24 days in South Africa and a whole lot (!) of photos. These are the best ones.

Impressive mountain ranges, dramatic coast lines, tranquil beaches, dry desserts, wetlands, winelands, valleys, savannahs – South Africa has stunning scenery wherever you turn your head. As well as all the animals you could wish for and kind and loving people. It is the most naturally beautiful place I’ve ever been, and I only saw a fraction of the country. I’ll surely be back.

It's not difficult to understand why these rhinos stand on guard: in 2014, 3-4 got killed every single day in South Africa by poachers who sell their horns for large sums.

It’s not difficult to understand why these rhinos stand guard: in 2014, 3-4 got killed every single day in South Africa by poachers who sell their horns for large sums.

South African sunsets are simply beautiful.

South African sunsets are simply beautiful.

I captured this photo while driving and didn't notice the baboons until afterwards. I wonder where they're going!

I captured this photo while driving and didn’t notice the baboons until afterwards. I wonder where they’re going!

This is Blyde River Canyon, the world's largest green canyon and third largest overall (Grand Canyon is #1, Fish River Canyon in Namibia is #2) Truly spectacular.

This is Blyde River Canyon, the world’s largest green canyon and third largest overall (Grand Canyon is #1, Fish River Canyon in Namibia is #2) Truly spectacular.

View from Lion's Head over Cape Town.

View from Lion’s Head over Cape Town.

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Colorful beach houses.

Colorful beach houses.

Aerial view over Cape Town.

Aerial view over Cape Town.

The local barber in Soweto, where an estimated 3-6 million people live, many in simple tin houses.

The local barber in Soweto, where an estimated 3-6 million people live, many in simple tin houses.

Silky water at Camps Bay.

Silky water at Camps Bay.

Victoria took this picture of me while I took the next picture.

Victoria took this picture of me while I took the next picture.

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Or perhaps it was this one.

Or perhaps it was this one.

Fiery colorful sunset in Johannesburg.

Fiery colorful sunset in Johannesburg.

Wide open spaces and freeways seemingly never ending are a common sight.

Wide open spaces and freeways seemingly never ending are a common sight.

One of only two black and whites. The country is simply too colorful to hide in the greys.

One of only two black and whites. The country is simply too colorful to hide in the greys.

Light breaking through the clouds.

Light breaking through the clouds.

New goods, perhaps?

New goods, perhaps?

The majestic Table Mountain from Lion's Head.

The majestic Table Mountain from Lion’s Head.

Sunset at Camps Bay.

Sunset at Camps Bay.

Elephant baby! Seeing these grand creatures in their element certainly is something else than seeing them in the Zoo. This is from Kruger National Park.

Elephant baby! Seeing these grand creatures in their element certainly is something else than seeing them in the Zoo. This is from Kruger National Park.

Rooftop view from our apartment in Cape Town.

Rooftop view from our apartment in Cape Town.

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On a "game walk" in the bush we stumbled upon this little fella.

On a “game walk” in the bush we stumbled upon this little fella.

So much mud.

So much mud.

Bo Kaap, Cape Town.

Bo Kaap, Cape Town.

The scenery was stunning everywhere we looked.

The scenery was stunning everywhere we looked.

Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens.

Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens.

Unfortunately, this is how most South Africans live - in poverty.

Unfortunately, this is how most South Africans live – in poverty.

The gang at Hout Bay.

The gang at Hout Bay.

From the plane window.

From the plane window.

Cape Town skyline.

Cape Town skyline.

Healthy breakfast (the croissant was left out of the picture...)

Healthy breakfast (the croissant was left out of the picture…)

Wild penguins. In Africa. It sounds strange. And it is.

Wild penguins. In Africa. It sounds strange. And it is.

Who doesn't need new sneakers?

Who doesn’t need new sneakers?

Kruger National Park.

Kruger National Park.

Kudu.

Kudu.

Another sunset.

Another sunset.

From above the cloudz.

From above the cloudz.

Kid's drawing or important ancient cave painting?

Kid’s drawing or important ancient cave painting?

A real giraffe.

A real giraffe.

View from Table Mountain.

View from Table Mountain.

Colorful houses in Bo Kaap.

Colorful houses in Bo Kaap.

Overlooking Hout Bay.

Overlooking Hout Bay.

One person in this photo looks ...different than the others.

One person in this photo looks …different than the others.

Did I mention...

Did I mention…

Sunsets?

Sunsets?

He's had enough of the penguins for today.

He’s had enough of the penguins for today.

To be fair, there are quite a few. An estimated 3000.

To be fair, there are quite a few. An estimated 3000.

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Who's feeding who?

Who’s feeding who?

This was the actual color of the sky. Breathtaking!

This was the actual color of the sky. Breathtaking!

Blyde River Canyon.

Blyde River Canyon.

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Early morning in Kruger National Park. A few minutes after this picture was taken, we found a flock of hippos hiding in the water.

Early morning in Kruger National Park. A few minutes after this picture was taken, we found a flock of hippos hiding in the water.

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Maternal instinct.

Maternal instinct.

Deep in thought.

Deep in thought.

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An ad for "some kind of" enlargement.

An ad for “some kind of” enlargement.

Look at the size of the house in the bottom right corner. This thing was humongous.

Look at the size of the house in the bottom right corner. This thing was humongous.

Camps Bay.

Camps Bay.

Pineapple?

Pineapple?

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Unfortunately I didn't bring my zoom lens, so I had to walk up pretty close...

Unfortunately I didn’t bring my zoom lens so I had to walk up pretty close…

Cape Town.

Cape Town.

A curious dassie.

A curious dassie.

The top of Lion's Head. A great little climb!

The top of Lion’s Head. A great little climb!

Pretty sure those houses don't come cheap.

Pretty sure those houses don’t come for cheap.

Bo Kaap.

Bo Kaap.

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Company Gardens in Cape Town.

Company Gardens in Cape Town.

Ghetto bungee jump.

Ghetto bungee jump.

A real African tribal chief. He had three wives.

A real African tribal chief. He had three wives.

Downtown Johannesburg.

Downtown Johannesburg.

Stunning coastline on the Western Cape.

Stunning coastline on the Western Cape.

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Climbing Table Mountain in the scorching sun was more difficult than I expected, but it sure was worth it!

Climbing Table Mountain in the scorching sun was more difficult than I would have expected, but it sure was worth it!

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Rapelling.

A guy is rapelling down.

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The rainbow nation - a name truly deserved.

The rainbow nation – a name truly deserved.