Understand Safari Tier Ratings & Experiences In South Africa | Why Visit South Africa For Your Safari Vacation Or Holidays In Africa
SOUTH AFRICA OCEANS, RIVERS & WATERFALLS
1. South Africa Oceans
By far South Africa’s biggest neighbour is the ocean – or two oceans, which meet at the southwestern corner. Its territory includes Marion and Prince Edward Islands, nearly 2 000km from Cape Town in the Atlantic Ocean. The cold Benguela current sweeps up from the Antarctic along the Atlantic coast, laden with plankton and providing rich fishing grounds. The east coast has the north-to-south Mozambique/Agulhas current to thank for its warm waters. These two currents have a major effect on the country’s climate, the ready evaporation of the eastern seas providing generous rainfall while the Benguela current retains its moisture to cause desert conditions in the west. Cape Point, an hour’s drive from Cape Town, cashes in on the visitors who flock to witness this supposed natural phenomenon. An estimated 800 000 people a year visit its spectacular cliffs, lighthouses and “Two Oceans” curio shops. However, the residents of Cape Agulhas – over 100km east of Cape Point – insist that visitors wanting to see the confluence of the two oceans will have to travel a little further south. Cape Agulhas residents want what they see as their rightful piece of the tourism pie – the town attracts about 250 000 tourists a year – arguing that visitors are tricked into believing the seas meet at Cape Point, and that the shops there trade under false pretenses.
2. South Africa Rivers
Several small rivers run into the sea along the South Africa coastline, but none are navigable and none provide useful natural harbors. The coastline itself, being fairly smooth, provides only one good natural harbor, at Saldana Bay north of Cape Town. A lack of fresh water prevented major development here. Busy harbors exist at Richards Bay and Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, East London and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, and Mossel Bay and Cape Town in the Western Cape. An additional commercial port, the Port of Ngqura, is being developed off the coast from Port Elizabeth. There are only two major rivers in South Africa: the Limpopo River, a stretch of which is shared with Zimbabwe, and the Orange (with its tributary, the Vaal) which runs with a variable flow across the central landscape from east to west, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at the Namibian border.
Other Rivers In South Africa
Breed River, Western Cape Province: The Breede River will treat you to a wealth of experience from wine-tasting to cherry-picking. There are many things to see, including the world’s longest wine route (the Cape Route 62 with over 50 wine cellars), fruit plantations and many historical towns and museum. You can also appreciate the area’s flora.
Gamtoos River, Eastern Cape Province: The Gamtoos River features quite a mix of natural attractions from its large citrus farm, the largest in the area, to 3 small historical villages. Its nearly 8 km-long beach offers you a chance to stretch your legs and unwind. You can also swim in its Atlantic coast waters.
Limpopo River, Limpopo Province. The Limpopo River has all the attractions to quench your thirst for wilderness. At approximately 1 750 km long, it’s Africa’s second largest river, with the Olifants River as its main tributary. The vegetation in the southern bank of the river consists of flat grassland peppered with sandstone and clusters of ridges.
Sundays River, Eastern Cape Province: The Sundays River in the Eastern Cape will stun you with its great variety of experiences, from trees to animals. Inside the Addo Elephant National Park, you will not only come into contact with these great mammals but also have a once-in-a-lifetime experience of straddling one. Apart from the elephants, you could see other animals with which share the title of Big 5: lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo. Part of this park is a marine reserve, home to Southern Right whales and White sharks.
Tugela River, KwaZulu-Natal Province: The Tugela River, KwaZulu-Natal’s largest river, is a historic part of South Africa. It was once the border between the Zulu Kingdom to the north-east and the Colony of Natal to the South. To fortify the border, 2 forts were built by British forces in 1879. Fort Pearson and Fort Tenedos are situated some 10 km beyond the river-mouth and deserve a visit.
3. South Africa Waterfalls
Augrabies Falls, Northern Cape Province
The Augrabies Falls South Africa, which is located 120km to the west of Upington in Northern Cape, is not the only attraction in this area. The falls is enclosed inside a park known as the Augrabies Falls National Park, giving you a chance to admire a variety of plant and animal species in their natural habitat. On the menu of plant species you can see is the Quiver tree and the Kokerboon, species that thrive naturally in Northern Cape’s arid desert climate. There is a lot to see around the Augrabies Falls National Park that will make your visit to the area worth your while. You could spot a beautiful pair of klipspringer grazing – all the while keeping alert to the slightest sign of trouble from any of the predators, including leopards, jackals, foxes and the African wild cat. The klipspringers are not the only ones that are preyed upon. The park is the natural habitat for other antelope species such as steenbok, springbok, gemsbok, kudu and eland. With luck you can sight some of them as you explore the park.
