Having just returned from a three week whistle-stop trip to South Africa, it's time to reflect on my experiences. Memories of hot afternoons, blue skies and a country gearing up to the greatest sporting spectacle on earth are flooding in while I ponder how to keep this article short and sweet!
South Africa is forging out of the current recession and the country has been gripped by 2010 World Cup count down fever - less than 100 days to go now. All stadiums are ready and any infrastructure still under construction is mainly cosmetic. The Rainbow Nation will host a fantastic event full of colour, energy and drama, perfectly suited to the “people’s game”. Over the coming weeks we will update you on the FIFA 2010 World Cup in our Ebuzz Newsletter on a regular basis.
Here is a brief summary of my three weeks – three new airports, driving 2500km on near perfect roads, game viewing on foot in the Magaliesberg and braai’s (BBQ) under the southern night sky, dinner and a great local wine at a Jo-burg side-walk café, thunderstorms in the parched Eastern Cape, on safari at the Amakhala Private Game Reserve with William the “supervet” darting white rhino and sable antelope, lunch on the Knysna Heads with the Indian Ocean just yards away, discovering the spectacular Fynbos game reserves of the Garden Route’s Mossel Bay area, early morning coffee and bird watching on the De Hoop Nature Reserve while a baboon sneaks in to my accommodation and liberates all my sugar sachet’s, pods of dolphin cruising along the Overberg shores and pristine bone-white beaches, sunset over the Cape Flats with Table Mountain framing a perfect evening. I can go on…
Best of all must surely be the people of South Africa. A smile and a friendly word go a long way, but here they go miles, especially if you are Irish! You can’t help being caught up in the optimism and it is such a refreshing attitude after such a difficult year in the Emerald Isle. Africa truly restores your soul and reminds us what is important in our busy lives.
Every time I return to South Africa I am amazed at the scope of opportunity and how much has changed since watching Mr Mandela walk his road to freedom. Locals proudly refer to South Africa as a “World in one Country” and having once again experienced only a small sample of what this young nation has to offer, I am convinced more than ever that everyone should visit sooner rather than later. I remember this quote - “If you only visit two continents in your lifetime, visit Africa twice!” - R Elliott
With the price of flights still at an all-time low, South Africa is more affordable than ever. My own experiences and the knowledgeable sales team at GoHop.ie will ensure that we can offer you a perfect holiday to South Africa whatever your reason for travel!
South Africa – it’s possible!
Written by Andre Migliarina from GoHop.ie
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