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.
Situated in the southern reaches of Africa, Botswana is renowned for its pristine wilderness areas characterised by deep lagoons, wetlands, lush palms, rugged hills and desert plains. The country’s primary tourist drawcard is undoubtedly the vast red expanse of the Kalahari Desert and its remarkably beautiful Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world. These natural wonders provide a tranquil haven for an abundance of African wildlife to thrive. Other highlights include the impressive Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, where visitors are privy to massive zebra migrations during the flood season; the Savuti plains, which host a significant pride of lions; and the Tsodilo Hills, where 4500 rock paintings form a unique record of human settlement over many millennia.
Set in the enthralling Okavango Delta, the Duba Plains Private Reserve is one of the best places to start exploring Botswana's wild areas. The landscape is characterised by vast plains dotted with fig, ebony, and garcinia trees and traversed by a network of pristine waterways. Visitors can look forward to leisurely boating excursions along the tranquil rivers of the Delta, thrilling game drives, and mystical night drives in the African bush to spot a wealth of nocturnal wildlife. Commonly spotted species include hippo, blue wildebeest, hyena, giraffe, elephant, lechwe, buffalo, tsessebe, and warthog. Visitors can spot up to 200 species of birds, take horse riding safaris through the untouched grasslands, and enjoy a glass of wine under the African night sky.
Situated in northern Botswana, the Selinda Reserve is a 130 000 hectare private wildlife reserve. Sandwiched between the beautiful Savute Channel, the awe-inspiring Chobe National Park, and the sensational Okavango Delta, this sanctuary is well off the beaten track and offers visitors an exclusive wildlife viewing experience. The varied landscape hosts a wide variety of species across diverse habitats, including rare roan and sable antelopes, endangered African wild dogs, lions, cheetahs, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and large elephant herds, as well as numerous bird species, including the mighty African fish eagle. Take a night drive to see nocturnal species at their best. Visitors can look forward to wonderful canoe safaris, guided bush walks, and 4X4 game drives.
