Notes On The Rainbow Nation

Practically every part of South Africa is
an attraction, claims Ambassador Pieter Vermeulen, who believes sheer variety
is what gives his country charm.

Pieter Vermeulen, South African ambassador, is talking about his
country, including the rustic charms of the vineyards, the exotic
grace of elephants walking to a waterhole, the cityscapes—and
penguins.

“There’s this place called Boulders Beach on the Cape Peninsula. When I was a student at university, my friends and I would go and swim. Then gradually, the penguins took over it. They started coming in and pushed the human beings out,” he sighs in mock exasperation. Both he and wife Chrisna have been in the Philippines for about 20 months, and they’ve taken one piece of advice to heart: “‘Don’t stay in Manila’—so we’ve visited places like Pearl Farm in Davao, Pagsanjan Falls, Boracay, the Chocolate Hills in Bohol,” Pieter says. But they do miss the African bush, including “going to a remote place with friends, sitting around a campfire, and having a barbecue.”

What was your most memorable trip?
One of the nicest trips was with our office staff to Pagsanjan Falls. We all got wet riding a raft. I had my wallet in my pocket and it was dripping wet. I had to dry out my bills, my IDs, and everything that was in it!

Do you have a favorite vacation spot in South Africa?
A marine nature reserve called De Hoop, a Dutch name that means “hope.” There’s a rocky beach on one side, a sandy beach on another, and a hike trail. It’s also the whale-watching coast. To me, it’s a magic place. It’s not a typical tourist spot. [Chrisna adds, “You can’t take anything from there—not the sand,
shells, or rocks. The waves are huge—they crash against the rocks. It’s dangerous to go swimming or snorkeling. On one occasion, we had a champagne breakfast—that’s something of a rage in South Africa.”]

What are the top five places in South Africa you would recommend to tourists?

1. Gauteng, the capital of Pretoria, is extremely well-developed, with first-class hotels and resorts. You can visit the Cradle of Mankind, where they found some of the oldest human skulls, and gold mines.
2. Cape Town, regarded by many as one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Look across the bay and you see Table Mountain. In the West Coast, go up the mountain on a revolving cable car for a 360-degree view. There’s Cape Point, where people say two oceans meet: the warm Agulhas Current of Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean’s cold Benguela Current. Cape Town also has the Winelands—a town called Stellenbosch has special Cape-Dutch architecture, high-quality wines, and excellent cuisine. We once rented a cottage on a working wine farm.
3. Kruger National Park, one of the largest and oldest reserves in the world. This is where you can
   see the Big Five—elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, and rhinos. The scenery is prettyspectacular.
   People also visit Rustenburg, for the Pilanesburg Game Reserve and fantastic six-star hotels.
4. People also like to drive through The Garden Route, which has a lake district.
5. Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, where they grow bananas, papayas, lychees, mangoes, and pineapple. People go for the weather—you can swim in the sea even in winter and surf with the huge
   waves. South Africa is called the “Rainbow Nation”—we are a melting pot of sorts. Apart from the Western influence (hence some South Africans are white), we have about four million Indians and Malays. People assume all South Africans are black. We wanted to sell the variety of
   things to do, so we say it’s “the world in one country.” I think the only thing we don’t have in South Africa is skiing!
   

What souvenirs can you buy?
Handicrafts, like colorful, beaded figurines or vibrant fabrics. Also gold jewelry and wines, especially boutique wines. Some of these wines are rare and worth investing in.

Is there a best time to visit?
From September or October to April is generally the best time. However, it depends on what you want to do. For example, if you want to go on safari, it’s better to visit in the winter (June to August). You will have more chances of seeing the animals because there’s less vegetation.