ATLANTA - USA
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport is hub for Delta Airlines (and Virgin Atlantic) linking the Americas. Nearby the world’s biggest hub you can explore history and hiking trails. Georgia’s state capital is a laidback gem with new trails and a powerful past. As the birthplace of Dr Martin Luther King, Atlanta has played a vital role in US history. A must visit site commemorating the father of the US Civil Rights movement spans downtown’s Sweet Auburn district, including his former home and the now restored Gothic revival Baptist church in which he preached. Elsewhere, cycle-friendly midtown is museum central, with the grandiose High Museum of Art as the pick of the bunch. The city is also transforming, with the ongoing construction of 50km of mixed-use trails. The eastern route to Inman Park was the first to open, it worth checking it out as it’s said to have the best eating and drinking in the city. If you can stay longer then an escape to wild Georgia is worth the time. Almost two hours’ drive north-east is Toccoa Falls which is one of the tallest and prettiest falls in the USA. If instead you go two hours drive south-west you will find Providence Canyon State Park. This is packed with backcountry trails amid a dramatic and steep-sided russet coloured gorge. No visas are required for UK citizens for stays of up to 90 days, however you will need a valid ESTA which currently costs $14 and lasts two years. The trip from the airport to Five Points Station by train costs £2 and take 16 minutes.
JOHANNESBURG - SOUTH AFRICA
It has been described as the portal to Africa with a compelling past. O. R. Tambo Airport is the hub for South African Airways linking to flights for Malawi and beyond. Johannesburg has had a makeover in recent years, but its history, both ancient and modern, remains as powerful as ever. If you stop here then start with a tour of the Apartheid Museum to grasp the realities of segregation. A trip to Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia sheds further light on this era, as a former nerve centre for the liberation movement. You can take a township tour which reveal another side to the city. It is possible to take a cycling trip to Nelson Mandela’s house in Soweto where you can sipping moonshine (umqombothi) in a bar (shabeen) in Alexandria. This will real insight into the recent history. If you can afford more time then take a trip to delve into the Cradle of Humankind. This is where the near complete Australopithecus skeleton, 3 million year old hominid was discovered. It is only 50km from the city and there are plenty of tours to take you through its winding caves and by its underground lakes. If you want to make a trip to the capital, Pretoria, it is only 75km away. No visas are required for UK citizens for visits up to 90 days. The trip from the Airport to Sandton Station by train is under £10 and takes 25 minutes.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport is hub for Delta Airlines (and Virgin Atlantic) linking the Americas. Nearby the world’s biggest hub you can explore history and hiking trails. Georgia’s state capital is a laidback gem with new trails and a powerful past. As the birthplace of Dr Martin Luther King, Atlanta has played a vital role in US history. A must visit site commemorating the father of the US Civil Rights movement spans downtown’s Sweet Auburn district, including his former home and the now restored Gothic revival Baptist church in which he preached. Elsewhere, cycle-friendly midtown is museum central, with the grandiose High Museum of Art as the pick of the bunch. The city is also transforming, with the ongoing construction of 50km of mixed-use trails. The eastern route to Inman Park was the first to open, it worth checking it out as it’s said to have the best eating and drinking in the city. If you can stay longer then an escape to wild Georgia is worth the time. Almost two hours’ drive north-east is Toccoa Falls which is one of the tallest and prettiest falls in the USA. If instead you go two hours drive south-west you will find Providence Canyon State Park. This is packed with backcountry trails amid a dramatic and steep-sided russet coloured gorge. No visas are required for UK citizens for stays of up to 90 days, however you will need a valid ESTA which currently costs $14 and lasts two years. The trip from the airport to Five Points Station by train costs £2 and take 16 minutes.
JOHANNESBURG - SOUTH AFRICA
It has been described as the portal to Africa with a compelling past. O. R. Tambo Airport is the hub for South African Airways linking to flights for Malawi and beyond. Johannesburg has had a makeover in recent years, but its history, both ancient and modern, remains as powerful as ever. If you stop here then start with a tour of the Apartheid Museum to grasp the realities of segregation. A trip to Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia sheds further light on this era, as a former nerve centre for the liberation movement. You can take a township tour which reveal another side to the city. It is possible to take a cycling trip to Nelson Mandela’s house in Soweto where you can sipping moonshine (umqombothi) in a bar (shabeen) in Alexandria. This will real insight into the recent history. If you can afford more time then take a trip to delve into the Cradle of Humankind. This is where the near complete Australopithecus skeleton, 3 million year old hominid was discovered. It is only 50km from the city and there are plenty of tours to take you through its winding caves and by its underground lakes. If you want to make a trip to the capital, Pretoria, it is only 75km away. No visas are required for UK citizens for visits up to 90 days. The trip from the Airport to Sandton Station by train is under £10 and takes 25 minutes.