CNN’S 2013 travel wish list: South Africa

Robben Island
Robben Island

A handful of our very well-traveled CNN correspondents — who’ve been places and seen things many of us may never see firsthand — share their destination wishes for 2013 and beyond.

South Africa

“There are some destinations that you know as soon as you step off the plane will change you. For me, it’s always been Africa,” wrote Patrick Oppmann, CNN‘s correspondent in Havana.

He has visited the continent three times but has yet to make it to South Africa.

“As a journalist, I have long been fascinated with how South Africa is emerging from decades of the racial divisions of the Apartheid era.

“But it’s one thing to read about those years and another to actually visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, or to walk in District 6, the area where thousands of black residents had their neighborhoods destroyed.”

And of course, the country’s spectacular beauty is a big draw. “You can hit the beach, hike Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town, take in amazing wildlife and cage dive among Great White sharks.”

Oppmann wouldn’t miss trying braai, the South African way of spit-roasting meat over an open fire.

“And if there was a cold glass of the excellent local wine or beer to go along with the braai, that would be just fine too.”

Source: ketknbc.com