"South Africa" a South Africa Travel Page by Acirfa

This country holds my heart. I grew up running around in the bush with no shoes on, watching sunrises, sunsets and the African skies filled with a million stars, from this land. It's sights, sounds and smells remain ingrained inside of me and it's ambience remains a draw to my soul.

South Africa is where my love affair with Africa began. From the day of arrival at 5 &1/2 years old, I felt I had come to the place I belonged, there followed ten of the best years of my life and now my travels take me back to Africa on a yearly basis to indulge in a 'fix' of the drug it is to me.

I have never heard anyone say they have not enjoyed Africa, however, I have constantly heard that once anyone has been there, they have a inexplicable desire to return time and time again. It has a tendency to enter the blood stream and never leave.

This land has such a diverse geological structure to it. From tropical Natal and the arid deserts of the Karoo and Kalahari, which dominate the landscapes, to the very different climes of Cape Town and Jo'burg.

This last visit to South Africa was an opportunity to introduce Michael to the African experience. I decided I would like him to see some of where and how I spent my childhood and we incorporated a couple of new places too, i.e. Zambia and Mozambique

Our trip to South Africa took us on the Panorama Route of Mpumalanga and then into Kruger Park for Michaels first safari, (which is exactly the same place I took my first safari - from then it was to become a lifetime passion for me) my delight on this occasion was more to do with Michael's fascination and disbelief at the reality of a wild elephant stepping in front of the car, of the excitement of the pure prettiness of Impala and the joy of the new experience overall, however, Africa still did it's thing and left me with the same desire to return again, soon.