Wednesday, July 20, 2011

South Africa: The pinnacle of perfection

Searching for an exclusive reason to visit South Africa can be a bit of a problem, particularly considering the fact that there is just so much to look forward to that one would be spoilt for choice, over and over again – right from the hippos on the Limpopo River to the Cape’s penguins. Located at the southern tip of the African continent, South Africa has been the preferred destination of celebrities and plebeians alike! A photographer’s paradise, here’s one country that gets closer to nature as one explores it. The springtime bloom of wild flowers at Namakwa, the isolated and secluded yet beautiful Kalahari desert and the breathtaking Table Mountain are just some of the sights that make people get all awe-struck in wonder.

Wildlife is certainly a forte of sorts for South Africa, as there seems to be no end to nature’s bounty here, but that does not mean that there aren’t enough ‘world cities’ in South Africa. The nightclubs in the country are as hot and happening as those in any other country, and even the eating scene is pretty decent, with lots of up-market restaurants. In spite of their share of problems with racism, South Africans are certainly among the most happening people in the world, right from the farmers and villagers leading an ordinary rural life to the most modern folks.

Cape Town: Many describe Cape Town as the ideal city to have a blast in, and yet others think of it as nearly the most cherished dream destination they would like to visit. Also known as the mother city of South Africa, the Table Mountain at the centre of Cape Town is in fact a kind of a symbolic representation of the fact that the city is indeed at the top of the most wanted list for tourists from all parts of the world. Quote obviously, the spectacular beaches and vineyards also lend their touch to the overall look of the city, not to mention the breathtaking flora that seems to bloom at its peak even in winters! The city has a rich cultural history, not all of which is all that pleasant, but has helped shape the country at large the way it is. Coming back to the topography, South Africa’s third largest city relishes the fact that it has such scenic beauty at every nook and cranny to the hilt, much to the delight of tourists, who lap up for the extravagant luxuries the city offers.

Drakensberg: The soaring tabletop cliffs of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg range demarcate the boundary between South Africa and Lesotho, offering fantastic sights to the tourists. Towards the centre of the city, the Giant’s Castle Game Reserve, the largest national park in the area, steals the thunder quite convincingly, although the rest of the city also packs in quite a punch.

While in South Africa, one must have a reliable communications partner, so that conversations with loved ones are to the heart’s content, without worrying about the charges. Matrix international sim cards are the perfect solution for this need.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

South Africa: The tip of paradise

Diversity exists in practically every country, but South Africa takes the cake when it comes to being the most diverse of them all. Right from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the native penguins on the Cape, it is one country that has many microcosms within. Situated at the southern tip of the world's most interesting continent, i.e., Africa, the country has more kinds of terrains than one can fathom. The Kalahari desert is a stark contrast to Namakwa's glorious sights during spring; the breathtaking Table Mountain and Cape Point are as iconic as they have always been, and the wildlife that stalks the Kruger National Park is a delight during any time of the year. Another great attraction is the iSimangaliso Wetland Park at KwaZulu-Natal, which features five distinct ecosystems that attract both zebras as well as dolphins.

But South Africa is not all about flora, fauna and wildlife, for there is a bustling metropolis in Cape Town, where one can party like anything at the nighclubs. One can also savour the African homebrew at a local shebeen (unlicensed bar). The food scene is also pretty great, with seafood absolutely rocking Garden Route, and sumptuous curries at Durban's Indian area. A Cape Malay dish is also a pretty effective way to ward off a hunger pang for a long time, and a braai (barbecue) works wonders at all times. Of course, the perfect accompaniment would be a bottle of pinotage, a product of the oldest wine industry outside of Europe.

The most exciting city in South Africa is how one can best describe Cape Town, also referred to as the Mother City of the country. However, the rugged wilderness of the Table Mountain is what really sets the pulse racing! But the beauty does not end there, as the city's inherent passion for design and colour complements its natural 'blessings'. The fantastic painted façades of the Bo-Kaap, the Victorian bathing chalets of Muizenberg and for that matter, the contemporary African décor of the numerous restaurants and bars, the concrete jungle comes to life at Cape Town. There are also numerous galleries where mind-blowing displays of artistry and craftwork are available for purchase. These skills have been developed owing to the multi-ethnic environment of South Africa.

Moving on, the tabletop peaks of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg range that exist as a boundary between South Africa and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho have the privilege of the most inspiring sights. The region, spanning 243, 000-hectares, comprises of basalt peaks and buttresses, which make up for the perfect advertisement for Drakensberg. There are three parts to the town, and all are absolutely stunning. Northern Drakensberg – Going from the Golden Gate Highlands National Park to the Royal Natal National Park; central Drakensberg – popular for Giant’s Castle Game Reserve, the largest national park in the area; Southern Drakensberg – lesser developed than the others, but still very spectacular.

