Southern Africa’s incredible diversity makes people come back time and again. The wildlife viewing is world-class, but it’s the landscapes forming the backdrop of your trip that really set the region apart. Among southern Africa’s top attractions is Victoria Falls, the world’s largest waterfall. Cape Town offers the perfect mix of cool urban vibe and natural beauty. Maloti-Drakensberg Park is a wild, pure and astonishingly scenic setting for walks and hikes. Below are 10 of the top places to visit in southern Africa.
Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s largest game reserves. At 19,485km²/7,523mi², it’s the size of a small country such as Wales. So it’s not surprising that the variety of wildlife is amongst Africa’s best. Aside from the sought-after Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino), lots of other creatures, both great and small, inhabit this vast ecosystem. You’ll be amazed by the number of species you’ll be able to check off. However, more important than the quantity of wildlife sightings is the quality. At Kruger, patient visitors are regularly rewarded with something special. It might be a mother cheetah teaching her cubs to hunt. Or two majestic kudu bulls fighting. Or it could be social interaction between the spotted hyenas that often den in roadside drainage lines.
The Okavango Delta, one of the world’s largest inland water systems, is a maze of lagoons, channels and floating islands surrounded by the Kalahari Desert. This vast permanent oasis attracts large numbers of animals. Elephant, buffalo and lots of antelope thrive here, and predators are never far off. Moremi Game Reserve offers excellent wildlife viewing on land, but I love to explore the channels by mokoro (dugout canoe). The silent, slow movement through the water is almost hypnotic. The low-level vantage point makes for some great photo opportunities such as a hippo yawning or a delicate jacana walking on water lilies.
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