Resting at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean, sandwiched between the slopes of the iconic Table Mountain and the glistening sapphire waters of Table Bay, the exceptionally scenic city of Cape Town is in a class of its own. Some cities boast rich culture, vibrant nightlife, a cosmopolitan atmosphere and extraordinary architecture, while others boast breathtaking landscapes and extraordinary natural wonders. Cape Town is lucky enough to be blessed with all of these attractions and so much more. With its bustling harbour, world-class beaches, top-notch vineyards, and its mountainous surroundings brimming with diverse flora and fauna, Cape Town consistently captivates the hearts of all who visit.
Literally meaning ‘over the mountain’ in Dutch, the Overberg region extends from the Hottentots Holland Mountains, east of Cape Town, to the start of the Garden Route near the historic town of George. It serves as the perfect base to explore the spectacularly scenic landscapes which are characterised by fertile farmlands, a series of mountain ranges, tremendous plant diversity including the uniquely South African fynbos and a rocky coastline that makes it a haven for outdoor adventures. Visitors can enjoy a wide selection of activities such as: 4x4 trails, kayaking, swimming, horse riding, sunset cruises, wine tasting, and whale watching. Popular attractions include: Agulhas National Park on Africa’s southernmost tip; the rich birdlife at Bontebok National Park and the seaside town of Hermanus, a whale watching mecca.
Set on the spectacular Garden Route of South Africa, along the Indian Ocean coastline, Wilderness is a gorgeous little town famous for its enthralling, jungly nature reserve and beautiful beach lagoon. The town is wedged between the Kaaimans River, Goukamma Nature Reserve, and the Outeniqua Mountains - providing a huge variety of landscapes to explore. The Wilderness National Park is a Ramsar site (wetlands of international importance), home to numerous exquisite birds and animals, including the legendary, brightly coloured Knysna Lourie, as well as some fascinating archaeological sites. Visitors can enjoy whale and dolphin spotting at Dolphin Point, and can look forward to plenty of opportunities for hiking, watersports, abseiling, kloofing, paragliding, hang-gliding, quad biking, canoeing, horse riding, and cycling. A collection of charming shops, restaurants, and art galleries complete the package.
Set in the enchanting Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, the Addo Elephant National Park is the country’s third largest national park and offers a truly unforgettable safari experience. This finely-tuned ecosystem provides a sanctuary to large numbers of elephant, lion, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopard, antelope, zebra and over 400 bird species. This unique park is the world’s only park with the ‘Big 7’ - the Big 5 plus the southern right whale and great white shark off the coast of the Algoa Bay. Spend your days marvelling at the free-roaming wildlife, enjoy exhilarating 4x4 safari adventures, exciting horse riding excursions, and wonderful night drives where you are likely to spot some fascinating nocturnal wildlife. Famed for its large herds of elephant, Addo provides an ideal, tranquil retreat for those looking to escape the stresses of big city living.
The majestic Bankberg Mountains hug the rolling plains of Mount Zebra National Park in the heart of the Karoo just outside Cradock in South Africa's Eastern Cape. Commonly regarded as one of the country's most scenic national parks, this beautiful mountain wilderness conserves one of the world's most endangered species, the Cape mountain zebra. It is also home to cheetah, lion, buffalo, bat-eared fox, eland, aardwolf, aardvark, gemsbok and caracal, as well as birdlife such as the eastern clapper lark, blue korhaan, blue crane, spotted eagle owl and fiery-necked nightjar. Explore the park's magnificent scenery on a guided walk or drive along the many trails and marvel at the fascinating paintings and rock etchings by the San people, the indigenous people of South Africa.
Serving as the commercial and cultural centre of the Free State, as well as South Africa’s judicial capital, Bloemfontein is affectionately known among locals as the ‘City of Roses’. The name Bloemfontein translates to ‘Flower Fountain', so this is no surprise. This compact city is surrounded by sprawling suburbs and provides an excellent stopover for visitors en route to Cape Town from Johannesburg. This friendly, peaceful and clean environment lies at the heart of South Africa where the country’s main road, rail and air links meet. Visitors can soak up city views from the towering Naval Hill, explore numerous art galleries and museums, and stroll through the city’s beautiful botanical garden.
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 which 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; hike along a network of short nature trails and spot a variety of game. Commonly spotted wildlife includes black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, oribi, springbok and zebra, and rare birds such as the bearded vulture and bald ibis, which breed on the ledges in the sandstone cliffs.
