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.
The Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park is the jewel in the crown of the KwaZulu Natal game reserves. 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 which is home to one-fifth of the world's black and white rhino population. 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. The Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park was the first reserve to introduce walking safaris and its Wilderness Trails are internationally renowned. Visitors can also look forward to spotting the world-renowned Big Five, wild dogs, cheetahs, giraffe, numerous antelope speices, as well as a wide variety of bird species.
Extending along the spectacularly scenic northern coast of KwaZulu Natal to the border of beautiful Mozambique, Zululand is known for its wild landscapes, traditional cultural heritage and an array of protected game and nature reserves. This breathtaking area features magnificent beaches, mangrove swamps, unspoilt estuaries, rivers, lakes and rolling grasslands scattered with indigenous forest and scrublands. Enjoy a visit to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, world-renowned for its rhino conservation; explore Ithala Game Reserve, inhabited by abundant wildlife and rare bird species; and spend a day at Shakaland, a film location that has been transformed into Zululand’s tourist epicentre featuring the best of the Zulu culture.
