Drive along one of South Africa's scenic strips and you will notice a landscape composed of a backdrop of wide open spaces, blue mountains and blood-red sunsets. These scenes abound, but given the nature of the culture in South Africa, your attention could swiftly switch to a small boy gallantly escorting herds of cattle, end to end, over a rainbow-like walkway crossing one of the largest and busiest highways in South Africa. Culture makes Africa special and aside from beautiful landscapes, this kind of exuberant and contrasting culture in South Africa is what you really should experience.
Imagine this scenario for a moment: You are hopelessly stranded deep inside the African interior, without a spare tyre and waiting for help. You prepare to flag down the first car that passes by. "When will that be?" you think to yourself. Time wears on. You picture yourself dragging your dehydrated self over the many kilometres of parched semi-arid terrain towards the nearest town, while hordes of hungry vultures looming overhead contemplate you for lunch.
Thankfully, a small, dust-battered truck pulls up and this nightmarish vision quickly dissolves. Tough looking men gaze out of the back of the truck, peering at you with hardened looks acquired through labouring this tough, untamed land. The uncertainty and tension is broken by their sympathetic smiles and they drive you, happily and with good cheer, to the nearest service station and back to your car where you are kindly helped to fit your newly repaired tyre.
Now that you're safely back on the road you begin to realize the meaning of genuine hospitality, known within the culture in South Africa as 'geselligheid'. Thankful that you have just had the actual experience (a certain something you felt) you now have a connection, whole-heartedly, with the people and culture in South Africa.
This is not a heat-induced delusion or an isolated event. It is the actual story of one of our clients, who broke down while driving across the arid West Coast diamond fields of Namibia. Travellers have confirmed many of these kind-hearted acts that have occurred during their experimental African odysseys.
Perhaps it has to do with the land itself or its unrestricted nature. The reason why people help each other, whether a stranger or a friend. This doesn't mean South Africa is a nation of altruistic saints. Leave your camera in your car on a downtown side-street and the chances of it being there after lunch are less than great.
What then is being said of this country? These vast unspoilt spaces and unbridled wildernesses. This wild place where the civilised nature and unique culture of its people are measured by the kind-hearted attitude experienced so frequently by many travellers.
What is the simple reason so many of our visitors from the Northern Hemisphere return here again and again? It can only be found in the actual experience of South Africa's culture and the friendship of its people.
The many answers to this question can be shown over and over in the friendly smiles you receive walking through a township market; in the respect and tolerance shown, visiting the sacred sites and cultural icons of the people; and in the greetings and genuine concern felt while within the hospitable arms of local establishments.
Perceptions about "Africa" have been changing slowly, but they are nonetheless changing. Foreign visitors used to believe that herds of elephants roamed the dusty streets of local areas and that to go hiking alone in the pristine African hills meant meeting lions, giant spiders and possibly being attacked by masked warriors with six foot spears.
The herds of elephants do exist, relegated to the African game farms existing in remote areas throughout the continent. The pristine hills stretch from one end of the Cape Peninsula to the other, like a giant smile peering down over the valleys below, but the wild beasts have long since been tamed and the hills are safely open to all who would venture into them.
If you are looking for the archetypal African adventure, laden with richly diverse wildernesses and infinite possibilities, come and experience the warmth and hospitality characteristic of this country. Trust South Africa to set the stage and the cast to be our culture.
Escape Tours are a group of experienced travellers who have been exploring Southern Africa since 1976. We would like to share with you our combined experience and extensive travel knowledge, acquired through our passion for exploring the unlimited potential that South Africa has to offer.
Santa Cruz Church, the church of the holy cross, was... Read More
Camping for fun is a great way to enjoy the... Read More
Live your golfing dreams on an Ireland golf vacation.The K... Read More
Have you ever gone solo backpacking? If you have, you'll... Read More
Ask about perfect wildlife destinations and a Tanzania safari will... Read More
Normally when you think Safari you think Big 5. The... Read More
A canoe trip is a great way to appreciate Nature!A... Read More
Spain offers the visitor over 4,000 kms of coastline where... Read More
Most people, who go on a family beach vacation, take... Read More
Directly south of Louisville, just off Interstate 65 and not... Read More
Phillip Island is a small island and nature reserve off... Read More
Backpacking is a great way to escape the rat race... Read More
WHAT TO HUNT AND WHERE: Alaska is a hunter's paradise.... Read More
Rafting through the Grand Canyon is the experience of a... Read More
Which is the best African safari company for my safari... Read More
Ultralight backpackers want to give up weight, not comfort. Sleeping... Read More
Going on a gorilla safari must rank as one of... Read More
Don't all of us love to have the money to... Read More
If you love the thrill and adventure of kayak travel,... Read More
Of course you know about Southern California's premier attraction, Disneyland... Read More
One morning in mid summer, I headed out for some... Read More
Do you like to take one day hiking trips? Do... Read More
I've been traveling and writing about places I believe others... Read More
We think that Cape Town has some of the best... Read More
Spain: sun, sea, sand and Spanish... discover us! Spain, a... Read More
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is pleased... Read More
Campgrounds are a perfect Pigeon Forge lodging option for visitors... Read More
The key to getting a good bargin, instead of a... Read More
Welcome to Bragg Creek! Bragg Creek is located in the... Read More
The Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok, conducted on very rare... Read More
For the 92nd time, the Tour de France has started.... Read More
Prevention is your best protection against lightning. Be sure to... Read More
No one can truly say... Read More
The beautiful Salmon River stretches through over 400 miles of... Read More
Today Bookpleasures and Sketchandtravel are pleased to have as our... Read More
Mount Sunflower, Kansas. Ebright Azimuth, Delaware. Hawkeye Point, Iowa. Hoosier... Read More
There are two types of used inflatable boats for sale... Read More
Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II ship are major attractions... Read More
If anyplace on earth is a natural paradise, Plitvice Lakes... Read More
For the dedicated water sport enthusiast there can be no... Read More
The most famous Egyptian pyramids to be built are the... Read More
An inflatable boat trailer is needed if the user has... Read More
The Usamabara Mountains are very special mountains, often that tired... Read More
1st day : Airport / Amman, O/N Our representative will... Read More
It is the downhill ski racing competition of the winter... Read More
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is pleased... Read More
Table Mountain sheltered the original Cape explorers in the 16th... Read More
The Udzungwa Mountains National park was created primarily for the... Read More
In a previous article, I wrote primarily about box ovens.... Read More
If you are on a tight budget and can't afford... Read More
Oregon's Rogue River is one of the nation's most beautiful.... Read More
Ultralight backpackers want to give up weight, not comfort. Sleeping... Read More
An African honeymoon safari is the perfect way to celebrate... Read More
Barnegat Light, NJ is the home to "Old Barney" a... Read More
The intricate details on a topographic map can be befuddling,... Read More
HOW ARE MINERALS FORMED?MINERALS are naturally occuring, inorganic solids, with... Read More
The quaint little balcony was large enough to accommodate two... Read More
Zambia is Africa's best kept secret as far as safaris... Read More
A saddle is a static object, but your horse is... Read More
The thing with enjoying the great outdoors is seeing aspects... Read More
The last thing you want on an African safari is... Read More
Bird Watching is a great way to escape the rat... Read More
A river cruise in Bangkok gives an insight to the... Read More
This amazing drive through the White Mountains of New Hampshire... Read More
Yuma, Arizona. In the winter, it's the best town in... Read More
The kind of things you pack when you go on... Read More
Outdoors |