South Africa: Cape Town and the Grasslands safari

South Africa is the most diverse corner of Africa. Nine days and eight nights, between Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, and grassland safari, you can appreciate the vastness of the "Rainbow Country."

Table Mountain in Cape Town is covered with clouds like a tablecloth on its flat roof. The cable car reaches the summit, where two oceans (Atlantic and Indian Oceans) meet beneath your feet. The colorful neighborhood of Pokap at the foot of the mountain is as vivid as a postcard.

Cape of Good Hope, the southwest tip of the African continent, where fierce winds and huge waves crash against the reefs. Standing under the lighthouse, I imagine sailing ships sailing eastward around this corner—romantic yet world-weary.

Kruger National Park in the east, home to the five great beasts: lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and water buffaloes. Driving around at dawn and dusk, guides track herds based on hoofprints and dung, and your heart races the moment you encounter them.

Drive along the coast along the Garden Avenue, where cliffs, rainforests, and towns connect. Enjoy a Pinotage at Stellenbosch's winery, where the tenderness of South Africa is all in this glass.

South Africa's vastness is like combining two oceans and the grasslands into one country. When you see herds of elephants slowly passing by on the grasslands, with golden sunsets behind you, you'll understand why Africa is so addictive.