by and with Roland Marske
The South African adventure begins in the shadow of the world-famous Table Mountain in bustling Cape Town and leads first to the storm-tossed Cape of Good Hope, to the gigantic and surprisingly curious whales off the coast of Hermanus and through the cozy Cape country with its wildly romantic valleys and wineries.
The Karoo, a huge, breathtaking semi-desert where we get up close to Africa's wild animals, reveals completely different facets of the country. We travel along the Indian Ocean on the beautiful Garden Route to the Wild Coast. Here, secluded beaches, primeval forests, small seaside resorts and spectacular national parks, such as the Addo Elephant Park, alternate with each other.
In the subtropical province of Kwazulu Natal, the land of the proud Zulu warriors, the cosmopolitan city flair of Durban contrasts with the originality of black Africa, with wild animals and exotic plants. To visit a rhino conservation project, we travel to Swaziland, a bitterly poor, sovereign state ruled by one of Africa's last absolute kings.
A highlight of the trip - in both senses of the word - is the Drakensberg, the highest mountains in southern Africa. They enchant with their wildness. Here, high up, hidden in this barren, inaccessible part of the continent, lies the small kingdom of Lesotho, which we reach via the legendary Sani Pass. The spectacular end of the Drakensberg is the Blyde Canyon, one of the country's most overwhelming landscapes.
And then: the huge Kruger National Park, for many the highlight of their trip to South Africa. Here we encounter them all up close: lions, the now rare rhinos and huge herds of elephants and many other wild animals.
The journey ends in Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa. Here, the country's contrasts are once again reflected particularly starkly when we visit Soweto, the country's largest township.
Let yourself be captivated by Africa fever!