Debengeni Falls, Limpopo Province
The Debengeni Falls, which lie at the foot of the scenic Magoebaskloof Mountains near Tzaneen in Limpopo Province, is an ideal place to recharge. You can swim in its big pool in summer (December to March). Mother Nature has carved the Debengeni or ‘place of the big pot’ right in the most idyllic setting in the bush, which also contains an impressive bird population, including some rare species. This big ‘pot’ of the tranquil waters attracts the rare colourful grey Wagtail, which is a regular summer visitor. The Woodbush Forest nearby is the largest indigenous forest in Limpopo and boasts more than 40 species of trees indigenous to the region. Nowhere else in South Africa has the Bush Strike has been sighted before. Another beautiful bird species you can see in the area, if you are persistent enough, include the Chorister Robin, a species only found in South Africa and Swaziland, and the mostly green Narina Trogon. The area is popular for its challenging hiking trails, which make cooling yourself in the pond at the Debengeni falls in Pietersburg a must after you have worn yourself out from hiking and bird-watching. If you are into mountain biking, you can test your fitness by trying the Debengeni Downhill ride, which covers a challenging 15 – 18 km. Take advantage of the scenic view of rolling tropical rainforest, tea plantations and the Magoebaskloof Dam all around you.
Howick Falls, KwaZulu-Natal Province
The Howick Falls or KwaNogqaza (‘the tall one’) as the local Zulus call it, lies some 24km from Pietermaritzburg in the popular KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, a prime tourist region with abundant rivers and waterfalls, forests and hills, as well as lakes and dams. The midlands stretch from Pietermaritzburg all the way the scenic Drakensberg Mountains. Experience why this place is revered by sangomas and offer animal sacrifices. You will understand why the place is thought to be inhabited by the spirits of ancestors. You will have a unique opportunity to catch the uMngeni River in its tireless flow to the Indian Ocean. Just listening to the powerful water rushing at the Howick Falls KwaZulu-Natal will heal you, feeling you with peace and tranquility. Access is pretty easy for anyone wanting to experience this KwaZulu-Natal waterfall first-hand. You can take the leisurely hour-long walk to the base of the foaming pool, catching the beautiful scenes of the interplay between the uMngeni River and its tributaries. Only by getting so close to the turbulent pool, will you experience why the place is so revered, with some indigenous inhabitants fearing that they may be killed by the powerful spirits inhabiting the gorge.
Lisbon Falls, Mpumalanga Province
The Lisbon Falls in Mpumalanga lie within the popular Panorama Route, which feature some of the very best natural attractions in the region, inc luding the Pinnacle, God’s Window, Mac Mac Falls and Berlin Falls to mention but a few. Follow the river as it snakes along its natural path until the falls where it spectacularly branches into three streams while tumbling down to the gorge below. You can view the falls from a natural rock to the right of the falls from where the view is so stunning that you might think you were standing right behind the falls. Expert trekkers can complete their experience of the Lisbon Falls in Mpumalanga with a walk down to the gorge to experience the foaming water. The path down to the gorge is not a proper trail thus may prove challenging. The trip down and back may take you up to 2 hours, but the experience at the bottom will make up for the effort. The sound of the rushing water as it drips down into the foaming pool will simply rejuvenate you. The waterfall in Mpumalanga will not disappoint you if you are longing for peace and quiet amid untouched natural beauty to help you unwind and recharge after a hectic day of sightseeing. The place is ideal for a picnic under the shade of trees in one of the most scenic picnic places in the area in the company of sunbirds chirping merrily from tree branches nearby.
Mac Mac Falls, Mpumalanga Province
The Mac Mac Falls are the only waterfalls in South Africa linked to the historic South African gold rush of the 19th century. It has received national monument status as a result of this link. The gold-hungry Scotsmen, hoping for a much easier grasp of the reef containing gold over which the river flew, attempted to get the river out of their way by blowing it with dynamite. The result is today’s spectacular twin waterfalls, a favourite spot for photographers.
Thukela Waterfall, KwaZulu-Natal Province
Thukela Waterfalls, a staggering 850 m high, second only to the Angel’s Falls in Venezuela, and the highest on the African continent. This waterfall, unlike many other falls in South Africa, does not just plunge in a single stream. It is made up of a series of 5 different rapids, making it virtually unique.
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