Sample Rovos Rail African Golf Collage

A safari is nearly always an important part of a holiday in Southern Africa - words cannot describe the thrill of tracking a leopard on the hunt or observing a breeding herd of elephants at a waterhole. Covering nearly 2 million hectares, the Kruger Park is one of the largest national parks in the world, with the greatest diversity of species with 147 mammals and 510 birds. One of the finest nature reserves in Africa, the Kruger is a vast wilderness of thorn trees, prolific game and sub-tropical heat. It is home not only to The Big Seven - elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, cheetah and wild dog, but also to an abundance of smaller, equally fascinating animals and birdlife.

Within the National Park there are a number of private concessions and safari lodges, as well as the simpler Park board restcamps.

Officially known as the ‘Kingdom of eSwatini’ and still referred to as Swaziland, this tiny landlocked nation boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage and is Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy. Swaziland encompasses a diverse array of ecosystems featuring towering mountains and low-lying savannah, tangled rainforests and lush river valleys. Highlights of this laid-back land include the mesmerizingly beautiful ‘Valley of Heaven’, the handicraft haven of the Malkerns Valley and the Hlane Royal National Park, famed for its white rhinos, antelopes and lions. Visitors can look forward to excellent wildlife watching, rafting, mountain biking, and hiking along a network of scenic trails which traverse spectacular mountainous landscapes.

The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is the best known of several game parks in Zululand. Proclaimed in 1895, it is also the oldest game reserve in Africa. Initially two separate reserves, they were joined to create a single 94 000 hectare reserve, home to one fifth of the world's black and white rhino population. In fact Hluhluwe-Umfolozi is best known for its successful fight to save the white, or square-lipped rhino from extinction. In 1929 only 150 white rhino could be found, and extinction seemed certain. It was here that the internationally acclaimed Operation Rhino started in the 1960s, successfully capturing and relocating white rhino to havens within South Africa and abroad. Today Hluhluwe-Umfolozi is focusing its efforts on saving the endangered black rhino, whose number in Africa dwindled from 14 000 to a pitiful few hundred.

But the forest and grass covered hills and river plains also support a wide variety of game. The white rhino shares the park with buffalo, elephant, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, warthog, lion, hyena, leopard, cheetah and jackal.

Game viewing is either by self-guided rental car, by open top game vehicle with the park rangers or on foot. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve was the first reserve to introduce walking safaris and its Wilderness Trails are internationally renowned.

An exotic mix of people from Africa, India and Europe has shaped the history and culture of Durban. This has resulted in a distinctive cuisine and cultural diversity.

It is a vibrant city and major harbour overlooking a sublime stretch of the Indian Ocean. Visit the lush botanical gardens and enticing Indian spice markets. Enjoy the attractions of the Beachfront and the uShaka waterfront development with its world class oceanarium, restaurants and boutiques.

The swimming and surfing is rated the best of any world city. The water is warm year round because of its sub-tropical climate.

Named after the jagged teeth of the mythical beast, the 'berg', as it is affectionally known, offers everything. Its ideal for nature lovers. Walking options range from serious hiking to gentle rambles beside crystal streams and through wooded glades. Other delights are its ancient San rock paintings at Giants Castle and Kamberg, the 4x4 ascent to the top of Sani Pass in the rugged Kingdom of Lesotho (which can be accessed only from the Southern Drakensberg), the world-class Drakensberg Boys Choir and the arts and craft studios along the Champagne Valley.

Much of the Drakensberg is protected as a National Park, the northern part offers an imposing wall of rock that rises 3000 metres. It is known to the Zulus as the Barrier of Spears and to the first European settlers as the Dragon's Mountains, the Drakensberg is a UNESCO World Heritage sites, for the heritage of the San Paintings and its natural beauty.

Nearby the gentle beauty of the Natal Midlands in the foothills also offers unusual craft studios, art galleries, herb farms and charming country pubs, as well as the Mandela Capture site which is now home to a small museum.

