SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is one of Africa’s great wildlife destinations. Vast Kruger National Park has an abundance of animals and is one of the continent's iconic attractions. For outdoor adventure, the Blyde River Canyon is the third largest on the planet, and jagged peaks of the Drakensberg mountains punch into the sky. Cape Town hums with an urban beat, and is fringed by white sandy beaches.

Rates (USD) $166 to $686 pp/day
Best Time to Go All parks: May to September, Cape Town: November to March
High Season October to March (Crowded during school holidays)
Size 1,221,037km² / 471,445mi²

Pros & Cons

• Excellent and easily accessible wildlife viewing
• Self-drive, package or custom safaris for any budget
• A wide variety of habitats and scenery
• Excellent service and a well-run tourist industry
• Good infrastructure and shops
• Less wilderness appeal and fenced parks
• Popular parks can get crowded
• High crime rate in cities

Wildlife
All the Big Five, as well as other large animals such as the giraffe, hippo and many antelope species, are easily spotted in South Africa’s extensive network of parks. This list includes the white rhino, although its black relative is much harder to track down. A common sight in the west of the country is the Cape mountain zebra, while the leopard is particularly conspicuous in Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

Wildlife Highlights
Cape Mountain zebra is endemic to South Africa and can be seen in Mountain Zebra National Park. The rare black wildebeest, another endemic to the country, thrives in the Karoo reserves, and some dry-country specials can be seen in the Kalahari habitat. These include meerkat, gemsbok, springbok and bat-eared fox.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
South Africa can be visited any time of the year, but wildlife viewing is best in the Dry season (May-September). The end of the Dry season (August-September) is especially rewarding as water is scarce and animals can be found near waterholes. The middle of the Dry season (June- August) is mid-winter when early morning and afternoon drives in open vehicles can be very cold.

POPULAR ATTRACTIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

• Hluhluwe-iMfolozi GR
• Kgalagadi TP
• Kruger NP
• MalaMala GR
• Phinda GR
• Sabi Sands