Sometimes we South Africans can get a little complacent about our country, so it is interesting to see it through the eyes of a first-time foreign visitor.
I had this opportunity earlier this year, when we helped show my American brother-in-law, Frank, around the country where his wife, my sister Josephine, was born.
They now live in Tampa, Florida, and Frank was quite honest that his knowledge of South Africa was limited to the odd wildlife documentary and the usual reports of crime and degradation which so often portray southern Africa.
Not knowing what to expect, Frank eased gradually into the African experience from the moment we collected them from OR Tambo International Airport.
I noticed immediately that the fair-skinned tourist would face the wrath of the African sun and proceeded to get him a proper wide- brimmed bush hat.
Off they went to Kimberley and then by road down the Garden Route to Cape Town.
All the sights and sounds along the way were savoured: walking with the elephants in Knysna; Table Mountain; sampling snoek in Hout Bay.
Then it was on to Durban, the holiday destination known to many South Africans. First stop was the beachfront, which looks great following a revamp before last year’s World Cup, with one of the highlights being the view from the top of the arch at the landmark Moses Mobhida Stadium.
Josephine, who had not been in Durban for many years, noticed the rundown buildings desperately in need of a coat of paint in the older trading district of city.
This, I noted, was a marked improvement to about seven years back when the city really fell into a state of disrepair. Memories of what had been lingered with my sister, who was very disappointed with the decay.
uShaka Marine World proved a hit with Frank, who is a sailor and had spent his childhood on boats in south Florida. The various fish species enthralled and excited the couple, who had never seen some of them before. The staff were helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.
Just a stone’s throw from the aquarium was what used to be a popular drinking hole, Thirsties, from where you could sit and enjoy a drink while watching ships enter and leave the harbour. Alas, this is no more as the harbour mouth has been widened. Instead the development in the area now consists of high-rise apartments, most of which are empty.
Our base in Durban over three days was the North Coast town of Ballito, a favoured holiday base-camp for our family.
Peak season can be pricey as day rates for a three-bedroom flat with sea views are usually triple that of off-season rates.
We booked in at a flat on the third floor of The Boulders. It had been refurbished recently and had panoramic sea views, as well as a swimming pool and access to the beach and boardwalk, which runs for a few kilometres along the Dolphin Coast.
Our guests loved the views and took time out to enjoy the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. We also spotted a pod of dolphins from our lofty perch.
All too soon the coastal holiday ended and we headed for Sabie, where we checked in at the Windmill Wine Shop and Cottages, which offers four-star accommodation some 20km from Hazyview.
The facilities were great and perfectly situated to access Kruger and the peripheral activities and sights on offer.
From there, we visited Pilgrim’s Rest, God’s Window and Blyde River Canyon. Set against the Greater Drakensberg escarpment, the Blyde River Canyon area encompasses some of the most dramatic scenery in the country.
One forgets what a beautiful land we live in, especially when bogged down in the rat race in Joburg.
The highlight of our holiday was our trip to Kruger where we booked an early morning game drive: we had to be at the Phabeni gate, some 30km from our accommodation, by 4:30am!
This experience was a first for Frank and Josephine, who soaked up the sounds and smells of the African bush. They stared wide-eyed at hyena, elephant, giraffe, rhino and countless other animal and bird species we spotted.
To buy a Wild Card online go to www.sanparks.org/tourism/wild).
Overall, Kruger was a great experience, which left my American family wanting more.
After their whirlwind tour of South Africa, they returned home with indelible memories.
An American’s impressions
l I had some mental images from US documentaries and movies. Some images were positive as they related to the animals and the countryside, while others were negative and about rebel and guerrilla fighting. I realise now that this violence was located in other parts of Africa.
l My concerns before I left for South Africa were primarily about safety and the ability to protect my wife from any potential attacks.
Also, there were health concerns in making sure that we did not return with any diseases or parasites from food or unclean water. We took some of the precautions suggested by the US Centres for Disease Control, but not all, and it seems our overall actions were successful.
l Highs while visiting: the warmth and kindness extended to us by not only family but friends and South Africans in general. Other highs included access to animals in a more natural environment compared to the zoos in the US.
As for lows, this certainly would include the interaction with the employees of MTN, or as it turns out, the many different types of MTN franchises, following the purchase of a SIM card and airtime.
As we visited approximately six MTN outlets across South Africa, the employees could not think beyond their own limited experiences at their specific franchise.
The exception was Henriette van Niekerk in Kimberley who spent time and made several phone calls to solve my activation problem. In addition, she offered to lend me her own personal data stick as a real solution to the problem.
She was the bright spot in a company that otherwise demonstrated poor communication and poor customer service.
Other lows would be the impact of poverty-stricken people, and the razor wire and electrical fences used to keep them out of homes and businesses due to crime.
Poverty is prevalent in most countries, but the solution to the problem generally lies in part with the government to sustain job creation in a stable economy.
The other part of poverty is sometimes an individual choice, where it seems easier to steal from and defraud others rather than consider alternative choices.
Not everyone has options or access to education to improve their standing in life, but we all need to be responsible for our ethics and our impact on others.
l I would certainly like to think I would return to South Africa. The people are friendly and there seem to be opportunities to be able to help the country grow if one were to consider staying for a while. The obstacles to return initially start with the sheer time required in travelling by jet since it takes a day to get there and a day to return.
Also, it is hard to leave the US, which has so many opportunities and areas of the country I have not even visited. South Africa as a whole is a very beautiful country and offers many different climates, terrain and views.
l My preference in general is the personal experiences one obtains in spending time with the right people, and being the better for it. The people I had the opportunity to meet in South Africa were basically wonderful people and this alone would cause me to return.
The animal parks were also a rare opportunity and I treasure the time we spent there and hope one day to have another glimpse into their world. - Saturday Star