South Africa: Country Profile

And if you count yourself among those for whom wining and dining is an integral part of any holiday, then South Africa's prolific vineyards won't let you down. Not only is the wine damn good, but it is damn good value for money.

South Africa's main centre of viniculture lies only an hour from Cape Town by road, and even confirmed lager louts will enjoy a wine-tour through the historic town of Stellenbosch, whose leafy avenues boast perhaps the country's greatest concentration of Cape Dutch architecture. Also to be enjoyed is the superlative mountain scenery that characterises the Cape Winelands.

Different again is the seaport of Durban, the busiest harbour on Africa's Indian Ocean coast. Somewhat paradoxically, this is also an important resort town, boasting a busy seafront beach complete with aquarium, funfair and a string of bars.

What may come as a surpise to visitors is Durban's decidely Asian tang - this is where South Africa's large Indian community is centred, and a visit to the exotically aromatic Indian market is a must, as is a meal in any of several excellent Indian restaurants. To many Europeans, African travel more-or-less equates to game viewing.

While cities such as Cape Town add an extra dimension to travel in South Africa, the country also boasts more than 300 game and nature reserves. Between them, they protect a range of habitats second-to-none on the African continent. The largest and most famous of these reserves is the Kruger National Park, a classic tract of African bush covering an area greater than Wales.

The Kruger supports more types of mammal than any other reserve on the continent, while over 500 bird species have been recorded, more than you'd see in a lifetime of birdwatching in most northern hemisphere countries. An excellent road system and good amenities make the Kruger ideal for those who want to hire a car and immerse themselves in the mesmerising atmosphere of the African bush, unconstrained by the somewhat diluted experience offered by the more conventional guided safari.