Leisure in South Africa

South Africa is a popular destination for visitors, and there are many different tourist attractions which are sometimes the sole reason for the holidays. Travellers for other reasons, such as those on working visas, or expats enjoying life in South Africa can also enjoy some time to themselves with a range of leisure activities. These activities will depend very much upon the location of the traveller, as a visitor to Pretoria would not expect to go windsurfing, and businesspeople may not want to holiday close to industry or commercial centres, for example. Being able to find the right leisure activity for a particular weekend can make a traveller's time in South Africa that much more interesting, and ensure that they don't regret coming to visit the country.

Pretoria

The main national capital, Pretoria has a range of leisure activities suited to all interests, and also to those of varying ability. Those who enjoy horse riding would appreciate being able to see the nearby Wilderness on horseback, and it is also possible to see a wide range of interesting animals and wildlife, including the Springbok Park and the Pretoria National Botanical Garden. One of the main reasons to visit Pretoria, however, is the amazing historical monuments in the surrounding area, including the Voortrekker Monument, the Sammy Marks house, and the Kruger House Museum.

Cape Town

Cape Town really is an entertainment by itself, there are so many things to see, including Table Bay and Table Mountain, two tourist attractions which are well-known throughout the world. There are also other interesting things to do in Cape Town, including visiting the Winelands region, historically interesting and often with wine-tasting and restaurants close by. Visitors who want to be able to do a little more with their time should consider a cooking school, where they can learn to cook traditional Cape Malay food. Those interested in wildlife might enjoy some of the experiences with Great White sharks or other marine life.

Durban

Visitors to Durban can expect an exciting night life, full of the traditional tourist attractions, including a theme park, and the famous Golden Mile. Suncoast Casino is also located close by, offering beaches, restaurants and other entertainments. For those who enjoy a quieter day out, there are many wildlife parks in the nearby areas, including the uShaka Marine World park, and museums including the African Art Centre, the Kwa Muhle museum, and the Phansi Museum. Nature lovers will enjoy the famous Valley of 1000 hills, and the Durban Botanical Gardens.

Johannesburg

The city which is now the largest in the country, has much to offer the traveller. For example, visitors to this city can see the Gautrain, the only high-speed train in the African continent. Nature lovers might enjoy the Koppies, a nature reserve with its own archaeological site and wildlife-watching, and also the Lion Park. Sports fans might want to visit the Turffontein horse racing course, or the FNB stadium. Museum lovers can visit the Victorian house in Lindfield. For something completely different, visitors can see the Honeydew mazes, more than 3km of paths in a corn field close to the city.

Useful links:

South African Tourism www.southafrica.net
South Africa Info ' Events www.southafrica.info
Leisure Basics www.sa-venues.com