South Africa offers a ridiculously regal realm of refinements for the budget travelers brave enough to realize that the foreboding visions of a heart of darkness have no place in this sunny, gorgeous, and lush land. So much of the country seems like a traveler’s analogue to Parkay margarine, with awed nomads muttering, “I can’t believe it’s not costly travel!” This is not a demanding landscape for travelers – to the contrary, it’s quite easy at almost every stretch, given the overall quality of facilities and the fact that traveling on a budget doesn’t necessitate sacrifice. The biggest hurdle is getting there (anyone who says that this is half the fun is either mad or arrived by a means other than a cramped, full-day flight that placed a large dent in her finances), which is perhaps why such sparkling and stunning destinations as Cape Town and the Garden Route can maintain a sense of intimacy for visitors. Because South Africa remains a budding destination for travelers, and still has yet to be flooded with the tourist deluge, prices remain obscenely low for the quality of life and leisure in which visitors indulge.
