africa is to plan on things not going according to the plan. My week long trip to Lesotho was a confirmation of this. With Erik, a Swedish guy I have known since February, Mary, another CA girl who goes to school in Monterey, and her friend Josh, who flew out for the week, we rented a car and drove the first day to Lady Grey, South Africa, a few hours drive from the border of Lesotho where we entered at Telle Bridge. We might have been able to make it all [View Full Entry]

By Peetje
November 1st 2009

2010 Africa » South Africa

South Africa

Ik ben nog geen maand terug en ik heb nu al weer de kriebels. Ik ben nog steeds bezig met de foto's van mijn reis naar Beijing & Australië, maar tegelijkertijd ben ik mijn volgende zomervakantie al weer aan het plannen. Ik zou menig korte stadstrip kunnen doen, maar ik heb besloten om wat verder van huis te gaan. Zuid Afrika!!! Kijk uit naar de "big five" en het schitterende landschap. Genoeg te zien en te beleven...tijd om te sparen. I know, I've only been back just over a month but I can't help myself. I'm still working on my pictures [View Full Entry]

By Becca22
November 1st 2009

only 2 weeks left! Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Plettenberg Bay

Well I can't quite believe I only have a couple of weeks left now - literally 2 weeks today and I'll be back in the UK. It's been totally amazing with so many different adventures and loads of photos to bore everyone senseless with! Well I'm now in Plettenberg bay at the end of my second volunteer project - so very different from the first. This time it has been with an organisation called Orca - a whale and dolphin project, we have been out on the boats a number of time and spotted many humback and southern right whales, humpback [View Full Entry]

By fluff4711
October 31st 2009

Last Minutes Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Edenvale

Hello all, Last minute shopping and selling of a few things before tomorrow morning, early rise and the groot trek begins, wow must say these memory foam inner soles work well seriously feels like walking on pillows, but anyway i need to shut down the pc now and pack up the last few things and then relax the legs b4 the walk ill try take pics as i go but my cell dont have such a good camera but ill try, cheers for now [View Full Entry]

By fridaharaldsson
October 31st 2009

Capetown Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Cape Town

Noordhoek

Come on South Africa - hurrah!! Cape town is just as beautiful and amazing as I remembered! The weather was bad before I arrived but as I landed the sun came out and I had some gorgeous weather! The week and a bit went far too quickly but I managed to do lots: Scenic drive down all the way to Cape point passing everything from Hout bay, Noordhoek, Kalk Bay and Simonstown. We also managed to fit in some sundown drinks in Camps Bay. I have had a few beers on sunny roof terraces relaxing with a book, walked around gorgeous [View Full Entry]

By Khanyisile
October 31st 2009

I'm on a roll..... Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Howick

Well, well, well! Today's been quite a lazy day, I've stayed at home all day, with the exception of a quick trip to the Spar! I woke up with an incredibly sore throat, so decided I'd rather stay in bed and watch a movie than get up - the luxury of a rare day without plans! Today was a lovely warm day, so I thought it might do me some good to sit outside for a while. A while lasted about 2 minutes, when I decided the sun was too hot and bright, so came back inside! Some smartie pants would [View Full Entry]

By fridaharaldsson
October 31st 2009

Wilderness and Storms River Africa » South Africa » Eastern Cape » Storms River

Souther Right Whale
not a very good shot..

Hola! So I caught the Intercape bus at 6am from Cape town and many hours and gorgeous scenery later I arrived in Wilderness (well there is no bus that goes there so i had to get off in George and get a taxi..). The weather was beautiful and I stayed in a little backpackers right by the beach. My balcony had the most amazing view and the first time I looked out there were 4 southern right whales basking and playing in the sun right near the beach, brilliant! If anyone is a birdgeek like myself they should go to Wilderness! [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Africa » South Africa