Situated amidst the towering Waterberg Mountains in the Limpopo Province, the Waterberg Biosphere, as the name suggests, serves as a water reservoir for the region. Renowned for its rugged beauty, the landscape is characterised by low-lying mountain ranges and escarpments, as well as a network of streams, rivers and lakes. It is the home of South Africa’s first-ever savannah biosphere reserve and is also home to many other nature reserves which provide a protected habitat for an array of wildlife. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing soak in natural hot springs, discover the ancient World Heritage-listed archaeological site in Makapans Valley, and view abundant birdlife at the Nylsvley Wetlands.
Bordering Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Botswana, the Limpopo Province is South Africa’s northernmost province renowned for its quintessentially African vistas. This region is known for its immense natural beauty featuring rugged mountains meeting pristine savannah plains sheltering a diverse array of wildlife. It encompasses the Makgabeng Plateau, the Blouberg Mountains, and a variety of towns and cities surrounded by a host of reserves including the world-renowned Kruger National Park. Visitors flock to this province to discover the fossil-rich caves of Makapansgat, explore the archaeological site of Mapungubwe and enjoy an authentic safari experience.
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.
Located in the heart of the Kruger National Park, South Africa, Phalaborwa is a mining town that hosts thousands of visitors every year. The town has a plethora of sites and activities on offer. Popular choices include game drives which are available at different times of the day. Finding different cuisines in the town is no feat as an abundance of restaurants serves a full range of delicious dishes. From traditional African food to international specialties, every visitor's needs can be met. The town also serves as the perfect base for exploring the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park through the Giriyondo Border, as well as the Mozambican side of the Xai-Xai beaches.
Situated in South Africa’s beautiful Limpopo Province, the ancient city of Mapungubwe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the richest archaeological sites in Africa. Mapungubwe is said to have been the centre of the largest known kingdom on the African continent. In the 1930s, excavations in the now Vhembe-Dongola Transfrontier Park yielded a cemetery of 23 graves, some containing gold artefacts, including the ‘Gold Rhino’, considered by many to be the symbol of the African Renaissance. These artefacts confirmed that there had been trade between Southern Africa and East Africa, India, Egypt, Persia and China as early as 800 years ago.
Although located close to the Indian Ocean, northern Kruger experiences high levels of aridity because of the Limpopo high-pressure system. Covered in a blanket of shrub mopane, the low-lying northern Kruger area is dissected by the Olifants and Letaba rivers and other, smaller rivers that are more like large pools of water. The addition of reservoirs has allowed for the presence of hippos and water birds. These areas of water have created lush river corridors, adding to the ecological diversity of the area and attracting various animals and birds, including waterbuck, bushbuck, kudu, nyala, buffalo, lion, leopard, hyena and half of Kruger’s elephants.
Situated in the beautiful southern reaches of Africa, the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is a joint venture between South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park has united a number of game parks and reserves in these three countries to create a vast cross-boundary wildlife sanctuary. It is the first phase in a long-term plan to create a transfrontier conservation area measuring 100 000 square kilometres. It is home to vast stretches of pristine African bushveld dotted with an array of wildlife.
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Located in the northern province of Limpopo, the Soutpansberg, meaning ‘Salt Pan Mountain’ is South Africa’s most northern mountain range, which forms part of the UNESCO-designated Vhembe Biosphere Reserve. Known as the gateway to the neighbouring countries of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, the spectacular Soutpansberg mountain range stretches from east to west covering over 130 kilometres. These mountains boast a rich cultural heritage, diverse fauna and flora, and unspoilt wilderness featuring rugged peaks rising from the baobab-dotted plains. Take a guided tour to a nearby Venda village, explore the sacred valleys and lakes, and discover the ancient historical rock art of this beautiful area.
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Set at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and backed by the iconic Table Mountain, the bustling city of Cape Town presents an alluring combination of drawcards. Incredible powdery white beaches, highly acclaimed wine routes, and astonishingly beautiful mountain trails surround a cosmopolitan hub. This diverse metropolis is filled with superb shops and restaurants, extraordinary heritage monuments, a multitude of entertainment venues, and a spectacular, chic waterfront harbour. Highlights include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art; Table Mountain's jaw-dropping views; Boulders Beach, where penguins might swim right up to you in the warm Indian ocean waters; the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where you can walk along a treetop canopy among incredible native flora or watch an open-air concert at the base of the mountain; Robben Island, where visitors can see the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years; and many more.
The South African province of Gauteng - 'the place of gold' - is home to one of Africa's most vibrant cities and sub-Saharan Africa's economic capital Johannesburg, South Africa's capital Pretoria, vibrant Soweto, the Magaliesberg Mountains, and the World Heritage-listed Cradle of Humankind. While it is the smallest of South Africa’s provinces, it serves as the economic powerhouse of the country. Gauteng is known for its multicultural mix of people, eclectic heritage, and bustling jacaranda-lined cities fringed by scenic natural landscapes. Visitors can enjoy ample nature trailing and hiking opportunities, discover South Africa’s most famous township and explore the origins of humankind.
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Resting at the feet of the Boland Mountains in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, the Cape Winelands area is renowned for producing some of the world’s finest wines. The enthralling mountainous landscape boasts an impressive list of luxury wine farms, stretching across lush fertile valleys. Visitors can look forward to a variety of wonderful activities suited to all types of travellers. Explore a collection of historic little hamlets and towns dotting the countryside, sample a wide selection of world-class wine at historic Cape Dutch farmsteads and other wine estates; and make your way through a sublime network of hiking and biking trails. The culinary scene here is world-class and constantly improving; visitors who don’t drink alcohol will also enjoy discovering this destination as part of a ‘food tour’ - numerous superb restaurants are on offer.
Set just over an hour from Cape Town, within the inspiring landscapes of the Cape Winelands, Franschhoek is a heritage town and a world-renowned food and wine destination. Travellers could choose to focus their visit on any one aspect alone - nature, cuisine or culture - and find plenty to keep them busy. The estates here attract wine experts from around the globe with their Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cap Classique sparkling wine (among others). Five-star restaurants alongside the cellars are surrounded by the same jaw-dropping valley scenes that have brought artists and writers to the area for centuries. A superb literary festival takes place around May every year, and, combined with the town’s Cape Dutch manor houses, fascinating museums, and charming boutiques, makes Franschhoek a wonderful place to visit in winter. Summer provides endless hiking, cycling and other outdoor opportunities among the lush farmlands and mountains.
