The country at the foot of Africa where the South Atlantic and
Indian Oceans meet has a history spanning more than two million
years according to the wealth of pre-historic fossils found here.
The world's oldest-known cave paintings suggest that man has been
in South Africa for the last eighty-thousand years, and whilst the
last two centuries proved to be particularly turbulent and
challenging South Africa has changed for the better and is
embracing a new era of cultural tolerance and optimism.
South Africa's major cities, including Cape Town, Durban,
Pretoria and Johannesburg are thoroughly modern and multicultural,
offering visitors as much entertainment, nightlife, cultural
activities and shopping as they desire. Most visitors are here for
South Africa's natural wonders, however.
South Africa's landscapes, all of them sublimely beautiful,
encompass mountain ranges, deserts, vast open savannah, rainforest
and almost every other terrain in between. Guests on a Great Rail
Journeys tour of South Africa will experience the best of this
natural beauty both from travelling through it by train and by
visiting spectacular locations such as the wine country of
Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, Kruger National Park and the Knysna
Heads.
South Africa's Climate
Bad weather is rarely an issue in South Africa thanks to a
largely subtropical climate which provides year round sunshine and
warmth. From May to September - South Africa's winter - there is
almost no rainfall. In summer, from October to April, rainfall is
usually characterised by heavy downpours which helpfully cool down
temperatures typically ranging between 32°C (90°F) and 38°C
(100°F).
South African Cuisine
South African cuisine is a tantalising blend of indigenous
African cookery and influences inherited from a diversity of
historical colonists including Dutch, German, French, Italian,
Greek, British and Asian immigrants. South Africans are as least as
devoted to their braii (barbecues) as Australians.
Travelling By Train in South Africa
The carriages on our luxury tours of South Africa can claim to
be fitted with the most spacious train suites in the world. Five
star dining, polished wooden interiors and 24 hour room service
make these some of the most luxurious train journeys in the world.
On board the train your Tour Manager will take care of tipping but
when dining out we recommend a tip of between 10% and 15% the value
of a meal.