Bordering Botswana in South Africa’s North West Province, Madikwe Game Reserve is the fifth-largest reserve in the country and is home to a great number of animal species. It contains a wild dog reserve, and is inhabited by the world-renowned Big Five, as well as Brown Hyenas, Cheetahs, and Aardwolf. Visitors will also be surrounded by over 300 bird species, including vulture, ostrich, and the large kori bustard. The landscape is characterised by vast grasslands, woodlands, and the rugged Tshwene Tshwene hills - creating enthralling scenes that often attract photographers and artists. Visitors can look forward to sunset drinks overlooking the Madikwe Dam. Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the only reserves in South Africa that is malaria free.
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.
Located along the well-known Route 62 in South Africa’s beautiful Klein Karoo, the charming town of Oudtshoorn is known as the ostrich capital of the world. It is surrounded by numerous ostrich farms and the golden arid landscape of the Karoo. Visitors can enjoy the locally produced wine and port; sample ostrich meat and biltong; learn about the ostrich feather boom at the C.P. Nel Museum; and visit the world-renowned Cango Caves, the largest cave system in Africa featuring ancient rock formations and sparkling stalactites and stalagmites. Other popular activities include: mountain biking, paragliding, horse riding, and taking a day trip to the quaint town of Prince Albert over the scenic Swartberg Pass.
Sandwiched between the towering Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean, Knysna is a large town often referred to as the ‘Garden of Eden’, surrounded by stunning bays perfect for sailing, boating, and swimming; picturesque beaches and lagoons; and world-renowned forests. This well-catered town is also a perfect base for safari expeditions at nearby parks such as Knysna Elephant Park, and close-up animal experiences at centres such as Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre, Birds of Eden, and Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary. From here, enjoy ample opportunities for surfing, swimming, yachting, jet-skiing, boating, fishing, and golfing. Visitors can also look forward to an array of wonderful markets, a picturesque waterfront filled with superb restaurants and shops, and several fantastic art galleries. Make sure to take a ferry trip to the famed Knysna Heads and sample the local oysters.
Just an hour west of Gqebertha on the gorgeous sunshine coast, St Francis Bay is a picturesque holiday village known for its amazing surfing opportunities and pristine white-sand beach. An extensive network of human-made canals built between black and white houses allows for sunset picnic cruises straight from your doorstep. Visitors can enjoy a variety of water activities along the canals and in the ocean such as swimming, waterskiing, tubing, boating, and fishing. Take a day trip to the nearby village of Cape St Francis to see the photogenic Seal Point Lighthouse and visit the wonderful penguin rehabilitation facility. Nature lovers can explore trails at Boskloof Nature Reserve, known for its prolific birdlife; Irma Booysen Nature Reserve, filled with endemic fynbos species; and Romazini Valley, home to Cape Clawless Otter and Spotted Eagle Owl.
Located in South Africa’s beautiful Eastern Cape Province, Kariega Private Game Reserve lies in the upper reaches of the beautiful Kariega River Valley. Stretching for over 10 000 hectares, the landscape of the reserve features impressive vistas of forest, savannah grasslands scattered with abundant wildlife and encompassing two rivers: the Kariega and the Bushmans rivers. Visitors can spot the Big Five as well as a variety of other animals including giraffe, eland, zebra, wildebeest and an array of bird species; paddle a kayak, jump on a game drive or a river cruise for a close encounter with the reserve’s plentiful wildlife.
