Sharing an unfenced border with the world-renowned Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Nature Reserve is one of Africa’s most prestigious safari destinations and was the first private game reserve established in South Africa. Spanning 65,000 hectares of pristine wilderness, the reserve encompasses rolling savannah, Lowveld woodlands, seasonal riverbeds, watering holes and the perennial Sabi and Sand rivers. Renowned for its exceptional wildlife viewing, Sabi Sand offers some of the best opportunities in Africa to encounter the Big Five, particularly its famous leopard population, as well as cheetah, giraffe, zebra and numerous antelope species. Visitors can enjoy unforgettable game drives, guided bush walks and magical evenings beneath star-filled skies. Combined with some of South Africa’s most luxurious safari lodges, Sabi Sand delivers an unrivalled blend of wilderness, exclusivity and world-class hospitality.
Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya—“The Smoke That Thunders”—Victoria Falls is one of the world’s great natural landmarks. Straddling the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it forms a vast curtain of water that fills the air with mist and sound. The Zimbabwean side grants the most dramatic views, where mist rises like ghostly curtains and rainbows arc through the spray. Measuring about 1,708 metres across, it is regarded as the largest single continuous sheet of falling water on Earth. The adjacent town of Victoria Falls provides a convenient base for exploring the region, with a wide range of activities from scenic flights and microlight trips to white-water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, and safaris into Chobe National Park.
The Chobe River forms the northern boundary of Chobe National Park and is one of southern Africa’s most rewarding wildlife riverfronts, especially in the dry season when animals concentrate along its banks. Elephant herds gather in large numbers at the water’s edge, hippos crowd the channels, and buffalo move regularly through the floodplain grasslands, while lions range through the wider system and may hunt buffalo in the surrounding landscape. The river also supports exceptional birdlife across reeds, sandbanks, and woodland edges, and visitors typically explore it through guided game drives on designated park tracks as well as boat safaris that bring them level with elephants and hippos along the shoreline.
The Khwai area of the Okavango lies along the northern boundary of the Moremi Game Reserve. Khwai Community Area has unfenced boundaries allowing wildlife to move freely between the woodlands in the wet season when water is plentiful and back to permanent rivers and lagoons in the dry season. The Khwai area offers the same wildlife experience as the Moremi Game Reserve with the added advantage of being a private concession, which means the ability to do walking safaris and night drives. Don't miss the opportunity to soak up beautiful views of the scenic landscape and spot an array of wildlife.
The small town of Xhumaga is situated in north-central Botswana and rests on the western bank of the Boteti River, flanking the Makgadikgadi National Park. This photographer’s wonderland presents visitors with striking scenes of vast open plains, dramatic Acacia tree silhouettes and wandering herds of wildlife. The Makgadikgadi National Park, which encompasses the largest saltpan in the world, provides a home for antelope, zebra and wildebeest, and stone-age tools and artefacts dot the landscape. At the Nxai Pan, nature enthusiasts can spot unusual species such as hartebeest, bat-eared fox, brown hyena, and cheetah. A rich culture flourishes here, and the town is happy to welcome visitors to their way of life. Make sure to try some of the region’s traditional dishes such as mopane worms, lamb, meat stew (seswaa) and maize porridge (pap), as well as the sweet, tasty watermelon (lerotse) grown here.
Situated in Botswana's Kalahari region, along the northeastern boundary of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Deception Valley Private Reserve derives its name from a remarkable optical illusion. The phenomenon is centred around a pan with the area, a visual trickery that renders the dry, blue-clay pan as water, creating a captivating spectacle, particularly noticeable from the air. Home to a diverse array of wildlife, including large herds of greater kudu, red hartebeest, springbok, and eland, as well as predators like caracal, Cape fox, lions, and cheetahs. Morning and afternoon game drives offer opportunities to observe lions, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, giraffes, elephants, and more. Night safaris reveal nocturnal species such as porcupines, honey badgers, spotted genets, and springhares. A rich abundance of birdlife complements the stunning landscape of golden grass, rolling mounds, and sculpted trees.
