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.
Stretching along South Africa’s northern KwaZulu-Natal coast, iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a place where land, lake and ocean converge in spectacular harmony. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it shelters hippos lazing in reed-fringed estuaries, flamingos sweeping across mirror-like lagoons, and leatherback turtles nesting on golden beaches. Travellers can cruise the St Lucia Estuary among crocodiles, snorkel over coral reefs at Cape Vidal, or drive through coastal forests alive with zebra and rhino. The park’s name means “miracle” in Zulu, an apt reflection of its rare beauty and diversity. With every rustle of papyrus and shimmer of turquoise water, iSimangaliso stirs the senses and offers an unforgettable journey through one of Africa’s most extraordinary natural sanctuaries.
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 visiting a traditional Zulu village, enjoying a horse riding safari, and spotting the world-renowned Big Five as well as a wide variety of bird species.
