South Africa is a beautiful country and everyone who visits hopes to go back again someday and see even more of it. Here are my recommendations for what to see (in no particular order):
Drakensberg
The Drakensberg Range is a mountain range in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. It lies on the border between Lesotho and Zimbabwe and forms part of the Great Escarpment which stretches eastwards from central Africa. The highest peak, Thabana Ntlenyana (Rhodes’ Peak), reaches 3 482 metres (11 615 ft) above sea level.[1] UNESCO has designated the escarpment which incorporates the Drakensberg Mountains a World Heritage Site because of its natural beauty and importance to indigenous cultures.[2]
The range is home to many endangered species and natural wonders such as:
Soweto
Soweto is a suburb of Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa. It is also known as a township. Established in the 1950s, Soweto was intended to be an all-black city but became integrated with other communities after apartheid ended. The area’s name comes from “South Western Townships”, which refers to its location within Johannesburg.
Soweto is famous for its resistance to apartheid. In 1976, students at high schools across Soweto started protesting against compulsory Afrikaans classes and learning materials that they felt were demeaning towards them and their culture. This protest turned into a nationwide movement known as the Soweto Uprising or June 16 uprising.
Robben Island
Robben Island is a World Heritage Site and one of the most important places in South Africa. It was here that Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years, and it is also where he met some of his fellow political prisoners who would later become leaders in their own right. The island has been turned into an open-air museum, with many of the buildings and structures preserved as they were when Mandela was imprisoned there. There are also new buildings that have been added to show how the prison operated during his time there, including cells where he was held and recreation areas where prisoners could spend time together.
Robben Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it shows how people were treated by the government during apartheid –and how they overcame those obstacles through their strength of character.
