South Africa; Car Hire Essential In This Magical Land
South Africa is a country increasingly realising its tourism potential, after raising itself from the spectre of apartheid it has begun opening its doors to hoards of tourists wishing to see this marvellous country.
For those wishing to see this country car hire is a prerequisite, there is little public transport links and those that do exist are expensive and irregular. The use of car hire services is definitely the best way to see South Africa.
The road network is slowly being improved in South Africa; highways are constantly being constructed although there are still many dirt roads. Make sure to get a hire car that can handle a little bit of off road journeying if planning to leave the major settlements.
If travelling between cities through the bush it must be remembered that you will see South Africa ‘warts and all’. There is poverty, AIDS sufferers and violence, but this should enhance your trip and make you realise that in the developed world we do have it easy.
Using car hire services is a necessity, there are some fabulous sights to see in South Africa and having a private means of transport will help you achieve all you want from your trip. The beaches either sit on the Atlantic or Indian Ocean and depending which affects the warmth of the water.
Surfers will love the ferocious Atlantic swells but be sure to look out for sharks. The shark life along the coast of South Africa is reason enough to travel to the country and the opportunity to cage dive with the most vicious animal in the ocean should not be missed.
If wildlife is you thing be sure to take a safari. I would not advise using your hire car to take your own safari but instead rely upon a professional tour. A professional game tracker will give you a unique experience and increase chances of seeing the all the animals on your itinerary.
Of course people love to see the lions, giraffes, elephants and rhinos but the smaller game are well worth seeing; gazelle, cheetahs and baboons all have a character of their own and should be on everyone’s checklist.
The cities of South Africa are vast metropolises that stretch from the shanty suburbs to sky scrapers. The poverty that is visible in the outskirts is somehow forgotten in city centres although it is still advisable to keep the doors of your hire car locked while in transit. Whether its Cape Town, Johannesburg or Port Elizabeth each city has its own distinct character and all are well worth a visit.
Sport is a major pass time in South Africa with rugby and cricket dominating the sporting scene. Rugby in South Africa is played extensively as their victory in the latest world cup shows. Cricket is also played frequently and the grounds of South Africa are some of the most beautifully situated grounds in the world.
Idyllic and picturesque, they offer the perfect setting to hear the sound of leather on willow; with many ‘tours’ occurring in South Africa it is worth taking your hire car to a variety of grounds.
Increasingly football has become popular in South Africa, so much so that the FIFA World Cup is being held there in 2010. Hire car companies will have to support the thousands of fans that will descend on the country to see the festival of football. It will surely be a chance for South Africa to show how far it has come since apartheid.
South Africa is brilliant tourist destination that has come a long way after a somewhat chequered past. It offers the tourist much, and for those who wish to explore, car hire services are the best option. The chance to see the amazing wildlife or the fantastic sporting events makes South Africa an active place to holiday. Its increasing popularity shows that this land of contrasts is both appealing and rewarding as a tourism centre.
Travel expert Thomas Pretty has toured the African continent extensively and uses Budget’s car hire South Africa services regularly. To find out more please visit http://www.budget.co.uk/car-hire/car-hire-south-africa.htm