Guest post by Andrea Perullo

To further heat up the 2010 FIFA World Cup fever at the moment, our guest travel addict, Andrea Perullo is here to recommend 5 travel attractions of South Africa to those who are visiting South Africa:

Several years ago I spent 3 weeks in the rainbow nation of South Africa.  It was my first time traveling in the African continent and each day was filled with one grand adventure after another.  Everyone asks me what my most memorable experience was and while it is impossible to choose just one, there were some that made the journey that much more special.

Here is my Top 5:

1. Safari in Kruger Park. While you are not guaranteed to see the “Big 5” during your safari outings, there is a strong possibility, as the park is saturated with wildlife.  I was lucky and saw all of them on my 1^st day out in the bush.  The joy you will get when spotting an animal in their natural habitat is indescribable!
2. Climb Table Mountain in Cape Town. Table Mountain stands in the middle of Cape Town and is surrounded by beaches and wine vineyards.  The hike will take you around 2-4 hours depending on your athletic ability.  There is a cable car you can take if you do not feel like walking, however the reward at the end of the hike is worth the sweat.  At the top is a 360° view of Cape Town and within seconds you understand why it considered the most beautiful city in the world.
3. Cage Dive with Great White Sharks in Gansbaii. This is probably the craziest and most dangerous experience you will ever have in your life, but not only will you be able to brag that you swam next to one of the world’s deadliest known predators, you will also have the thrill of a lifetime.  Up close and personal these scary creatures are quite majestic and even though your heart will be racing, afterwards you will proud of yourself for having the courage.
4. Visit Soweto Township in Jo’berg. While shanty towns exist all over the country, the largest and most well-known one is Soweto.  Here is where you will find the pulse of the heart of the nation and where the culture still thrives.  It will touch your heart and soul and you will understand South Africa much better.
5. Tour Nelson Mandela’s jail cell on Robin Island. No trip to South Africa is complete without a visit to the country’s most infamous prison due to the involuntary residency of Nelson Mandela for 27 years.  While, it is no longer a prison today, it acts as a monument to the freedom struggle during the apartheid era, a period that will never and should never be forgotten.

Andrea Perullo is a Chinese Medicine Doctor by day, travel addict by night. When she is not treating patients, she is exploring the world or dreaming of the next place to visit.  She also writes travel features for MNUI Travel Insurance and blogs at My Beautiful Adventures.