South Africa has long received a lot of negative attention especially relating to the dark history of apartheid and the high crime rates. But it is a bright country that is learning to grow beauty and diversity from the people who are willing to stick it out. As a South African-American, I revel in being able to live like a local yet appreciate the tourist traps. Here are the top five reasons that you should love it too:
1.You can interact with the wildlife in a totally non-threatening way.
From elephant interactions to cuddling with lion cubs, South Africa has many organizations that facilitate wildlife-human interaction in a way that is safe for the tourist and humane for the animals. And if you prefer to observe animals in their natural habitat, we have lots of natural reserves too. (We also have shark-cage diving. But you can let me know how that goes.)
Try: The Elephant Sanctuary (pictured above) in Plettenberg Bay, Hartbeesport, or Hazyview, or the Lion Park in Johannesburg.
2. The coffee is amazing and super cheap.
Most of the coffee you drink in South Africa is locally grown and roasted, plus it's delicious. In fact, Truth coffee in Cape Town was rated by British Newspaper The Telegraph as the best coffee in the world. You can have a cup of the best coffee in the world for one dollar and sixty-five cents- and a lot of places in South Africa are even cheaper than that.
Try: Father Coffee, Wolves, and The Jungle in Johannesburg; Doubleshot and Truth Coffee in Cape Town; and Terbodore, Lineage, and Factory in Kwazulu-Natal.
3. You can fulfill your lifelong dream of blowing a vuvuzela.
I remember calling my aunt in the States during the Fifa World Cup 2010 while she was watching a game taking place. "What is that sound?" She asked me, "It sounds like a hive of bumblebees." That sound was blast of a thousand vuvuzelas, and the vuvuzela still stands as one of the iconic characteristics of South African sport. We love sport. Visit a rugby, cricket, or soccer game and experience the passion of it all like a local.
Try: Ellis Park or Soccer City in Johannesburg, the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth, or the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban.
4. Johannesburg is too legit to quit.
Johannesburg is 10 minutes outside of my hometown, so this may be a bit bias, but I find its intrigue inexhaustible. The city has two universities, markets, art galleries, coffee shops, bookstores and concept stores spread out among businesses and apartment buildings. It's crazy, and it's beautiful. You can explore for days. It's also a 15-minute drive from historic Soweto, where two Nobel Peace winners (Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu) formally lived.
Try: Take a trip using the convenient and safe double decker Red City bus. Make sure to stop at 44 Stanley for a collection of neat stores and restaurants, Melville for good food and secondhand stores, Braamfontein for a trendy cultural suburb rich with history, and 1Fox- the Sheds for good food, deli, and local art.
5. What kind of beach do you like? South Africa has them all.
Do you prefer a light, sandy beach with lots of attractions? A rocky, foreboding shore to sit and write your poetry? A private stretch of the coast? As a country mostly surrounded by water, you'll be sure to find "the one" when it comes to beaches or take a road trip and visit them all.
Try: Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Hermanus, or East London.