The South African city of Cape Town provides more than her fair share of affordable accommodation for tourists. Since the city is one of the most visited in the world, housing beautiful tourist attractions that include two World Heritage Centers, accommodation in the city for tourists is as plentiful as it is modern. Depending on your purse, and perhaps also your purpose of being in South Africa’s second largest city, there are accommodation options ranging from very cheap hostels to five star hotels.

Things to consider when choosing an accommodation

Two things that may often determine the choice of accommodation when visiting Cape Town are location and price. Different areas of the city have their peculiarities. Some areas, such as the Century city, Tygervalley, are known to be very vibrant, during both the day and the night. Rondebosch, Simon’s Town and other places in the south of the city are more renowned for their quiet and peaceful atmosphere. In additiona to the usual hostel and hotel options, there are plenty of couch surfing and apartment rental opportunities in the city.

Hostels

There are accommodation possibilities in hostel rooms with multiple beds, which are ideal young groups of friends as they are usually much cheaper than traditional hotels. Also, it is possible to rent a self-care apartment, where the facilities provided make you feel at home. The cost of accommodation in such a place might also be determined by its location in the city.

Hotels

Booking to stay in a Hotel is another option open to tourists visiting Cape Town. Ratings of Hotels can be found on the internet and may range from one to five star. The ratings and the geographical location of the hotel similarly affect the booking costs, charged on a per-night basis. In most cases, facilities provided may include internet and tourist transport options.

Image: Nolte Lourens – Fotolia

It’s that time of the year again to step out of bulky clothing and hit the beaches. However, don’t go grabbing the bucket and spade just yet; there is still the question of “what to wear?” While some beach goers will more than happy to flaunt around in bikinis, small shorts or skimpy tops, others might not feel so comfortable and selecting the right wardrobe can take a little longer than you might be anticipating.

Beach style options

Don’t have much on top? You can still wear a bikini and show off that great figure. Two-piece swimsuits come with a padded top and a generous bottom part. For women on the heavy side, plus sizes are not hard to find. Try the tankini with its built-in brassiere that supports the breasts. Go for a classic black tankini to mask those bulges and for an instant slimming effect that is sure to provide a stylish look.

Have a wide waist? Choose styles of swimwear that simulate the illusion of a belt. Waist cinching is a trend that continues to prosper, defining waists and shaping up tomboyish figures. If you have a great body and are prepared to show it off, don a string bikini or a monokini.

For men, swim briefs (also known as speedos) and square leg suits are great for swimming and sunbathing while conservative guys can wear swim trunks, a type of swimwear that resembles knee-high shorts. Or, dare yourselves and wear a fundoshi, a kind of briefs resembling attire worn by Samurai wrestlers.

The season’s trends

This season is all about sunny prints and florals. Take your pick from delightful 2-piece bikinis to one-piece swimsuits in refreshing mono and print colours. Get stylish and choose triangle or halter tops embellished with beads, ruffles, and laces.

Think of accessories to complete a beach outfit. Slip into lovely sarongs made of cotton or chiffon. From the beach to the restaurant, get one that converts into a stylish dress. Or, get rid of cumbersome towels and top off swimwear with a light jacket or sweater for those cool mornings and evenings. Don’t forget protective sunglasses, beach thongs, scarves, and jute bags.

Whether it’s to laze around the poolside or indulge in water sports activities, feeling and looking stylish are important even while on holiday. With plenty of swimwear styles and designs out there, it’s not that difficult to achieve a chic look.

Picture: Jonas Glaubitz – Fotolia

Backpacking is a great way to explore South Africa, one of the world’s most diverse and beautiful countries. Whether you are a true adventurer exploring the wilder side of life, or simply looking for a little rest and relaxation, South Africa can provide a range of fascinating experiences other countries simply cannot match.

Accommodation and Getting Around

Backpacking hostels can be found all across South Africa. When backpacking in the Republic, a traveller can find hostels right from the historic parts of Cape Town, to the borders of Kruger Park, and everywhere in between. Prices typically vary between 100 to 150 Rand a night, depending on the location. Double and triple rooms are usually also available for variable fees, which are ideal for groups travelling in large numbers.