Resting in the rolling foothills of the majestic Maluti Mountains of the northern Free State, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park derives its name from the shimmering shades of gold that are cast by the sun on the park's sandstone cliffs. These highlands are some of the last protected highland areas in the country. Visitors can soak up spectacular views from Ribbokkop, the highest point in the Golden Gate Park; explore a network of short nature trails, and spot a variety of animals. Commonly spotted wildlife includes black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, oribi, springbok, and zebra, as well as rare birds such as the bearded vulture and bald ibis, which breed on the ledges in the sandstone cliffs.

"Mangawung", the Tswana name for Bloemfontein, means "place of the cheetahs" - a reminder of the wilderness, which existed before farmers tamed the highveld plains where the city stands today. For a long time, it remained a tranquil agricultural settlement, but in recent years, Bloemfontein has developed into a prosperous commercial and industrial city - the capital of the Free State and the judicial capital of South Africa. Bloemfontein is affectionately known among locals as the “City of Roses”. This friendly, peaceful and clean environment lies at the heart of South Africa where the country’s main road, rail and air links meet.

Addo Elephant Park is one of the notable conservation success stories of South Africa. It is now one of the foremost malaria-free game parks in the country, only 1 hours’ drive from Port Elizabeth.

The Addo elephant was saved from near extinction in the early 20th century when the elephants were nearly all shot to protect the crops of new frontier farmers. In the space of one year 120 elephants were shot until only 15 remained. In the face of a national and international outcry, the hunt was called off and later the elephants' survival was assured when the area was proclaimed a National Park in 1931.

Now Addo has one of the densest elephant populations in Africa. The Addo Elephant Park offers excellent close-up elephant encounters as well as black rhino, lion, Cape buffalo, antelope, not forgetting the endangered flightless dung beetle! The now sizeable elephant herds are partly due to the unique Addo Valley bushveld. The dominant plant is the pink flowered Spekboom which is a favourite food for elephants.

The Addo Elephant Park has been enlarged in recent years to become the third largest National Park in South Africa, conserving a wide diversity of biodiversity, landscapes, fauna and flora. It now includes the Zuurberg Mountains to the north (30 mins drive) and the Bushmans River to the south. You choose between staying at one of the lovely country lodges adjacent to the park which offer their own game drives, or one of the private concessions within the park.

Other activities include horse trails, elephant back safaris, guided hiking and mountain biking all in the Zuurberg mountains as well as guided canoeing down the Sundays River.

Knysna is an attractive bustling resort town in the heart of the Garden Route surrounded by the glorious Knysna lagoon and backed by an expansive indigenous forest of yellowwoods. The central location of Knysna makes it a good base to visit all parts of the Garden Route (though we also recommend two bases if you have time).

It is a charming town full of restaurants, interesting boutiques and arts & craft galleries. The beautiful Knysna lagoon and nearby beaches of Brenton and Noetzie allow you to swim, surf, canoe, sail and walk.

Drive up to The Heads, the sandstone buttressed cliffs at the mouth of Knysna lagoon for stunning ocean views. Take a boat cruise to Featherbed Nature Reserve or a catamaran cruise through the famous Knysna Heads. You may be able to see whales and dolphins in season. Explore the indigenous Knysna forest with its walking trails & old goldrush village ruins.

Both Knysna Quays waterfront & Thesen Island are attractive places to relax with restaurants, boutiques & lovely lagoon views. More leisurely options might be a picnic on the beach beneath the delightful castles of Noetzie or a gentle forest ramble in the indigenous rainforest. From Knysna, it’s easy to also visit Plettenberg Bay, the Tsitsikamma or Wilderness for the day.

The Little Karoo is an arid, rugged region reached via the spectacular mountain passes over the Outeniqua Mountains. Rolling countryside, majestic mountain passes and much drier (and hotter) conditions makes for a distinct contrast with the nearby Garden Route.

You can sample the excellent wines of the area over lunch at a working ostrich farm or visit the Cango Caves, a labyrinthine complex of some of the largest limestone caverns in the world. The intrepid will be captivated by the wild beauty of the Swartberg Pass to the charming arty town of Prince Albert and the mysterious hidden valley of Die Hel. Whilst children and the young at heart will adore seeing the big cats at the Cango Wildlife Ranch, learning about ostriches, and cringing at the crocodile and snake farm.

Oudtshoorn is known as the Ostrich Capital of the World: these huge birds are almost as common as people in this charming town.