KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Kruger is the name you associate with safari in South Africa. The largest national park in the country, it is located to the far north–east, covering territory in both Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.
While you can self-drive the public roads as a budget option, the experience offered by safari lodges cannot be compared. The best lodges border their private reserves in Kruger National Park so the specialist rangers and spotters can go off-road on their own land. In Kruger you are restricted to what you can see from the road. The best perk of private reserves is in the name – you experience the sightings in privacy.

SABI SANDS

Sabi Sands is the oldest private reserve in the country and it is the largest conservation region in South Africa thanks to a link to the Limpopo Transfrontier Park. The environment is managed according to best practice with community involvement and anti-poaching patrols.
Sabi Sands is also renowned for its sightings of the elusive leopard. It is home to some of the most exclusive safari lodges in South Africa. The lodges are never ostentatious, mind you, and they aim to integrate nature into the design. Londolozi’s Tree Camp puts you at leopard height in canopy-top bungalows with private swimming pools and contemplation decks.

MADIKWE

This private reserve is the place to be for wild dog sightings, with three packs marauding the plains of Madikwe. These endangered animals are rare but if you see one, you see many, making for an enthralling sighting. Madikwe is not as well-known as those previously listed and yet it is the fifth largest game reserve in the country, covering 75,000 hectares. It is a malaria-free zone, with the land bordering Botswana. Today the reserve sustains 66 mammal species and 300 bird species. Madikwe Game Reserve caters perfectly for families and couples.

PILANESBERG

Acknowledged as the most accessible national park in South Africa and the most frequented, Pilanesberg is three hours drive from Johannesburg. Sandwiched between wet lowveld terrain and the arid Kalahari, you will find the big five and over 360 bird species. The park is smaller than others but this means the concentration of wildlife is higher, offering better sighting opportunities. The landscape is striking as it is the site of a volcano crater and there are unobtrusive photographic hides scattered throughout the park for guests devoted to securing a perfect shot.

HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI PARK

The oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa lies within the heart of Zululand, a comfortable two hour drive north of Durban. It covers 96000 hectares of wilderness and rolling hills with a rich diversity of fauna and flora. This area was once a royal hunting ground for the Zulu kingdom but was established as a park in 1895, primarily to protect the white rhinoceros. Why not join one of the famed wilderness trails – and adventure that brings you up close to the wildlife; or for the less intrepid traveller, the park offers a network of self-drive routes to experience at your own pace.

LAKE JOZINI

A truly unique experience awaits you in northern KwaZulu Natal, the first houseboats in South Africa on Lake Jozini, the only water in South Africa where you will find the ferocious Tiger fish. Soak up the amazing scenery of the Lebombo Mountains and superb wildlife of Pongola Game Reserve from the vantage point of the houseboat. A typical route covering 3 days starts from Jozini Tiger Lodge going to Hippo Bay followed by Nkwazi Bay and then back to Tiger Lodge. The game reserve surrounding Lake Jozini is teeming with wildlife; enjoy the calm serenity of cruising the waters or the thrill of tiger fishing and sit back, relax and take time out to appreciate some of Africa’s special wonders.

ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK

A diverse conservation park close to Port Elizabeth, established to save and provide a sanctuary for Elephants, is the third largest in South Africa and offers a range of game viewing activities to both day and overnight visitors. This park has expanded to include the Woody Cape Nature Reserve which includes St. Croix Island and Bird Island and is the only park in South Africa that offers the ‘big 7’ – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard and now the southern right whale and great white shark.

If it is elephants you want to see, then Addo National Park should be on your itinerary.

MAURITIUS

A popular Indian Ocean island that can be visited any time of the year, it enjoys a tropical climate with clear warm sea waters and is the perfect destination for couples and families alike. Most visitors choose package-tour holidays and it is often an extension to a safari in Africa. Mauritius is well known for its palm fringed white sandy beaches and lagoons that are protected from the open sea by the world’s third largest coral reef. Some of the popular activities include water sports such as sailing, fishing, diving, snorkelling and water-skiing; or search the nooks and crannies of the open-air flea markets for great bargains and souvenirs. Or simply just relax and soak up the warm African sun.

SEYCHELLES

Considered one of the most romantic destinations in the world, the islands of the Seychelles stretch across nearly one million square kilometres of the Indian Ocean east of Kenya. Pristine beaches and private islands are where dreams of a tropical paradise become a reality in the Seychelles. Primarily enjoyed as a luxury destination and a popular honeymoon destination, there is a drive to develop budget tourism options so come and soak up the sun on silver sands and dive among some of the most pristine coral reefs in the world.

ZANZIBAR

Located off the east coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar, also known as the ‘Spice Islands’, evokes images of an exotic paradise with white palm fringed beaches and turquoise coves. Today’s idyllic beach resorts belie the island’s haunting history of slavery, and Zanzibar combines Arabic alleyways and historic monuments with coral reefs and excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities. It remains an irresistible attraction for those seeking a heavenly beach holiday.

MOZAMBIQUE

A true paradise with a 2500 kilometre coastline and sun drenched islands glittering in the warm azure waters of the Indian Ocean, Mozambique is a picture-perfect getaway. The clear blue waters are teeming with sea life making Mozambique one of the best places in the world for scuba diving and snorkelling. It is one of the best-value travel destinations in the world and is perfect for tourists seeking adventure as well as pure and simple relaxation. The Bazaruto Archipelago is a small group of islands situated about 30 Kilometres off the Mozambique coast with Bazaruto Island being the largest of the archipelago followed by Benguerra Island which lies less than a kilometre south of Bazaruto. Both boast stunning beaches, large sand dunes and freshwater lakes. These islands are accessible by boat or plane from Vilanculos and are geared towards luxury tourism.