Travelling around such a vast country can obviously be difficult, with many a backpacker opting to hire a car rather than being restricted by the public transport system. There are many car rental services available in South Africa that offer discounted deals for travellers. The Baz Bus is also a popular mode of travel for backpackers, consisting of a bus network which links backpackers’ hostels across the country. Covering 180 hostels in over 40 destinations, it really is a boon to people travelling on a budget.

Destinations and Culture

For visitors looking for adventure and unique thrills, South Africa offers an impressive range of outdoor activities that can’t be enjoyed anywhere else. The Drakensberg Mountains, located close to Ladysmith the tiny country of Lesotho, are growing increasingly popular with hikers and outdoors enthusiasts of all varieties.

Durban and Natal are a good destination for those looking for what the beach and the sea can offer and the sub-tropical climate here means that the weather is warm almost all the time. Cape Town has some stunning landscapes as well as historical attractions. The beach life is also good, but the waters are much colder than Durban and divers will need to equip themselves with dry suits at most times of year.

Image: hendrik holler – Fotolia

South Africa is one of the world’s most popular international beach holiday hotspots and every measure is being taken to maintain this reputation. This is perhaps because of the variety of golden sands and tranquil seas the country has to offer. As a country, South Africa is multi-cultural, multi-lingual and its diverse culture lends itself to its unique history, while also embracing its promising future.

A beach holiday in South Africa with a Seventh Wonder backdrop

Table Mountain in Cape Town, the Western Cape, was nominated as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is a backdrop to all of the city’s tourist activities. It is not surprising because of its spectacular fauna and flora, cultural and environmental heritage and, of course, its spectacular view. Standing on Table Mountain, tourists may view the breathtaking beaches that line the coasts of South Africa.

Chapman’s Peak (Table Mountain) is where the three major oceans meet; the cold Atlantic, warm Indian and the temperate Pacific Oceans. The Mediterranean climate is conducive for a beach holiday in South Africa. Further north, the city of Durban in Kwazulu Natal offers a taste of tropical paradise ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Beach holiday

Equally spectacular is the coastal sunrise or sunset drive around the peninsula where travelers may enjoy a beach holiday along the various beach fronts; from the feared shark infested waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the warm embrace and splashing Indian Ocean and right through to the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean. Restaurants, picnic spots, tidal pools and barbeque areas are found all along the drive. Some travelers follow hiking trails and walk down the mountain and long the beaches and later enjoy the freshly caught fish of South African oceans. Alternatively, travelers can enjoy the breakfast train from the city hub along the coastline to the historical city of Simon’s Town.

Image: Sebastian Walter – Fotolia

South Africa offers some of the most unique and beautiful specimens of marine life on Earth. The diversity and variety of the flora and fauna found in the seas off the coast of this great country is largely the result of the meeting of three great oceans. The cold waters of the Atlantic and the Southern Ocean meet the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, creating a variety of different habitats for marine life that can’t be found anywhere else.

Marine Mammals

South African waters are alive with marine mammals such as whales and dolphins. The so-called ‘Whale Route’, where migrating whales can be often found in good numbers at the right times of year, stretches right from just west of Cape Town and right across to Durban, covering approximately 1,200 miles. Southern Right Whales can be seen in the waters off the Western Cape from June through to November, while Humpback Whales are there from May until December. Visitors will need to venture further out to see Bryde’s Whales, but they are there all year.

Other marine life includes dolphin species, which can be seen in the waters off South Africa and include the Heavisides Dolphin, a rare species seen off the Western Cape. Fraser’s Dolphin can be seen in the Indian Ocean off South Africa. Seals are also prevalent, with Seal Island just under six kilometers off False Bay near Cape Town, a massive breeding colony for Cape Fur Seals.

Sharks and Other Fish

The numbers of seals at Seal Island attract predators, most notably the fierce Great White Shark, which rises up from the depths to attack its prey, bearing the seal in its mouth as it leaps from the sea. There are few other places on Earth where such a unique scene can be witnessed. Hammerhead and Tiger Sharks are more common in the Indian Ocean off South Africa.

Overall, there are some 2,200 fish species in the seas around South Africa, a stunning richness of marine life. Many of them are considered typical of South Africa, including the 38 species of klipfish, 28 species of gobies (28 species) and 25 species of seabream.

Photo: Olga Khoroshunova – Fotolia