South Africa tops List of world's Most beautiful countries

We have spent most of the past 11 months travelling around South Africa, and we couldn't agree more with Buzfeed, who awarded South Africa the "Most Beautiful Country in the World" award, ahead of stunning places like the USA, New Zealand, Switzerland, and others. This award was given for a host of reasons, because there is not doubt that many countries have stunning mountains, or incredible wildlife, or amazing deserts. However, as they conclude in their article:

Unsurpassed wildlife and mountains, whales and waterfalls, architecture and antiquity, the world’s most beautiful city, and the world’s most stunning Spring, plus a host of natural treasures make South Africa “The Most Beautiful Country In The World”, and a must-see traveller’s dream.

South Africa truly has it all - from wildlife, to mountains, from waterfalls, to flowers, from beautiful cities to ancient fossils. It's a country of divesity, beauty, colour, and splendour that is unparalled anwyhere in the world.

Still unsure? Well here are a few facts that earned South Africa this prestigious honour:

•  South Africa has the highest repeat tourism of any long haul destination in the world. Why? Keep reading and see....
• The town of Franschhoek was named amongst the five loveliest in the world.
• The city of Cape Town is often named the most beautiful city on earth.
• South Africa has three of the world’s ten most beautiful coastal drives including Clarens Drive and Chapman’s Peak.
• South Africa has almost twice the number of marine species as the whole Mediterranean.
• South Africa is the best place in the world to view whales from shore, and to swim with great white sharks.
• The world’s largest migration of Ocean life occurs along South Africa's shores.
• South Africa has been rated the finest wildlife destination on earth and is Africa’s most biodiverse.
• South Africa's Kruger National Park and Limpopo Transfrontier Park have more species of large mammal than anywhere else in the world.
• Surrounding Cape Town is the world’s densest plant kingdom.
• Table Mountain was named one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
• Two of the eleven world’s greatest mountains are located entirely within South Africa, more than is claimed by any other country. 
• Possibly the tallest waterfall on earth, the Tugela Falls, at over 3000 feet is about twenty times the height of Niagara! Falls 
• South Africa's Tugela Falls and Augrabies falls are two waterfalls included in the Top 10 waterfalls in the world
• Four of the ten oldest mountain ranges in the world are found in South Africa,
• The Makhonjwa range in South Africa is the oldest in the world.
• Namaqualand, an area larger than California, turns into the world’s largest garden each Spring in a floral display unrivalled anywhere on earth.

Source: Buzfeed - The 20 Most Beautiful Countries In The World