South Africa

South Africa is a big and truly beautiful country with a unique history. This holiday explores the wide-open spaces, culture and history of the Northern and Western Cape Provinces of the country. Visits to Fairtrade wine and fruit producers and a variety of other development projects help us to better understand life in this complex country.

After arriving in Cape Town and enjoying a few days in the university town of Stellenbosch, we fly up to Upington on the edge of the Kalahari Desert to visit dried fruit producers on the banks of the Orange River. As our journey takes us south we travel through the spectacular landscape of Namaqualand and visit a group producing Fairtrade Rooibos Tea. We then travel to South Africa's west coast and spend some time relaxing in Yzerfontein, an un-spoilt fishing village which typifies the natural beauty and simplicity of the area.

From our final base in Cape Town we visit Robben Island, Kirstenbosch botanical gardens, Table Mountain, and Cape of Good Hope whilst also making time to enjoy the beauty of Table Bay, one of the most memorable bays in the world.

Photos: Lizzie White, i-stock, Malcolm McLean, Alison Atkinson