Experience the wonders of South Africa on this captivating 19-day journey.
Embark on a thrilling 19-day journey through South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, filled with wildlife, culture, and scenic beauty.
Your adventure begins in Johannesburg, where your local guide will greet you upon arrival and escort you to the lively Emperor’s Palace. After a briefing on your South African stay, settle into your room and explore the complex before a relaxing dinner.
The next day, you journey through the rural heart of South Africa, passing villages and picturesque landscapes as you make your way to Dundee. In Dundee, visit two of South Africa’s most historic battlefields—Blood River and Rorkes Drift—where you’ll learn about the fierce struggles between Zulu warriors and European settlers. A picnic lunch and visit to the Talana Museum round out the day, providing a glimpse into the nation’s rich military and industrial history.
From Dundee, you’ll head to Zululand for a luxurious two-night stay at a game park. Enjoy your first African bush experience, sleeping in a raised tented chalet under the stars. After a free afternoon spent spotting wildlife from the observation deck, embark on an exciting evening game drive. The following day brings more game drives at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, home to Africa’s famous Big Five—lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, and leopards.
Crossing the border into Swaziland, you’ll explore the proud culture of this mountainous kingdom. Visit the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, home to a variety of wildlife, before an interactive visit to a local chief’s homestead. Participate in traditional activities and experience Swazi cuisine, followed by visits to craft markets and a candle factory.
Your tour continues into the Timbavati Kruger Concession, where you’ll stay at the Motswari Private Game Reserve. Over two days, indulge in morning and afternoon game drives, bush walks, and informative safari talks in a luxurious setting. You’ll also explore the stunning Panorama Route, visiting the Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes.
From Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain to the penguin colonies of Boulders Beach, and the serene winelands of Paarl and Stellenbosch, the tour concludes with unforgettable experiences in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls and Botswana’s Chobe National Park, where your African adventure culminates with an epic sunset cruise along the Chobe River.
Prepare for breathtaking landscapes, cultural immersion, and thrilling wildlife encounters on this once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Will you join us?
TOUR PRICING: A$17,599
TOUR DATES: 14TH AUG – 1ST SEP 2025
Peermont Metcourt, Emperors Palace
Escape to the Peermont Metcourt at Emperors Palace, and experience the contemporary convenience this 3-star gem has to offer. The hotel’s modern façade is complimented by a private pool terrace, set in a beautifully manicured garden. Guests can enjoy an early morning swim followed by breakfast at the F.L.A.G Café, or enjoy a sundowner at the 21 Degrees cocktail bar. Even business guests will feel at home with a boardroom and business centre available for their exclusive use.
The hotel offers 348 stylish and comfortable rooms and is the Peermont Metcourt is ideal for corporate, convention and leisure guests, as well as groups. The new 5 166 m² Peermont Metcourt annex includes the grand Capri Suite, comprising of a private lounge and dining area balcony overlooking the pool terrace, additional seating to the existing F.L.A.G. Café, an extra guest lift, a sky bar, a 24 hour gymnasium and enhanced access to the offerings of the entire Emperors Palace resort. In addition, the resort has also completed the façade cladding of the Peermont Metcourt Suites and Convention Centre to match the Romanesque surroundings of the remainder of the resort. The Standard Family Rooms also feature extra-length king-sized beds, draped in our signature soft white linens. With warm taupe and fresh teal colours boasting splashes of plum and pink to modernise the classical Roman idiom, guests can look forward to increased living space. The Deluxe Family Rooms offer the space of a family suite with a full bathroom and modern, yet private walk-in shower and bath with separate toilet. The spacious Superior Family Rooms introduce a dining area and casual seating, all enhanced by luxurious materials and the convenient Peermont amenities. A single suite, located on the North side of the hotel, allows guests to enjoy a private balcony with a separate lounge and bedroom area. Oozing elegance, the combination of large windows, sliding doors and beautiful fabrics ensures an opulent, yet affordable accommodation solution.
