From a picturesque coastline to an interior boasting a habitat of lush tropical forests, deserts, towering mountains and the open savannah of the bushveld, it’s easy to see why South Africa is often referred to as “a world in one country.”

Situated at the African continent’s southern edge, this country offers unparalleled wildlife and scenery to behold. With one of the proudest and longest conservation records worldwide, South Africa is home to abundant provincial reserves and World Heritage Sites as well as 17 glorious national parks with good roads, plentiful and affordable accommodations, and top notch facilities.

Kruger National Park shines brightly as the crown jewel of South Africa’s reserves. Besides being completely open to the public, it is an exceptional habitat for an astonishing number of mammal and bird species. This vast area spans 4.4 million acres and 185 miles of gorgeous savannah landscape.

Vibrant Cape Town is another one of South Africa’s travel gems, offering pristine beaches on both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Enjoy a Cape Peninsula tour where you can see penguins on Boulders Beach or take a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain.

Other coastline destinations include the laid-back shores of South Africa’s famed garden route and the vivid coral reefs along the KwaZulu – Natal coastline.

Perhaps South Africa’s most fascinating characteristic is its curious fusion of both “Africa of old” with modernity, as here you’ll discover cities rife with skyscrapers and multilane highways interspersed with remote wilderness regions where nothing stops an elephant from joining you for dinner.

Following 50 years of apartheid rule, Nelson Mandela ushered in a progressive age of democracy in South Africa in 1994 as the new regime’s first president, thereby providing an uplifting future outlook. In fact, Mandela himself dubbed South Africa the “rainbow nation” to reflect its diverse array of cultures with a total of 11 official languages.

South Africa is undoubtedly an ideal destination for the adventure of a lifetime, so you should seriously consider moving it to the top of your travel list.