For the average Nigerian, South Africa is a desirable place to visit and a home away from home. Paradoxical as it sounds, this is only because South African tourism has made strategic plans to make Nigerians want to travel to South Africa and feel welcome in the republic.
Before my first visit here, I knew about Johannesburg, I knew about Cape Town and I wanted so much to climb the mountain and take pictures like all the pictures I’ve seen on Instagram.
So what do you do if you have 10 days in South Africa and Johannesburg is just one stop on your trip and Cape Town isn’t even on the list? I’d say you do everything and anything!
Hello Pretoria!
Pretoria is to South Africa what Abuja is to Nigeria, it is quiet and still has its hands on the pulse of things. In Pretoria you can visit the Union Buildings and, if you get your angle right, high five the Nelson Mandela statue. For accommodation, The Regency Apartment Hotel is a good value. To be honest, hotels are so last season, you want to eat what you want, do your laundry and still feel comfortable.
Adventure Time!
If you really want to feel the adrenaline rush, Adventure Cullinan has a sticker with your name on it. Just 30 minutes from Pretoria, you can try everything from zip lining to quad biking and even archery. You could very well be your own Game of Thrones character.
Make We Go Limpopo!
Raise your hand if you thought Limpopo was just the name of Kcee’s hit song? Well, Limpopo is a province in South Africa that offers the best of leisure and adventure.
From canoeing and a sweet dip in the warm pool at ATKV Klein Kariba to the terrifying but dazzling Big 5 experience at Entabeni Game Reserve. Euphoria Golf & Lifestyle Estate is for people who enjoy golf and want to detox. If you’re feeling adventurous, take the cable car and dine at the top of the mountain.
Durban, my Durban!
The highlight of the trip was experiencing Durban, a melting pot of cultures and perfect weather all year round. During my trip, I was lucky enough to experience INDABA 2019 and take a train ride on one of the most luxurious trains in the world – Rovos Rail. The highlight for me was witnessing the flash mob of Zulu dancers and the teenagers who gave us a first-hand experience of South African contemporary dance.
While in Durban, if you arrive in the City of Lights in the first week of July, you can experience the glitz and glamour of Durban July – a horse race held annually on the first Saturday of July since 1897 at Greyville Racecourse in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.