South Africa continues to be for the whole world mainly a country with a rich nature. This is really the main attraction of South Africa. Millions of tourists are sent here for impressions from the numerous waterfalls, national parks and reserves, and the emotions of unique wild animals.

Waterfalls of South Africa

Waterfalls are a decoration of Africa, as can be seen from the overflowing streams of water in South Africa. In this country there are several waterfalls that attract the attention of most tourists

Ауграбис - so this waterfall named finn Hendrik Vikar which somehow was crossed through the river Orange in the North-Cape province. In translation from Khoisan languages ​​means "a place of great noise". In general, the name can not be called original, it can be attributed to any waterfall. Waters of Augebis fly down from a height of 146 meters, and then they aspire to a rocky gorge, the depth of which reaches 200 meters. In the middle of the last century in South Africa decided to create a national park on the site of the waterfall and called it - right, Augrabis.

Tugela

In South Africa is the second highest waterfall in the world - Tugela . This is the five falling water streams, the largest of which reaches 411 meters . Tugela can be seen from a long distance after the rain or shortly before sunset, when it shines in the sun . It falls from the eastern edge of the Dragon Mountains, that in the Royal National Park Natal . By the way, the water that flows above the waterfall is very clean - you can safely drink it . In the winter on a precipice of a waterfall snow appears . To get to Tugela you can t to: a path from the parking lot Witsieshoek or from the park Natal . In the first case, tourists are waiting for a path and two pendant bridges, in the second - a 7 km rise along the gorge in the forest, boulders and again a suspension bridge .

Houyk

@ Houic - so called the waterfall, which is located near the city of the same name. Its height is 95 meters

A cascade of waterfalls Shelter and Cascade is located next to the waterfall, and further to the east is Karkloof

Nature of South Africa

South Africa is a unique country that combines different climatic zones - from deserts to subtropics. Therefore, it is not surprising that in this country there are such rich flora and fauna. South Africa is good because people here care about the wild nature, try to keep it. In South Africa, there are 20 national parks, the first of which is the Kruger National Park - opened in the late 19th century.

Unfortunately, South Africa, the Europeans had a disastrous impact on the animal kingdom of the country. The development of agriculture, industry, mining extracted animals from their homes. Also played a role hunting, which no one controlled. So today wild animals in South Africa can only be found in reserves where they are carefully looked after

Finbosh

The southern part of the country is famous for its unique ecosystem called finbosh. This area, rich in different kinds of unique plants, stretches for 200 kilometers. Finbosh is 6 percent of the territory of South Africa, but it accounts for one fifth of all plants in Africa. For example, almost one hundred species of gladiolus grow here, and a characteristic species for this region is proteins, plants with large leaves and large, bright flowers that birds pollinate.

In the center of the country steppes, bushes, acacias predominate, in the northwest - the flora is poorer because of desert terrain. In the southeast, subtropical forests prevailed earlier, which almost did not remain due to total felling. Now they have found a replacement - eucalyptus and coniferous trees grow here

South Africa's reserves

Today there are about 20 national parks and many reserves in South Africa. Some of them are part of the transboundary reserve of Dongola, which also includes parks of Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Among the national parks there are several most famous ones. For example, Kruger Park is the oldest in the country. It was named after the first president of the Boer Republic of the Transvaal, Paul Kruger. This park is often called the New Noah's Ark. More than 250,000 animals, 500 species of birds, 50 species of fish, 150 species of reptiles, and more than 230 species of grass inhabit the area of ​​20,000 square kilometers.

Pilanesberg National Park is located between the Kalahari desert and the savannah, in the crater of an extinct volcano . Here is an artificial reserve with 6 thousand species of animals, including the "big five": lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinoceroses, leopards. In the center of the park there is a very beautiful lake.

Initially, the Eddo Elephant National Park was created to protect the eleven elephants of the Western Cape. Later it became a common reserve for many animals, and elephants themselves number more than 300.

Tsitsikamma Park is the first marine park in Africa. It stretches for 80 kilometers along the Indian Ocean. In the forest of the park there are many rivers that flow from the cliffs to the sea.

Private reserves are called games. Often in their territories hotels are built for the convenience of travelers. But they are erected in such a way that the buildings do not contrast with the environment. Private games, in fact, do not differ too much from state reserves. There are also a lot of representatives of the African flora. For example, in the Kapama game, you can meet a very rare royal cheetah, and Madikwe - a wild dog.

South Africa's deserts

Two deserts can be distinguished on the territory of South Africa - Karro and the famous Kalahari. Kalahari - the largest desert of South Africa, stretches for 600 thousand square kilometers, occupies South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. All of its territory is endless dunes, located in chains. There are underground waters in Kalahari, but they lie at a depth of 300 meters

This is one of the hottest parts of South Africa, the average temperature is + 29 ° С. Here you can find various types of acacias, grasses, wild watermelons, shrubs. In Kalahari, several species of animals live: striped mouse, dwarf gerbil, rats, earth squirrels, lizards, antelope, Cape Oryx, sometimes there are blue wildebeest, earthworms, hyenas.

Karu in the translation from Khoisan languages ​​means "dry, barren". It is really difficult to imagine at least some life, as this is a very arid region in the south of the continent. Its largest part - about 400 thousand square kilometers - occupies about 30% of the territory of South Africa

Annually in late April-May in the Karoo desert is the Afrika Burn festival - a grandiose result of the creative self-expression of participants who create a temporary city of art and music. The event has an unspeakable appeal - there is no money. You can buy only ice, everything else can be donated or accepted as a gift. Every Afrika Burn participant should bring with him everything he needs during the festival, even water, since after his graduation there should be no trace of a person's presence.