South Africa
South Africa is a big favourite when it comes to African safari destinations, and for good reason. Several, actually. Accessibility, exclusivity, top-end hospitality and extraordinary biodiversity...to name a few. You can expect an unparalleled safari experience conducted by some of Africa's most highly trained and professional guides at just a short 45 minute flight from Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport. You will be looked after, wined and dined, treated as a family member and exposed to some of the finest game viewing in Africa. Another of South Africa's most noteworthy attractions, Cape Town, is also very easily accessible by air or road. The 'Mother City' is the ultimate blend of stunning coastline, mountainous panoramas, vibrant city life and cultural richness. Fine wine and dining, surfing, whale watching, hiking, horse riding, shark diving and fly fishing are just a few of Cape Town's very long list of activities. And then there's all the places in between, the Drakensberg, the Karoo, the Kalahari, Madikwe, the Garden Route... South Africa truly is the best combination of safari, culture, cuisine, history and adventure the continent has to offer.
A few of our favourite places in South Africa...
Cape Town
The Mother City
The oldest and most beautiful city in South Africa, Cape Town is a melting pot of culture, language, history and scenery. Nestled between majestic mountains and stunning beaches, located near the end of the world, Cape Town is a destination that should not be left off anyone’s South African itinerary. It has something for everyone; a vibrant nightlife, fine dining cuisine, whale watching, surfing, snorkelling, free diving the mysterious kelp forest, hiking and horse riding, to name a few. The province also boasts some of the most acclaimed vineyards in the world, and it would be rude to not sip a Pinotage or two during wine-tasting experiences.Historic tours bring this city’s fascinating past to life as experienced local guides interpret everything from the days of the very first explorer, Bartolomeu Dias, and his landing on Capetonian shores, to the slave trade, apartheid and Mandela’s time on Robben island, to the present day. Spending time in Cape Town will take you on a truly intellectual, exhilarating, culinary and fascinating journey to one of the world’s most interesting places, home to some of Africa’s finest hospitality.
Kalahari
A Semi-Desert Paradise
Derived from the Tswana word kgala meaning ‘the great thirst’ or kgalagadi meaning ‘a waterless place’, the Kalahari could be mistaken as a place one should avoid in their travels. Yet in this mythical place, sizing almost 900 000 km² lies a solace of peace and quiet that only a desert or semi-arid savannah can provide. A place where wind can blow dust for hundreds of kilometres before it settles. Where life springs from the sand in every direction. Elephants, cheetahs, brown hyenas and the famed Kalahari black-maned lions are amongst the creatures that will surprise you around each thicket or behind each dune. The Kalahari is also a stronghold for populations of meerkats, aardwolves, pangolins and aardvarks, making it the go-to destination in Africa to witness these rare and wonderful creatures. There’s room for everyone in the vastness of this place: the safari-goers, the explorers, the adventure seekers and those who just want to feel the silent energy of the Kalahari, those who want to feel the desert wind on their skin and stare into an endless starry sky.
Sabi Sands
Where ‘Leopards Fall Out of Every Tree’
There are few places on the continent that are as synonymous with Africa’s flagship species and luxury as the Sabi Sands. Named after two rivers, the Sand River and the Sabie river, that converge in the area lying along the southwestern boundary of Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sands Wildtuin is home to what is considered the densest lion and leopard population in Africa. The Sabi Sands is also considered the birthplace of eco-tourism in South Africa, where the wildlife has become accustomed to the sight of safari jeeps and will wander past, unperturbed by guests’ presence, only a few feet from game-viewing vehicles. The Sabis Sands offer leisurely activities in some of Africa’s most luxurious and renowned lodges. It is a place where lions and buffalo interact in a chaotic dance, where sightings of leopards on a prowl are a daily occurrence, and where wild dogs thrive. There is without doubt no better place to see the ‘big five’ than in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin.
Makuleke
Kruger's Hidden Secret
A place renowned for offering some of the most highly rated walking safaris in Africa – and for good reason. Professional trail guides with a long-standing connection to the area lead you on interpretive experiences like no other. Feel the fever tree forest in all its glory, be dwarfed by groves of baobabs or stroll through avenues of jackal-berry trees, riddled with baboons, elephants, buffalo and more. But this is not all. The Makuleke is dotted with historical sites of immense relevance, not only to South Africa but to Africa as a whole. Ancient Zimbabwean civilisations can be traced to uncovered citadels in the area, signs of Phoenician traders are engraved in the rock gorges, dark memories of the ivory trade era and South Africa’s war for independence all stain the ground with old relics and foundations. Today it all adds to the intellectual, spiritual, biodiverse place that is the beautiful Makuleke.
Madikwe
Where Sunsets Burn with Red Dust
Madikwe sits at the crossroads of wildlife viewing, luxury accommodation and value for money. Bordering the Kalahari in northern South Africa, its habitat is rugged yet beautiful. Red dust is kicked into the sky and as the powerful rays of sunlight filter through, they ignite the plethora of wildlife that traverse the reserve to and from its water sources. A ‘big seven’ destination means that amongst this unique landscape one can regularly find leopard, lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo, wild dog and cheetah. What was originally farmland is now a conservation miracle and teeming with abundant wildlife – the perfect destination for those wanting a safari with a purpose. Madikwe is a place where one doesn’t simply view the animals of Africa in all their glory, but also witness, first hand, how ‘man’ can rejuvenate previously depleted lands into true wilderness.
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"an Africa like no other"
“South Africa was a life-changing experience for us. We had seen a lot of Africa before ut Andrew showed us an Africa like no other” – Brian Gibson
