The Western Cape, with coasts bordering both the Indian and Atlantic oceans, is known for the capital port city of Cape Town, set beneath Table Mountain, Lion’s Head & Signal Mtn. In Table Bay, Robben Island is the notorious prison that once held Nelson Mandela. Further afield, winelands & fantastic rock formations surround historical towns like Stellenbosch, Franschhoek & Paarl.
South Africa’s 4th largest province extends from the Cape of Good Hope 400km north and 500km east. The Garden Route and the Overberg are popular coastal tourism areas. We were fortunate to see most of the province during our half-year there.

Limpopo is the furthest NE province. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province’s western and northern borders. It’s known for bushveld & wildlife reserves, including the part of Kruger National Park that we visited. West of the Kruger are the craggy Blouberg mountains & the Makgabeng Plateau, featuring ancient rock art. Near the provincial capital Polokwane, the Dieperink Museum and fossil-rich caves of Makapansgat explore history dating back to early hominids. Limpopo is famous for its Baobab trees, with the biggest one in the world situated there. Baobab trees are extremely large African trees sometimes described as “upside-down trees” due to their shortened branches that look more like roots.

The Free State, formerly known as the Orange Free State, is a province whose capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa’s judicial capital. The Free State, a land-locked province, is known as the breadbasket of South Africa because of its grain production, producing over 70% of the country’s grain. The province provides significant crops of maize, wheat, and sorghum. Other important crops include sunflowers and various vegetables and fruits, including potatoes, asparagus, and cherries. It also boasts astounding scenic beauty. Wide open plains and majestic mountains characterize this province. We especially enjoyed trekking Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

We enjoyed the Eastern Cape’s miles of pristine beaches, sand dunes, secluded lagoons, rocky coves, and cliffs. Its most important natural feature is its spectacular coastline and main tourist attraction. The Eastern Cape is well-known for its sandy beaches, which stretch for miles along the coast. The capital is Bhisho, and we spent time in Port Elizabeth, “The Friendly City”. Interestingly, the Eastern Cape incorporates parts of all seven ecological zones that occur in South Africa. It is the 3rd most populous province in the country and the second largest province by land mass.

After the looong flight from Sydney to Joburg, we rested for a night, then escaped the megacity for the eastern province of Mpumalanga (Zulu name for “the place where the sun rises”). Mpumalanga is one of SA’s most productive and important agricultural regions. It offers an ideal climate and topography for forests, major mineral resources, & formidable manufacturing capacity. The province is home to the famous Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in the world, which is home to the Big Five (lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalos & leopards). Some other places we visited include the Sudwala Caves, the Three Rondavels, God’s Window, and Blyde River Canyon. Its capital is Mbombela, formerly Nelspruit.

The Northern Cape is South Africa’s largest, yet most sparsely populated province, with desert landscapes, wildlife and gemstones. With Botswana, it shares Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, whose red sand dunes shelter lions and falcons. Augrabies Falls National Park is remote & spectacular. Wild daisies and other springtime flowers carpet the typically arid plains of Namaqualand, a region stretching into Namibia. In Kimberley, the provincial capital, often called the Diamond Capital of the World, The Big Hole mine recalls the 1870s diamond rush. At Wonderwork Cave, scientists have identified the earliest known evidence of the use of fire by human ancestors.