Exploring the Three Capitals of South Africa

South Africa is a unique destination as unlike any other country in the world it has three separate capital cities. Pretoria acts as the executive capital, Bloemfontein the judicial and Cape Town the legislative capital. But what can these three unique capitals offer tourists on their South Africa holidays?   

   

Pretoria  

The Jacaranda City is the beautiful nickname given to South Africa's executive capital of Pretoria. Here beautiful purple blossomed trees line the pavements and buildings of historical significance can be found on every corner. Although the capital isn't as well-visited as its sister capital of Cape Town, the peaceful city is still popular with tourists after a spot of respite on their South Africa holidays. Despite Pretoria's sleepy reputation, plenty can be found to do here. The Cullinan Diamond Mine is located just a short drive away and it was here that the largest diamond in the world was once found; the Cullinan. The mine is now bigger than the Australian area of Kimberley and still accounts for 25% of the world's gem quality diamonds. You can take a public tour of the mine on an hourly basis, or if you're really after a spot of luxury on your South Africa holidays then why not visit the nearby jewellery store and pick yourself out a diamond to rival the Cullinan? Adventure junkies are well catered for on their holidays with South Africa's largest sky-diving club based here, or why not visit the nearby Premier Game Reserve, which is home to some very unique white rhinoceroses?  

Bloemfontein  

If Pretoria is known as the city of Jacarandas due to the large number of purple blossoms that deck the street, then it's easy to guess why the judicial capital of Bloemfontein is known as the city of the roses. The capital even takes its name from an amalgamation of the Dutch words for fountain and flowers.   Although this peaceful and slow-paced city is not often visited by tourists on their holidays to South Africa, this doesn't mean that there isn't plenty to see and do in this beautiful but largely residential destination. The Botanical Gardens are definitely worth a visit and they claim to house more than 100 different species of birds and 54 separate species of reptiles. If cold-blooded creatures aren't really your thing then instead you can visit a larger range of animals at the Bloemfontein Zoo, where the first liger - lion and tiger cross was born.  

Cape Town  

Cape Town is famously known as 'The Mother City', a nickname from the 1930's when the capital was considered to be the only metropolis in South Africa. The word 'metropolis' is a joining of the Greek words for 'mother' and 'city'. Nowadays, the country has more than one metropolis but it is the legislative capital of Cape Town that is the most popular with tourists on their South Africa holidays. This is because Cape Town offers so much for visitors to see and do. You simply can't leave South Africa without taking a cable car ride up to the infamous Table Mountain and viewing the breathtaking scenery surrounding Table Bay. Another of Cape Town's highlights is the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, which is now the most visited destination amongst tourists on their South Africa holidays. The beautiful Victorian-styled area features a number of incredible seafood restaurants, designer clothing shops and stunning boutique hotels which are perfect for guests looking for accommodation for their luxury holidays.
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