Fodor's Essential South Africa

Written by local experts, Fodor's travel guides have been offering advice and professionally vetted recommendations for all tastes and budgets for 80 years.

Everything about Africa that stirs the imagination is concentrated in its southernmost country. Lions freely roam vast game reserves such as Kruger National Park; vineyards stretch across the Cape Winelands; and mountains cascade into the sea along miles of beaches. In addition to dream safaris and romantic honeymoons, South Africa offers modern cities with thriving arts and dining scenes. South Africans are welcoming, and the country's emergence from a turbulent past provides a dramatic history lesson and the promise of something new every time you visit.

This travel guide includes:

• *SAFARI PLANNING: Reviews of new safari camps, Safari-planning tips, and recommended tour companies

• *DISCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS:Hundreds of hotel and restaurant recommendations, with Fodor's Choice designating our top picks

• *ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE contains a brief introduction and spectacular color photos that capture the ultimate experiences and attractions throughout South Africa

• *MULTIPLE ITINERARIES to help make the most of your time exploring the top attractions

• *INDISPENSABLE TRIP PLANNING TOOLS: Each chapter opens with an orientation spread that includes a map, short descriptions of each region, and the top reasons to go

• *COVERS: Cape Town, Cape Winelands, Johannesburg, Durban, The Garden Route, Kruger National Park, The Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Little Karoo, The Kalahari, The Sunshine Coast, The Drakensberg, Mpumalanga, Sabi Sand

Looking specifically to plan a Safari trip? Check out Fodor's The Complete Guide to African Safaris