The sight of the poor downtown slums, of the barbed-wired walls, electric fences and watch dogs in the richer neighborhoods is illustrative of how un-safe Johannesburg is. But despite that depressing side, the city has also some endearing traits: The gorgeous jacaranda trees in full blossom grace many streets, transforming them into tunnels of blue and violet velvet. The contrast of the ochre dry soil and the spring vegetation brimming with flowers is spectacular.

Five kilometers from the city center, in the Melville's neighborhood, the Koppies area is a rich natural preserve that harbors also archeological sites dating back form the Stone and Iron ages.

At the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the banks of the Zambezi River, the Mosi oa Tunya national park is the home of the last rhinos in Zambia. It is also a sanctuary for many other species.

If you speak Lozi, and have correctly translated "Mosi oa Tunya" into "Smoke which Thunders", you have already guessed this is also where the famous Victoria Falls are located. They are quite impressive, even by draught time. The sheer cliff of black basalt, shinning with lush green wet grass is worth seeing.