Visa… what visa? You might be surprised to learn that these 6 countries are among the 103 that welcome South Africans without asking for a visa.
Argentina
From flamboyant, rough-around-the-edges Buenos Aires where the street-side tango parties go on long after bedtime, to the soaring granite peaks and incredible glaciers of Patagonia, Argentina is an adventurer’s paradise. Ice trek on an advancing glacier in Los Glaciares National Park, ride the Train to the Clouds near Salta, or take a boat through the Iberá Wetlands, spotting caimans, capybaras and howler monkeys.
Best time to visit? From December to March, colder regions such as Patagonia are more accessible.
Costa Rica
Though tiny on maps, this jungly beauty is bisected by mountains that make it seem unimaginably vast. Avid birdwatchers come to see wonders such as keel-billed toucans and scarlet-rumped tanagers; you also easily spot sloths, anteaters and New World monkeys in protected parks, and the exquisite quetzal in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. It has formidable volcanoes, too, and in Manuel Antonio, you’ll share white-sand beaches with sun-bathing iguanas and Capuchin monkeys.
Best time to visit? December to April seesless rain.
Fiji
Fiji, in the South Pacific, comprises 333 mountainous islands covered by tropical rain forests and surrounded by coral reefs and warm water, which makes for some of the most incredible diving and snorkelling in the world. Aside from colourful soft corals, more than 1 200 fish species and a dozen varieties of whales and dolphins can be seen. On land, there are laid-back, lazy resorts right on the beach, plus forest trekking and cave tours.
Best time to visit? Late-October/early-November when it’s dry and not too crowded.
Georgia
Poised at the intersection of Europe and Asia and described by Georgians as ‘the balcony of Europe’, Georgia is tucked between Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey and Armenia. It has Black Sea beaches, charming villages in the Caucasus Mountains, and Europe’s highest peak, Mount Elbrus (5 642 m). Tbilisi, the capital, features labyrinthine cobblestone streets lined with pretty buildings, while the sylvan country-side is dotted with ancient religious sites, such as the sprawling 12th-century Vardzia cave monastery. And wine lovers simply must make a pilgrimage to Kakheti, supposedly the birth-place of viticulture.
Best time to visit? Easter is packed with religious and cultural celebrations – and there’s snow on some mountains. 5 Ireland
Ireland
Whether you’re looking for people with the gift of the gab, or seeking legendary landscapes such as those on a drive around the Ring of Kerry, Ireland is tiny but wondrous. A wild western coastline savaged by the furious Atlantic is contrasted by sweet country villages, fantastic craic (conversation) in the world’s liveliest pubs, and dynamic cultural scenes in cities such as Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
Best time to visit? May’s weather isn’t too bad and prices are more reasonable – or come for St Patrick’s Day, a wild and wonderful party in March.
Peru
Most people visit for the Inca Trail, among the most legendary treks on Earth, but Peru incorporates incredible diversity between its Pacific coastline and the extremes of its highest mountain, Nevado Huascarán. There’s the Amazon rainforest, of course, and in Lima’s beautiful Miraflores district, you can sip pisco sours while overlooking gorgeous beaches. And in the Andes you’ll come across various sweet-tempered camelids – llamas, alpacas and smaller, wild vicuña.
Best time to visit? For hiking, visit during the May–October dry season.
Photography: Unsplash
