Located on South Africa’s Highveld plateau, Johannesburg is a fast-paced, creative city shaped by gold-rush history, cultural diversity and constant reinvention. Its atmosphere is energetic and urban, with contemporary galleries, rooftop bars and leafy suburbs existing alongside powerful reminders of the country’s past. Visitors can explore the Apartheid Museum, tour Soweto’s historic streets or browse vibrant markets and design spaces in neighbourhoods such as Maboneng. The city’s soundtrack shifts from lively jazz and amapiano beats to the hum of busy streets, while the scent of grilled street food drifts through open-air cafés and market stalls. Johannesburg rewards travellers who engage with its complexity and culture, though its size, traffic and contrasts mean it is best experienced with some planning and local insight.
The southern area of South Africa’s most famous game reserve, Kruger National Park, is separated from lush farmland by the Crocodile River, a popular area for spotting crocodiles, playful hippos and thirsty wildlife gathering along the banks. This region, known as the ‘Southern Circle’, is renowned for its excellent game viewing and high concentrations of rhinos and lions, with different prides displaying fascinating hunting techniques and behaviours. Near the Hippo Pool, visitors can also discover ancient San rock paintings that offer insight into the area’s rich cultural heritage. The Southern Kruger features magnificent landscapes of African bushveld and open savannah, dotted with acacia trees and seasonal waterholes attracting diverse wildlife. Popular activities include guided game drives, birdwatching and photography, making this one of the park’s most rewarding safari regions.
Situated in the heart of Kruger National Park, Central Kruger is a renowned safari region characterised by open savannah, rolling grasslands and the Olifants River, whose waters attract an abundance of wildlife. The area's nutrient-rich plains support large herds of buffalo, zebra and blue wildebeest, making it one of the park's best locations for spotting predators such as lions, cheetahs and leopards, alongside elephants and white rhinos. Visitors can enjoy self-drive safaris and guided game drives through this diverse landscape, where exceptional wildlife viewing and classic bushveld scenery combine to create an authentic South African safari experience.
As previously described
Located in the Limpopo province of South Africa, the Klein Letaba River joins the Groot Letaba River on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, where it forms the Letaba River and flows through the width of the world-renowned park. The banks of the Klein Letaba River are brimming with a remarkable variety of African wildlife, including elephant, buffalo, zebra, impala and giraffe. One of the area’s highlights includes what is possibly the largest and most stable breeding herd of elephant in the Kruger National Park, which finds its stomping ground at the confluence of the Klein Letaba and the little Byashishi rivers.
The South African province of Gauteng – 'the place of gold' – is home to one of Africa's most vibrant cities, Johannesburg, South Africa's administrative capital, Pretoria, the renowned township of Soweto, the Magaliesberg Mountains and the World Heritage-listed Cradle of Humankind. Johannesburg is also anchored by Sandton, widely regarded as Africa’s richest square mile and a major financial and business district that reinforces the city’s role as the continent’s economic hub. While it is the smallest of South Africa's provinces, it serves as the country's economic powerhouse. Gauteng is known for its multicultural population, diverse heritage, and jacaranda-lined cities, which contrast with the surrounding grasslands, nature reserves, and mountain landscapes. Visitors can enjoy walking and hiking trails, discover South Africa's best-known township and explore one of the world's most significant centres of human ancestry.
