NEW YORK (CNNfn) - For all its sunshine, South Africa spent a long time in darkness.
Africa's southern most nation had lived for years under the cloud of apartheid, the policy of racial segregation that suppressed the country's black majority. As world outrage mounted, South Africa became increasingly isolated, scorned as both a business and travel location.
After years of struggle, apartheid eventually collapsed, and now, as the "Rainbow Nation" advances into the 21st Century, more travelers are discovering South Africa's rich landscape, abundant wildlife, and diverse cultures. 
"Over the last 10 years," said David Bristow, a contributor to Fodor's "Southern Africa" guide book, "I've seen South Africa move from the No.5 destination on the continent to now, where it's way ahead as No.1."
Travelers heading for South Africa will have a variety of places to choose from: from the big city urban life of Johannesburg to the sophisticated environs of Cape Town. Gamblers can try their luck at the resort and entertainment complex Sun City and the adventurous types can go a safari, where they can spy the "big five"様ion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
Obviously, the country's problems have not vanished overnight and both crime and segregation are serious issues. Still, travel experts say South Africa has so much to offer that a ride over this rainbow is definitely worth the effort.
Travel Bug runs every Wednesday on CNNfn's Life Page.
City of Gold
The urban experience in South Africa has diversity to spare. Johannesburg, or Jo'burg, is the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa. Many people who know this sprawling town of six million say it is not a primary tourist destination,  as it is marked by overcrowding and crime, particularly in the downtown area.Still, the area has things to see, such as fine galleries, shops and restaurants and the Rosebank and Randburg Waterfront nightclub districts.You can spread out your trip to include Pretoria, 30 miles to the north, which is described as a bastion of the Afrikaner culture. Then there is Sun City, located 110 miles northwest of Johannesburg, is barely 20 years old yet it is a major tourist destination. The resort has hotel casinos, and amphitheaters, and has played host to a variety of events, including boxing matches and the annual Sun City Golf Challenge.
It's not as gaudy as Vegas," Bristow said. "I love it and I don't gamble".
Cape Town has been described as the home of South Africa's best restaurants, museums and hotels. For outdoor adventuring, there is Table Mountain, which stands more than 3,500 feet above the city. Cable cars will take you to the summit or choose from one of 300 trails.
Reality Street
For a complete turnaround from the glitter of Sun City, visit Soweto. The South Western Townships is home for the majority of Johannesburg's blacks  . The sprawling area in Gauteng Province, is located 15 miles southwest of Jo'burg and both Nobel Peace Prize winners Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, the political prisoner who was elected president in 1994, lived there.
If you don't know Soweto, you're bound to get lost and experts say the only way to see the place is by guided tour. Among those outfits offering tours of Soweto are African Adrenaline and Jimmy's Face to Face Tours, which takes customers partying in Soweto day or night.
Safari, so good
South Africa is also home to a vast variety of wild life and a safari is the best way to see exotic animals up close and personal. However, this is risk involved here, as you're dealing with nature most primitive. Tourists have been killed in their quest to get close to the jungle and Bristow said this is part of the problem. 
"The common denominator in all of these cases is people trying to get to close to the animals," he said. "There are very responsible tour operators who will take you into the bush and if you listen to them, you're safe."
The so-called Garden Route is a popular tourist itinerary, running 130 miles along the coastline in southern Western Cape Province. The Garden Route has major tracts of indigenous forest and is also a favorite spot for water sports.
Kruger National Park is in the Lowveld and runs along the Mozambique Border. One of the most famous wildlife parks in the world, Kruger National Park cuts through 14 ecozones, so if you're looking for wild life, this is a good place to find it. First time visitors are advised to hire a game ranger to guide them around the park.
The Drakensberg, or the Dragon Mountains, form the border with eastern Lesotho. The highest mountain range in southern Africa, the Drakensberg offers fabulous scenery and pristine wilderness.
The hunt is on
If you're hunting for a South African tour operator go on a little Web safari and see what kind of package deals you can scare up. Here are a few of the tours lurking in the bush:
- Southern Africa Places has several South African tours, including the 15-day Star of Africa Tour which takes participants from Johannesburg to Cape Town, stopping at Pretoria, the Kruger Park, and KwaZulu Natal. The tour costs $2,124, airfare not included.
- Africa Point offers numerous South Africa tours. The South Africa Safari tour leaves from Johannesburg and heads into Kruger National Park for game viewing. The trip costs $757 per person.
- Cape Wineland Tours offers wine-related tours of South African wine country. The 11-day Wine Lover's Tour provides an intensive journey through wine country, tasting the best the country has to offer. The tour lists for $3,200 to $3,900.
- For travelers with some time on their hands, GeoPassage.com offers its 25-day South African Odyssey tour, which starts in Cape Town and works through the Garden Route, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg. The tour costs $6,330.
Travel advice
South Africa is located in the southern hemisphere, meaning the seasons will be the reverse of those in the northern hemisphere.
The peak tourist season runs from November to March, when hotel rooms are more expensive and harder to find. While the most popular time to see Cape Town runs from November to January, experts say February and March have the best weather. 
And, though Cape winters, which run from May through August, are said to be cold and rainy, visitors will find sunny days during this time, as well as good deals.
One U.S. dollar will convert to about 7.5 South African rand. Lonely Planet estimates that a mid-range meal will go for about $9 to $15, while a mid-range hotel will cost you $25 to $30 per night.
While most visitors travel to South Africa without incident, U.S. State Department officials said there have been reports of violent crime in the country. The Bureau of Consular Affairs warned "crime in South Africa is perceived to be a significant threat to the country's overall stability and to the welfare of its citizens." Armed robbery and assaults are particularly high around many hotels and public transportation centers, especially in major cities. 
-- Click here to send e-mail to Rob Lenihan
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