While in South Africa, one should rely on Matrix international SIM cards for flawless services and great savings up to 80% on every call.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Going Abroad- Don't Forget to Get an International Roaming SIM

In this global communication era where people usually travel from one place to another, remaining connected is the main necessity of each one of us. Millions of people from around the world travel each year for various purposes such as business, leisure, recreationalor educational. If you are planning to move overseas for any of these purposes, you need to stay in touch with your family and friends. Calling is certainly one of the most comfortable mediums of being in touch with each other. If you use your home mobile phone abroad, you will end up spending a fortune as international roaming charges are very expensive. So if you are going abroad, don't forget to get an international roaming SIM card which is also known as global roaming SIM card.

Earlier, people making a trip abroad were never able to make international calls so easily. Hefty amount associated with international calls always avoided the people to make calls to their near and dear ones. If they were making any international call, the duration of the call was always kept in mind to get rid of excessive expenses. Now the time has changed. You can make use of global roaming SIM cards to make calls at reasonable rates to your loved ones. These cards have proved to be the most appreciated way of communication and that too at affordable rates. There are number of offers provided by different service providers on these global SIM cards so that you can have fun while making international calls.

International roaming cards are the cost effective media for the people moving in a foreign country. It is definitely one of the best means of efficient communication universally. Global SIM cards are dynamic and compelling means of communication. It serves according to your need. If you are travelling to more than one country, you can avoid excessive roaming charges with International roaming SIM cards. You get the opportunity to stay in touch whilst you travel without spending a fortune in roaming charges. An international roaming SIM card is inexpensive as compared to other options available for international calling. This card will not cost you much upfront and, once you have one, you will save up to 60% on your mobile bill. I am pretty confident that you would love to keep your money in your own pocket.

By using a global roaming SIM card, you can keep track of your expenditure. Most International SIM cards are prepaid so you know exactly how much money you are spending. If you take an international SIM card, you won't get a nasty global roaming phone bill when you get home. Moreover, an international SIM card makes it easy and convenient to keep in touch with those back home. It is not always easy to get a calling card or access to a landline whilst you are travelling abroad. A global roaming SIM card is undoubtedly an economical and trouble-free way to stay connected with your friends, family and colleagues.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

South Africa: The land of unending safaris

Almost every country in the world has its own signature style in terms of people, culture, terrain, etc. that distinguishes it from every other country. Among the very few countries who feature diversity in practically every known domain is South Africa. Located at the southern tip of a continent that is constantly a topic of wonder and amazement for the rest of the world, the country sports numerous types of terrain, stretching from the Kalahari desert to the wildflowers of Namakwa, the vast expanse of flora and fauna at the Kruger National Park, while the KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park alone has five distinct ecosystems, a geological individuality that attracts both zebras and dolphins.

Lesotho: Known as South Africa's 'kingdom in the sky’, Lesotho is strikingly magnificent with its mountainous terrain situated like an isolated spot in the middle of South Africa. Despite the fact that it is not 'inside' South Africa (Lesotho is a different country), it is considered by tourists as no different, due to similar topography and people. However, the real reason why it features so high on tourists' itineraries is because of its fantastic mountain scenery, a multitude of hiking trails, as well as the option of exploring the remote areas on Basotho ponies, which is a one of its kind experience. The lowland areas, of the country feature options for craft shopping and dinosaur footsteps, while the highlands have peaks as high as 3000m, accompanied by valleys. The Sehlabathebe National Park in the eastern part of the country, as well as the capital Maseru, are other places of interest.

Table Mountain National Park: Stretching over more than 70% of the peninsula, the Table Mountain National Park begins from the flat-topped Table Mountain and ends at Cape Point. A majority of the tourists visit to see the 1086m-high mountain, with a cable-car system giving the provision of reaching the top. The views from the revolving cable car are equally breathtaking, if not more, as the rest of the Park, and the best time to take in all the spectacular sights is early morning or evening. There are close to 300 hiking routes, but since the mountain is more than 1 km in height, the conditions vary drastically, and it is very easy to get lost.

KwaZulu-Natal: The destination is best described as rough and tough with a touch of sophistication and smartness, topped with a rustic appeal to create a vivid kaleidoscope of colours and activities that will gladly keep one on his/her toes throughout the duration of their visit. The port of Durban represents the metropolitan heart of KwaZulu-Natal, and the historic capital of Pietermaritzburg also makes for a more modern type setting. The beaches are one of the major attractions, with Zululand, the home of Africa's traditional settlements since the dawn of history, being situated towards the north.

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