Regional Focus
On safari in Southern Africa, there will undoubtedly be a host of wonders to see. Each day offers a new peek into a colorful fabric of culture, history, spectacular landscapes and extraordinary wildlife. For the ultimate Southern Africa experience, any combination of these locations is guaranteed to please.
1. Private Wildlife Reserves – Greater Kruger Park, South Africa
The best-known wildlife area of South Africa, Kruger features some of the densest populations of large mammals — lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, zebra, giraffe and more — and many of its finest private wildlife reserves, such as Sabi Sand.
2. Apartheid Museum – Johannesburg, South Africa
If you have a day in Johannesburg, this powerful museum is well worth a visit. The modern, multimedia facility tells the story of the system of racial injustice that systematically segregated South Africa for 46 years.
3. Victoria Falls – Zambia or Zimbabwe
One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls is the largest sheet of falling water on the planet, spanning more than a mile above the Zambezi Gorge. View it from both the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides of this natural border — our Safari Specialists can determine the best location for your time of year.
4. Savuti Channel – Linyanti Reserve, Botswana
Dry for three decades and flowing again since 2008, the unpredictable Savuti Channel is an important water source for resident wildlife. The region is home to migrating zebra that are stalked by lion, leopard and cheetah, and large concentrations of elephant. It is also a wild dog haven and magnificent birding area.
5. Okavango Delta – Botswana
This large inland delta sustains life in an otherwise arid desert, the Kalahari. The delta’s waters provide nourishing habitat to a variety of antelope, predators such as big cats, wild dog and smaller carnivores, as well as Africa’s giants — elephant, giraffe, eland, buffalo and more.
6. Cape Peninsula – Cape Town, South Africa
Stretching from Table Mountain to the Cape of Good Hope at its southern tip, the Cape Peninsula provides a stunning experience of coastal mountain scenery and marine wildlife such as the African penguin, Cape fur seal, dolphins, and seasonal whales and sharks.
7. Franschhoek – Cape Winelands, South Africa
A scenic 45-minute drive from Cape Town, Franschhoek (Afrikaans for “French corner”) is a scenic valley best known for its wine, food and chocolate, but worth visiting for its beautiful landscapes and charming architecture above all.
Can’t choose? See all of these areas on the 13-day Epic South Africa & Botswana safari with a Cape Town extension, or choose the 21-day Ultimate Southern Africa safari.
Images © Caroline Culbert, Wilderness Safaris, Delaire Graff
You may also like
- Lewa Becomes UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Namibia: Where the Wild Things Roam
- Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
- South Africa: Land of Diversity
- Borana Conservancy's Rhino Relocation
- Southern Africa's Best Walking Safaris
- The Big Five, Big Seven and Beyond!
- Wild Southern Tanzania
- Top Five Places to Spot a Cheetah
- Meet the Sabi Sand's 'Big Five'
- Five Amazing Cape Town Experiences
- Kenya's Northern Frontier District
- Five Ways to Experience Botswana
- Serengeti's Great Migration
- Ballooning over Busanga Plains
- Africa's Hot Spots to Visit in 2017
- Top Three African Air Safaris
- Six Essential East Africa Experiences