South Africa's northeastern border (formed by the Limpopo River) is some 2,000km (1,240 miles) from the Cape's craggy coastline, while the semiarid West Coast is more than 1,600km (992 miles) from the subtropical East Coast. A vast country with an immensely varied terrain, it supports a rich diversity of animals, birds, and plants, and offers a correspondingly diverse range of experiences. Historically, too, the contrasts are great: Some of the world's oldest hominid remains -- dating back some 4 million years -- make this one of the cradles of civilization, yet it was only a decade ago that the country emerged from the dark shadow of an oppressive policy that made it the pariah of the modern world. Born with the dawning millennium, South Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, yet the majority of its people still live in crippling poverty. Fortunately, its unique combination of natural beauty, varied wildlife, sunshine, good value, and comfortable infrastructure has meant that South Africa has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing tourism destinations, which, in turn, is providing much-needed economic growth. So, not least of the many reasons to visit is the very warm welcome you can expect from its citizens.
