South Africa
A Land of Contradictions
South Africa will leave you enamored, but at the same time puzzled. It is a country that boasts some of the world’s greatest peacemakers alongside the world’s worst injustices. Guidebooks and visitors alike will tell you to stay on guard, yet the locals will be some of the friendliest and helpful you’ll ever meet. The desert canyons of the northwest melt into the lush vineyards in the south, which then grow into the panoramic mountains in the east. The country has it all – world-class game parks, wineries, and hiking, but a dark history and pervasive social issues that permeate the beauty. We loved our month in the country, and despite the warnings found it safe to travel around and an unrivaled warmth from the South Africans themselves.