Last week, the world celebrated the birthday of Nelson Mandela, South Africa's famed anti-apartheid revolutionary affectionately known as Madiba. Thanks to the work of Mandela and other leaders, I was able to travel to the country in May on a trip curated by the South African Tourism Board. Because of the fight put up by the people of South Africa, I was able explore every single city and province I pleased without issue over the course of my 10-day visit -- a freedom that wouldn't have been afforded to me at the time of my birth simply because of my skin color. It was amazing to see not only how much things changed in just a short span of 26 years since apartheid was abolished, but also how much excitement South Africans have about the continued evolution of the country, particularly in the wake of the government's newly launched campaign "We Do Tourism" which could spark a much-needed economic boom throughout the entire contient. In South Africa there is plenty to do, see, taste, and touch -- so much so that planning a vacation there might be overwhelming. Let me walk you through my trip and show you how to get the most out of your visit. Quick pointers

• You'll want to visit for at least 10 days to fully experience the variety of tourist activities available throughout the country.
• South African Airways' alliance with Airlink allows for quick connections between Johannesburg and several destinations so you can have city, cultural, and countryside experiences all in one trip.
• Take advantage of the resources available from the South African Tourism board to plan your stay.
• Autumn nights (May-Sept) are cool; pack fall clothing if you plan to visit during our summer and you'll want to get up and out early. The sun sets around 5 pm.

Click through to get to the fun stuff.

The City Stuff

My voyage to South Africa began with a 14-hour direct flight from New York's JFK airport to Johannesburg on South African Airways. I cannot stress enough how much I recommend you take advantage of the airline's business class option. From the moment I stepped in the airport the service began. It was such a different -- and far more pleasurable -- experience waiting to board a flight while waiting in the airline's lounge which was equipped with continental breakfast for travelers, private bathrooms, and the kind of peaceful serenity one deserves before embarking on such a long journey. Service was impeccable aboard the aircraft and, honestly, the time flew by. Because the meals and lighting are set to get travelers immediately acclimated with South African time, the jet lag effect was greatly minimized once we touched down. And I slept completely comfortable on the fully reclined beds which also helped me be able to explore the city immediately, which is exactly what my group and I did.

Johannesburg

The InterContinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers served as our home for two nights, and as soon as we checked into the luxury hotel we took a moment to shower and change, then we hit the streets, literally, with a walking tour.

We explored downtown Jo-burg on foot, seeing the place where Mandela and Oliver Tambo opened their first law office inside The Chancellor House. The firm has since been turned into an outdoor museum, allowing people who were historically banned from entering such buildings to learn about the significance of their work and the historic location without ever having to step foot inside.

From there, we grabbed a bite at Urbanologi which is home to a beer garden known as Mad Giant. We couldn't resist trying a little bit of everything in the restaurant which labels its cuisine Urban Garde. The pork belly and fried potatoes were our faves.

Soweto

Every single person I met in Johannesburg asked if I was going to Soweto and, thankfully, on the second day of our trip we did. There, you can visit the home where Winnie and Mandela lived and raised their children. The street is also lined with local artisans selling authentic clothing, jewelry, and artifacts to take back home.

Durban

On the last leg of my trip to South Africa I found myself in Durban, a diverse city where the Zulu people make up the largest single ethnic group and is home to the largest Indian population outside of India.

If you do nothing else in this city, you must visit the pristine beach, though I'd recommend you do a few other things as well. The Durban Tourism board can arrange a specific tour for you to explore monuments in the city and other key locales such as the Indian Market where you'll, again, find local textiles and artistry, the beach, and show you the best place to eat Bunny Chow. Bunny Chow is a traditional curry dish served in a hallowed out loaf of bread and it's absolutely delicious, spicy, and filling. And if you need a recommendation of a place to stay while in Durban, I suggest the Oyster Box. The hotel is the perfect mix of luxury and tradition, having been restored in 2009 as a tribute to the original Oyster Lodge built on the grounds in 1863. And for one of the most amazing meals of your life you have to go no further than to the lobby of the hotel to partake in their spectacular Curry Buffet, which features a selection of up to 11 curries daily, plus staples of Indian cuisine like samoosas and freshly baked naan breads.

