GAME RESERVES, GAME VIEWING AND SAFARI - HIGHLIGHTS |
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Southern Africa is one of the most exciting destinations on the planet for game viewing. It is often the reason why tourists visit the region, usually with the intention of spotting the Big Five. Although it is the Kruger National Park that is the most well known, there are other reserves and parks alos stocked with Big Five, a wide variety of bird life and incredibly diverse flora. There are twenty national parks in South Africa alone, and some of these include the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Mapangubwe National Park, Richtersveld National Park, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, Karoo National Park and the Addo Elephant Park. Besides viewing big game in their natural environment, the game reserves and national parks of South Africa offer the tourist many fun-filled activities while having a relaxing and stress-free holiday. Many of the parks offer self-guided walks and hikes, which is a fabulous way to get aquainted with the divers bid life of the areas, while 4x4 trails - challenging and inspiring - offer a great opportunity to spot larger animals up close. A few of the parks even have golf courses, and swimming in the dams, lakes and rivers is always popular on a hot African day. By no means exhaustive, these highlights can help you plan your special trip to the southern tip of Africa. |
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Western Cape |
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| Cape Point, South Africa | Visit the tip of the Peninsula, Cape Point, and enjoy the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, with its spectacular walks and great game viewing and fascinating flora. | |
| Ostrich Farm, Oudtshoorn, Garden Route, South Africa | The world's first and finest Ostrich Show Farm, close to Oudtshoorn where one can enjoy a 2 hour tour including the breeding camp, ostrich riding and a visit to the curio shop. | |
| Hermanus, Garden Route, South Africa | Hermanus lies in the heart of the Cape Whale Route, and is one of the twelve best spots for whale watching in the world! Come watch the whales spyhopping, breaching and lobtailing in the bay. | |
KwaZulu-Natal |
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| St Lucia Wetlands, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | St Lucia wetlands have recently been declared a World Heritage Site and are home to five distinct ecosystems. It is a mecca for bird lovers, and there are more than 420 species to be seen! | |
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | One of South Africa's prime ecotourist destinations and a World Heritage Site, savour the great open spaces in a world of gigantic peaks and butresses, and a wealth of recreational opportunities. | |
| Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | One of the oldest game reserves in Africa, Zulu king Shaka hunted here and put in place the first conservation laws! See the Big Five and an immense diversity of flora and fauna in the park. | |
Mpumalanga |
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| Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa | Often regarded as the emblem of South African tourism, the Kruger National Park offers a stunning variety of flora and fauna, and is the ultimate wildlife experience for many tourists. | |
Neighbours and Further North |
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| Okavango Delta, Botswana | Okavango Delta, in the heart of the Kalahari, is Africa's largest, most beautiful oasis. Game viewing is unsurpassed – the delta is home to 400 bird species and a wide variety of wild animals. | |
| Etosha Pan, Namibia | The Etosha Pan is a massive dust and clay-filled pan, but after heavy rains it offers one of the best game viewing experiences in the world, as it attracts thousands of birds and animals. | |
| Accommodation | If you are looking for accommodation anywhere in South Africa, the all new AA Travel Guides homepage is a great place to start your search. They have real-time booking online and good information on most South African towns including Cape Town, the Garden Route, Knysna, George, Durban, Sun City, Sabi Sands, and the Kruger National Park, as well as covering accommodation in the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland. Click here |