Johannesburg is one of Africa’s biggest and most vibrant cities. It is the economic capital of Africa and the gateway to Southern Africa. Although not as famous as other South African destinations, there is plenty to do in Johannesburg and nearby Pretoria. The old city is a multi-cultural mixture of traditional medicine shops, Chinese restaurants, taxi ranks and ultra modern skyscrapers. There are excellent museums, art galleries and organised tours of historical and political interest. The shopping is Southern Africa’s best and the many restaurants cater for all tastes. The nearby township of Soweto is Johannesburg’s most popular tourist attraction.
Located in Gauteng, South Africa, Dinokeng Game Reserve is home to the famous Big 5. The Dinokeng Game Reserve is the first free-roaming Big 5 game reserve in Gauteng. It is situated just 30 minutes drive from Pretoria and covers 18 500 hectares. The establishment offers a range of accommodation options for visitors wanting to stay and extend this amazing experience. Apart from the Big 5, visitors can also spot cheetahs, brown hyenas and a wide variety of antelopes, zebras and giraffes. Visitors can enjoy activities such as: day and night-time game drives, sunset cruises, guided walks and fishing. Don’t miss the opportunity to take a hot air balloon ride and experience the wonder of the bushveld while viewing game from a bird’s eye view.
Located in the northern province of Limpopo, the Soutpansberg, meaning ‘Salt Pan Mountain’ is South Africa’s most northern mountain range, which forms part of the UNESCO-designated Vhembe Biosphere Reserve. Known as the gateway to the neighbouring countries of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, the spectacular Soutpansberg mountain range stretches from east to west covering over 130 kilometres. These mountains boast a rich cultural heritage, diverse fauna and flora, and unspoilt wilderness featuring rugged peaks rising from the baobab-dotted plains. Take a guided tour to a nearby Venda village, explore the sacred valleys and lakes, and discover the ancient historical rock art of this beautiful area.
Situated in South Africa’s beautiful Limpopo Province, the ancient city of Mapungubwe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the richest archaeological sites in Africa. Mapungubwe is said to have been the centre of the largest known kingdom on the African continent. In the 1930s, excavations in the now Vhembe-Dongola Transfrontier Park yielded a cemetery of 23 graves, some containing gold artefacts, including the ‘Gold Rhino’, considered by many to be the symbol of the African Renaissance. These artefacts confirmed that there had been trade between Southern Africa and East Africa, India, Egypt, Persia and China as early as 800 years ago.
Although located close to the Indian Ocean, northern Kruger experiences high levels of aridity because of the Limpopo high-pressure system. Covered in a blanket of shrub mopane, the low-lying northern Kruger area is dissected by the Olifants and Letaba rivers and other, smaller rivers that are more like large pools of water. The addition of reservoirs has allowed for the presence of hippos and water birds. These areas of water have created lush river corridors, adding to the ecological diversity of the area and attracting various animals and birds, including waterbuck, bushbuck, kudu, nyala, buffalo, lion, leopard, hyena and half of Kruger’s elephants.
This remarkable 42 000 hectare area of pristine wilderness, located just North of Phalaborwa, shares an unfenced border with the renowned Kruger National Park allowing its impressive variety of African wildlife to roam freely through this vast expanse of African bush. The park boasts not only the Big Five but also a large number of crocodiles and hippos who find sanctuary in the cool waters of the great Letaba River running through the park. This mighty river boasts not only lush galleries of forest thick with sycamore figs, tambotis and sausage trees but also regular sightings of the elusive leopard. With its excellent accommodation, exhilarating night drives and its remarkable abundance of wildlife in a spectacularly scenic environment, Letaba Ranch Provincial Park makes for an ideal safari destination.
Perched on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment, the little forestry town of Graskop, meaning ‘Grassy Hill’ is set in the heart of Mpumulanga’s Panorama Tourist Route in northern South Africa. Once a gold mining camp, today it serves as a thriving tourist stopover and base from which to explore the countless natural wonders in the surrounding area. Highlights include: the famous Kruger National Park, the world-renowned Blyde River Canyon, Pilgrims Rest, the unique formations of Bourkes Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels. Some spectacular waterfalls to view are: Mac Mac Falls, Motitsi Waterfall, Lisbon Falls and the Berlyn Falls. Other popular activities include: descending into the Graskop Gorge on the Graskop Gorge Lift and enjoying a delicious pancake at the ‘Pancake capital of South Africa’.
