Best of South Africa

Crackling with energy, dynamic Johannesburg embodies much of the hope -- and some of the growing pains -- of the new South Africa. Street vendors hawking herbal medicine and African crafts have moved in among the towering skyscrapers and traditional Dutch buildings of the Central Business District, and down the street the once-feared Rand Supreme Court continues to uphold and expand the country’s new constitution, one of the most liberal in the world. Get a sense of the spirit of “Jo’burg” with a local licensed guide.

Find a new meaning for the term "gold rush" as you descend 500 feet below ground. Johannesburg grew up as a gold-mining city in the 1880s, and this past is recreated at Gold Reef City in everything from the period-perfect streets to the ragtime soundtrack to an actual quarter-mile-deep gold mine.

“The Lion King,” up close and personal (and a bit less animated). Kruger National Park, South Africa’s largest wildlife refuge, is unbeatable for sighting “The Big Five”: lions, rhinos, buffalos, leopards, and elephants. See giraffes stretching up to grab the last leaf from an acacia tree and antelope leaping toward the horizon, or photograph zebras contemplating their striped reflections as they drink from pools of water. A licensed ranger will help you spot these magnificent animals, as well as a few lesser-known creatures. Watch out for the roadrunner-like kori bustard—at over forty pounds, it’s the heaviest flying bird in the world, and it looks ready to fall out of the sky at any minute.

“The Lion King,” up close and personal (and a bit less animated). Kruger National Park, South Africa’s largest wildlife refuge, is unbeatable for sighting “The Big Five”: lions, rhinos, buffalos, leopards, and elephants. See giraffes stretching up to grab the last leaf from an acacia tree and antelope leaping toward the horizon, or photograph zebras contemplating their striped reflections as they drink from pools of water. A licensed ranger will help you spot these magnificent animals, as well as a few lesser-known creatures. Watch out for the roadrunner-like kori bustard—at over forty pounds, it’s the heaviest flying bird in the world, and it looks ready to fall out of the sky at any minute.

Journey into the kingdom of Swaziland, almost entirely surrounded by South Africa. For such a tiny country (about the size of New Jersey), Swaziland has some large inhabitants—its five wildlife reserves hold elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, lions, and more. The county is also famous for its annual Reed Dance, when the king may choose a bride from among the young Swazi girls who perform the ritual dance.

Decorative glass beads brought in by Venetian merchants became currency in South Africa, and soon locals were creating their own versions of the intricate designs. Much of that work has survived in Swaziland's candle making, where swirling, colorful millefiore designs range from traditional European stained-glass patterns to more contemporary African motifs.

Take a break to shop till you drop. Mbabne's market is the best in Swaziland, with crafts, fabrics, fruits and vegetables, and household goods all up for sale.

Watch skilled workers craft wineglasses, figurines, and other impressive samples of Swaziland's best-known export. Much of the raw material for the pieces is gathered by school children in glass-bottle recycling programs.

See the hotspot of South Africa's freedom movement. Soweto (originally short for "Southwestern Townships") grew up as a ghetto for Johannesburg's poor black workers, but it became the central point of resistance to the segregationist policies of apartheid. On June 16, 1976, thirty thousand students took to Soweto's streets in a protest that spread throughout the country, eventually leading to the abolition of apartheid. Soweto has been home to Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, and the Mandela House is now a museum dedicated to Nelson's life and works. Freedom Square commemorates the Freedom Charter, promising equal justice for all, which became the guiding principle for the African National Congress. You'll also see Baragwanath Hospital, the largest hospital in the world, where more than 2,000 patients check in each day.