South Africa

From vibrant modern cities, to jaw-dropping scenery and majestic wildlife, a getaway to Africa's southernmost country is one of the most memorable travel experiences you'll ever have. With Emirates now opening new routes to Cape Town and Johannesburg from Birmingham International Airport, this faraway land just got that little bit closer.

Africa - the very word is enough to conjure dreams of adventure in a strange, mysterious and wild continent. In South Africa, European visitors will find both the alien and the familiar - echoes of colonial history, ripened under the southern sun into something new and uniquely South African.

The metropolitan life may seem a lot like home, but the land itself is undeniably different. Compared to our cramped and jostling island, the sheer scale of the country is mind-boggling. At around five times the size of the UK and with a smaller population, you'll get a real sense of South Africa having space… but space doesn't mean emptiness - the country is alive. As well as boasting many enormous national parks for the preservation and enjoyment of its rich natural landscape and wildlife, South Africa has well-developed agriculture and a well-deserved reputation as one of the best wine-growing regions in the world.

Johannesburg

Established in 1886 as a mining settlement when gold was discovered, Johannesburg has been rebuilt and redefined into the modern, bustling city of today. From humble beginnings as a tent town, through tin-shack settlement, then a four-storey Edwardian settlement, the city graduated as a modern metropolis of glass and concrete skyscrapers.

Johannesburg is one of the youngest major cities in the world and is arguably the most cosmopolitan city on the African continent. Situated high on an inland escarpment at just over 2,000m above sea level, Johannesburg is South Africa's largest city and financial capital, home to 3.2 million people, including the residents of Soweto.

A city of contrasts, there is still a yawning gulf between rich and poor. Don't be put off by the city's (and country's) reputation for crime. Be sensible, avoid obvious displays of wealth or being a tourist and listen to the local advice that's offered. There's no reason why your visit shouldn't be a happy one.

Like NewYork,'Joburg' is a city with a reputation for never sleeping.The young and energetic can dance the night away at one of a myriad of nightclubs (anything from jazz to R&B to'kwaito'). If Soho-style living is your thing then enjoy the laid-back vibes in villages like Melville, Parkhurst and Norwood. While you may recognise much of the entertainment and culture that the city has to offer, there's plenty of a distinctly African nature.The Apartheid Museum is a must-see for any visitor, a moving journey through the country's painful past.

While not shying away from the uglier parts of its history, the museum (like the cultural revolution it documents) is ultimately a story of healing and reconciliation, not recrimination.Take at least half a day to immerse yourself in the photos, videos and artefacts on display.

Reaching further back in time, the Sterkfontein Caves are where of some the earliest pre-human hominid remains have been unearthed. Having yielded some 500 specimens dating back as far as 2.8 million years, the Caves are justifiably a World Heritage Site and deserve the title of Cradle of Human Kind. Just to the northwest of Johannesburg, it's another fascinating visit and well worth the short trip.

The city's roots as a gold mining town are the theme for the Gold Reef City amusement park - the perfect rollercoasterpacked antidote to all the cultural stuff for the younger members of your party, handily located next to the Apartheid Museum. With its combination of authentic historic gold-mining exhibits and stomach-churning rides, there's enough to choose from to keep everyone entertained.

However impressive and diverse the city is, the real star of the South Africa show is natural, not man-made.The country offers numerous national parks and game reserves, each providing something a little different, as the natural habitat is far from uniform from east to west and north to south.

The largest and most famous in the country is the Kruger National Park, located to the north east of Johannesburg, straddling the South African provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo and bordering the neighbouring countries of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. At just under 19,000 square kilometres, the park is only a little smaller than the whole ofWales - but the inhabitants are a little different…

Each of the'big five'game animals (lion, elephant, leopard, black rhino and buffalo) are found in abundance within the reserve, along with zebra, cheetah, giraffe, hippo and many others.

The Park is a well-developed and funded visitor attraction, drawing over 1.3m people every year and providing a range of activities, from short visits to more lengthy expeditions.With some 21 permanent camps, and 11 private safari lodges, it's possible to get close to really wild nature without having to'rough it'.

If that sounds like it's a bit too civilised, don't worry - beyond the confines of camps and lodges the park is quite vast and quite wild.The sheer scale of the place means that (other than your own party) you're almost certain to see no other people, only amazing wildlife in stunning scenery.

It may sound obvious, but it bears mentioning: the Kruger, like all the game parks in South Africa, is home to wild animals - really big wild animals, at large in a really big country. Pay attention to what your guides have to tell you and take them seriously, they've earned their knowledge the hard way!

Cape Town

Some 1,200 kilometres from Johannesburg, on South Africa's southwestern coast, Cape Town has quite a different flavour and a very different picture-perfect setting.

Founded in 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck and his band of Dutch settlers, Cape Town is often described as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.The backdrop of flat-topped Table Mountain juxtaposed by the sweep of the Atlantic Ocean in the foreground is a view you'll never forget.

The city has a relaxed atmosphere and offers visitors a host of outdoor leisure activities, as well as all the amenities of a world-class city by the sea. It won't take long for you to realise why it's considered one of the best places in South Africa to live and why the residents are so proud of their city.

Magnificent beaches line the Atlantic seaboard - Clifton, Camps Bay and Llandudno to name just a few, with warmer waters to be found at Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, St James and Strand.

You shouldn't miss the opportunity to take a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain named after its flat top.Open from 8am to 10pm, the cable car and some of the pathways at the top are wheelchair accessible to help everyone enjoy the vista.

The ride itself is spectacular, with the cable cars affording a 360-degree panoramic view as they rise to the plateau.The ride ascends some 600m in altitude from the lower cable car station, so it's a good idea to take some warmer clothing with you, as conditions when you leave the cable car can be very much cooler than when you entered.

While sumptuous, Cape Town's natural charms are not the only attractions that the city has to offer. Just off the coast lies Robben Island, site of the infamous prison for political dissidents during the Apartheid era, and enforced home to Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu.Tours of the former prison are very popular, so if you're planning to include it on your visit it's a good idea to book well in advance - waiting lists can stretch to weeks!

Cape Town is also the gateway to the South African wine growing region and one of the great wine capitals of the world.Most of the vineyards are situated along the western coast, taking advantage of excellent soil, geography and climate.

Tours of the vineyards are popular, allowing visitors to base themselves in cosmopolitan Cape Town while venturing out to sample the multi-faceted sensory treats on offer.And the sensations begin before the first bottle is un-corked.The mountainous scenery that forms the backdrop to the wine growing region is truly jaw-dropping, quite unlike anything to be found in Europe. Combined with beautiful rustic buildings at the heart of enormous estates the setting can only enhance the enjoyment of the already excellent wines.

Strange yet familiar, wild yet civilized, modern yet ancient, South Africa is a journey, rather than a trip and whichever of its attractions you choose, a holiday of a lifetime.