Coming out of the path for the many visitors who travel south Africa is an exciting journey. The northeast is often crowded by travelers who often spend only a few days in Kruger Park before heading to the beaches of the south. On this land of contrasts, however, there are paths outside the beaten paths that deserve a detour. Explore a futuristic Africa with Jo 'burg and Durban, wild and mystical around Kruger Park, meet the Zulous, discover the lakes of Santa Lucia and the seabed of Kosi Bay… On the way to an unusual road trip.
Jo 'burg, a renaissance city
This tumultuous mega-city in the splendid historical center will fascinate more than one urban explorer, with its Art Deco skyscrapers, modernist and futuristic, its cosmopolitan cosmopolitan population and its growing cultural life. Forget Sandton and Rosebank, the golden quarters of luxury malls and super-secure villas, forget the bus towers in Soweto to visit this township where Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, symbol of the revolt against apartheid, lived. The «dormitory city» of 3 million black and «coloured» (Metis) women during racial segregation has new museums, bars, restaurants and shopping malls. Prefer to stay directly in the inhabitant, who will welcome you with open arms, always inclined to chat with strangers. Extraordinary hospitality found throughout the country. You will be on foot or by bike to visit the neighborhood accompanied by children and mamas. At night in the sheebens (these clandestine bars created during apartheid), we listen to South African jazz and the best deep underground house underground.
To explore Johannesburg, there is now a more economical mode than the taxi, the Red Sightseeing bus, which describes a loop between the city's main attractions. In addition to the classic art galleries, the Apartheid Museum or Museum of Africa in Newtown, climb up the skyscraper of the Carlton Center in the middle of downtown, to kiss the whole city with one eye. In the area of Braamfontein near the Nelson Mandela Bridge is the De Wits Art Museum, which has nearly 9,000 African, ancestral and contemporary works. Right next door, in the fashionable block of designer shops and designer designers, bars and clubs, each Saturday is the Neighborhood Market, bringing together the best alternative and trendy restaurants in the city. In the same vein, Maboneng Precinct is an old factory decommissioned in Hillbrow, transformed into a gourmet market on Sunday, but also in artistic residence organizing concerts and shows. Another face of Jo 'Burg, which brings together a cosmopolitan, avant-garde and intellectual youth.
Discover Kruger Park differently and private reserves
The inexperienced tourist landing in Kruger Park with his rental car will go to the large camps equipped with sumptuous, restaurant and swimming pool. It will have the chance to observe many wild animals: giraffes, cheetahs, zebras and antelopes, and hopefully the famous Big 5: elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo and rhinoceros. However, he may be disappointed to feel in the middle of a crowd of tourists in the park. To surprise the cats, book a game drive, safaris with rangers, which approach animals in pickup and give valuable information. The bush walk is a variant on foot with armed rangers… guaranteed frills! You can also stay in an isolated, quieter, but less equipped satellite camp. To live exclusive safaris and safely approach a group of lions or leopard, the richest will choose Timbavati, Sabisand, Manyeleti, Kapama, Tornybush, and Klaserie, the private reserves adjacent to the Kruger. In the heart of a jungle traveled from many rivers are the luxury lodges, where passenger cars are forbidden, leaving animals a "5 star" space. The most adventurous who have time can discover the north of Kruger Park, wild, delivered to elephants of elephants and a dense bush planted with giant baobabs. All around live the mysterious Shangaans (or Tsonga), known to be the best tracers in the park, because they pass on ancestral knowledge on the animals of the jungle for generations.
Durban, a «little Bombay» in Zulou Land
On the shores of the Indian Ocean, Durban experienced a beautiful renaissance with the World Cup, including the rehabilitation of its seafront. The historic center is an astonishing exotic mixture, Mi-Zulou mi-zulou, the region's main ethnic group, because the English imported massively cheap labor to work in sugar cane plantations from this colonial counter, creating an unexpected cultural mix. Unlike Jo 'burg, Durban is walking on foot (without ostentatious objects). The interest is not limited to the famous Indian market of tourists, but to walk on the streets, under the arcades of the untouched Art Deco buildings of the city, between the anarchic stands of fruit and vegetables, Chinese berries, Zulous and Indian fabrics… We end up resting on the beach, where skyscrapers and luxury luxury hotels have grown like mushrooms. It takes place to the Ushaka Marine attraction park along a very Californian promenade lined with palm trees, bars and restaurants.
Nevertheless, the real Zulou capital is located at 1:30 a. m. in the interior of the land, in Eshowe, near the original lands where the great King Shaka Shaka was living, leading an army of bloody warriors who terrified the entire region, the British settlers and Boers. Eshowe, a name that breathes like the wind on the rolling hills of this green land where colored traditional huts are planted.
Santa Lucia Lakes and the Maputaland Elephants
Mangrove landscape lovers will go to Santa Lucia. In the UNESCO World Heritage Sanctuary, a succession of lakes inhabited by crocodiles and hippopotams is discovered. If you haven't had the chance to see rhinos yet, the Hluhluwe Umpholosi reserve counts the famous Big 5 and the highest concentration in the world of white rhinoceros.
Finally, diving and snorkeling enthusiasts will push their journey to the Maputaland, a beautiful sandy and marsh area. In Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay, you will explore the turquoise seabed with multicolored corals or observe the hundreds of giant leatherback turtles landing on the beach to lay eggs (in December and January).
Finally, the fanatics of pachyderms will go to the Tembe National Elephant Park, where the elephants of the civil war in neighboring Mozambique have fled. A sanctuary of hidden beauty, like this country that needs to be explored in depth to discover the many facets.
Smart News
When is it? The austral winter in July-August is the most appropriate season to visit Kruger Park and kwazulu-Natal because it is the dry season. In Durban the climate remains mild all year round.
Go there. Air France offers one to two flights per day for Johannesburg, without a stop (from € 550 to € 1,000).
AIR FRANCE - More information on the site
Useful. To best prepare his trip.
SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM OFFICE - More information on the site