The Safaris

When you think of South Africa, the first thing that comes to mind are safaris and, trust me, there's no shortage of options of game drives and lodges.

Mopane Bush Lodge

  Mopane was our first lodge in the bush after hopping a two-hour flight from Johannesburg to Polykwane on South African Airways. The four-star lodge is just a short drive from the Mapungubwe National Park and Mapungubwe World Heritage Site and has every amenity one could hope for on a wild nature adventure, including animals right in your backyard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AycMvWmXbXs At the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site, we climbed the mountainous region while learning the history of the land's original settlers and the various migrations of the South African people in the area over the years. We also spotted zebra, elk, giraffes, and several other wild animals along our game drives. Thankfully, we didn't come in close contact with the cheetah we were told to be on the lookout for while exploring the land on foot.

After a relaxing lunch by the pool, we headed back out to Mapungubwe National Park for a night game drive where we had a close encounter with a few elephants along our path and also dodged baboons as we set up a picnic to watch the sunset.

Leshiba Wilderness

Just when we thought the views of the countryside couldn't get anymore spectacular, we made our way to Leshiba, a lodge seated on top of the Soutpansberg mountains in the Limpopo Province. It literally took us an hour to get from our car to the lodge in a 4-wheel jeep but the ride was more than worth it when we saw the breathtaking landscape and road side-by side with giraffes. As it turned out, these big guys were our neighbors throughout the entire visit, as all we had to do was step out of the eating area onto the balcony to catch them grazing on the land.

Every area of Leshiba affords a beautiful view of the land, from the luxury suites to the huts built to mimic the original Venda Village lodges on the grounds, to this beautiful serene bathing area. Here, too, we hiked the grounds and learned the history of the Venda people and enjoyed an amazing game drive where we were no more than a few feet from the many diverse wildlife on the premises. The only thing that topped that experience were the meals created by the amazing, caring staff at Leshiba which cooked every single item with care and love. In addition to these lodging recommendations, I advise you to use Bruce Ntombela as your guide. The owner and operator of Nhlamulo Destinations will make sure all of your needs are completely taken care of, from transporting you from the airport to your lodging, to recommending eateries along the way. Plus, he's a former hunter and it doesn't hurt to have someone else who knows how to handle wildlife with you on these excursions.

The Culture

One must on your trip to South Africa is to visit Freedom Park, the heritage site memorializing the country's history and celebrating its present. Located in Pretoria, construction of Freedom Park began in 2002 when the people asked Mandela to do something to honor those who died in the fight for freedom and acknowledge all of the events that made South Africa the nation it is today.

Pretoria is the administrative capital of the Republic of South Africa and also a city strongly associated with imperialistic brutality, making Freedom Park's very existence there a strong statement of liberty. The //hapo museum tells the story of Africa as a whole, from creation to colonialism, and focuses on South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy. Freedom Park is situated on top of a mountain which provides a few of various city monuments. Mountains also have a spiritual meaning for South Africans who believe their prayers will be more accepted because they are closer to God. Over 90,000 names are inscribed on a wall of remembrance, marking those who lost their lives in movements of resistance such as the first and second world wars, slavery, genocide, and the fight for liberation. The park has become a mandatory place to visit for school children. Also located in Pretoria is the Mandela statue at the Union Buildings which was unveiled in 2013. The monument is the tallest bronze statue of Mandela in existence and is surrounded by beautiful, lush greenery on the very spot where Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa's first democratically elected president in 1994. There's also the Ribolla Route which you should explore should your safari journey take you to Limpopo province. And, if you are truly interested in understanding more about South Africa's tourism efforts, visit the country during May to attend the annual Indaba conference. Not only will you learn more about the diverse types of tourism experiences offered in the country, you'll also have a chance to meet local chiefs, government leaders, and artisans like world-renowned painter Esther Mahlangu.

Your visit to South Africa can truly be what you make it and that's not something you can say about many locations. To get started, visit Southafrica.net.

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