One of the most culturally and geographically diverse places on earth, South Africa, fondly known by locals as the 'Rainbow Nation', boasts 11 official languages, and its inhabitants are influenced by a fascinating mix of cultures. Discover the gourmet restaurants, impressive art scene, vibrant nightlife, and beautiful beaches of Cape Town. Enjoy a local braai (barbecue) in the Soweto township, browse the bustling Indian markets in Durban, or sample some of the world's finest wines at the myriad wine estates dotting the Cape Winelands. Some historical attractions to explore include the Zululand battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, and Robben Island, just off the coast of Cape Town. Above all else, its untamed wilderness is astonishing: wildlife roams freely across massive unfenced game reserves such as the world-famous Kruger National Park.
Described as “Seven Worlds of Wonder”, &Beyond Phinda encompasses an impressive 28 555 hectares (70 560 acres) of prime Big Five wilderness in KwaZulu-Natal. Phinda was the catalyst to the formation of the larger Mun-ya-wana Game Reserve and takes its position right at the heart of it as more and more land is added to this ever expanding land restoration project. Phinda comprises seven distinct habitats – from dry sand forest to wetland systems and the anceint Ubombo mountains. Catch a glimpse of the shy suni antelope, track rhino in the bushveld, observe breeding herds of elephant in fever tree forests, hold your breath as a cheetah teaches her cubs to hunt or marvel at the gracious nyala antelope - this is the Phinda experience. No stay at Phinda can be longe enough as there is so much to explore. With over 400 species of birds recorded and high reptile, amphibian and plant diversity there is much on offer for the naturalists too.
Stretching over more than two million hectares, the famous Kruger National Park is one of the world’s largest game reserves and a truly remarkable destination. Owing to its exceptional size, visitors are able to experience fantastic diversity – from changing scenery and ecosystems to an impressive array of animals, plant life and birdlife. The park is home to over 130 mammals and over 500 bird species. Visitors can look forward to learning about the area’s prehistoric past, enjoying a host of accommodation options, and viewing abundant wildlife including the famed Big Five. The diversity and sheer density of wildlife make Kruger National Park an unforgettable and once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Johannesburg is one of Africa’s largest and most vibrant cities. It is the economic capital of Africa and the gateway to Southern Africa. This bustling city offers a wide range of activities, attractions and plenty to do in and around the city including nearby Pretoria. Downtown is a multi-cultural mixture of traditional medicine shops, Chinese restaurants, taxi ranks and ultra-modern skyscrapers. There are excellent museums, art galleries and organised tours of historical and political interest. The shopping is Southern Africa’s best and the many restaurants cater for all tastes. The nearby township of Soweto is Johannesburg’s most popular tourist attraction.
Situated in the southern reaches of Africa, land-locked Botswana is renowned for its pristine wilderness areas and vast lanscapes. The country’s primary tourist drawcard is undoubtedly the expansive and beautiful Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world. It here that an abundance and diversity of wildlife is found. The white Kalahari sands underly the rest of the country too playing host to other impressive destinations such as the Kalahari (home to the Bushmen or baSarwa people), Makgadigadi salt pans and the wilderness reaches of Linyanti, Savuti and Chobe. The Tsodilo Hills in the far north, house 4500 rock paintings which form a unique record of human settlement over many millennia. Botswana has a small population of only around 2 million people coming from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Tourism, mining and agriculture form the backbone of the economy.
Situated in the northwestern corner of Botswana, the Okavango Delta is a World Heritage Site as it is the largest inland delta in the world. The magnificent Okavango River sprawls out over the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert forming this flourishing oasis which features countless meandering waterways and crystal clear lagoons. These are studded with water lilies, fertile floodplains and reeded islands hich are home to exquisite birdlife and abundant wildlife. The expanse of the Okavango stretches over 15000 square kilometres. Visitors can enjoy a number of wonderful activities such as game viewing, fishing, bird watching or taking an authentic guided mekoro excursion (poling in traditional dugout canoe) through this wetland paradise. All of Africa's big game from the big cats to pachyderms, giraffe, hippos, crocodiles, graceful antelope and colourful birds can be found on a good safari!