Battlefields Country Lodge
Battlefields Country Lodge & Sports Resort is very well positioned halfway between Durban & Johannesburg in the heartbeat of the well known historic Battlefields of KwaZulu Natal. Our beautiful lodge overlooks rolling hills, dams and the famous Talana hill with accommodation comprising of 70 air-conditioned, en-suite rooms surrounded by immaculate lawns, gardens & game. We are in close proximity to the famous battle sites: Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, Blood River monument and Talana Museum, rated as one of the best in South Africa.
Our vision is to be the first choice of those seeking first-class guest services, accommodation and experiences.
It is our belief that employees are an organization’s most important asset in attaining its vision. The Battlefields Country Lodge & Sports Resort has made a commitment to its employees to provide the best possible working conditions available. We all love our jobs and it shows in our service to you.
Falaza Game Park, Hluhluwe
Privately owned Falaza Game Park and Spa offers Luxury Tented accommodation and an array of authentic bush experiences in a lush indigenous setting.
A mere three hour scenic drive from Durban International Airport, just 100km from Richards Bay Airport, you can enjoy the true African experience and impeccable service offered by Falaza Game Park and Spa.
Neighbouring the World Heritage Site of St Lucia, Falaza is near the renowned Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve (boasting the African ‘Big Five’), the fascinating corals and dive sights of Sodwana Bay, with endless activities and excursion opportunities within a close radius.
Summerfields Resort & Botanical Garden
Nestled within an idyllic Botanical Garden enclave is the charming, elegant, warm and welcoming Summerfield Boutique Hotel. Stay in one of our supremely sumptuous Luxury Rooms, Executive Suites & Garden Villas.
Sophisticated and elegant fine dining await you at Summerfield with choices of venues offering unsurpassed excellence in gastronomic delights.
Embrace nature in this sanctuary of hushed repose & enjoy the effortless luxury and deep-cushion comfort of Summerfield’s unique “one-of-a-kind” hotel, garden paradise & leisure resort.
Graskop Hotel
The Graskop Hotel has been lovingly renovated and redecorated from the original “70’s style” hotel to become a quirky and interesting boutique art hotel offering luxurious accommodation in a homely and relaxing atmosphere.The hotel has a total of 37 en-suite bedrooms, 19 of the 22 upstairs bedrooms have been decorated by different contemporary South African artists. The 15 garden suites each have a patio overlooking the peaceful gardens. Unconventional art pieces are found around each corner.
The bedrooms are a mix of twin and double rooms and some family rooms.Breakfast is included and consists of a generous spread of cold dishes and hot dishes to order.Dinner is from a daily set menu and includes three courses of delicious home-style food.The hotel is perfectly situated on the well-known Panorama route of the Kruger-Lowveld area. The famous Blyde River Canyon is a 40min drive, God’s window is 7km away and the Phabeni gate to the Kruger National Park is 45 min away.The hotel is 1-hour drive away from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and 4,5-hour drive from Johannesburg.
Motswari Private Lodge
Motswari is a luxury family-owned lodge situated within the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Guests can experience bush trails with trained guides and spend evenings in the wilderness, eating authentic open-air boma meals.
The airy lodges at the Motswari Private Game Reserve feature thatched roofs, each equipped with air conditioning and unrivalled savannah views from large wooden decks.
They combine traditional décor with a designer touch and include a lounge and bathrooms with bathtub. The accommodation is relaxed and guests can benefit from an outdoor pool, a library and free Wi-Fi in public areas.
Commodore Hotel
There are many reasons why Cape Town is regularly selected as one of the top tourist destinations in the world for location, sight-seeing and dining. Experience everything special that Cape Town has to offer while staying in this stylish and elegant setting. Located in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, The Commodore Hotel provides sweeping views of Table Mountain, Cape Town Harbour and Robben Island.
With all of the services that you require, The Commodore is the perfect hotel, in the perfect city.
Ilala Lodge Zimbabwe
lala Lodge Hotel is a family-run hotel that offers luxury and comfort in the heart of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Nestled in attractive gardens, the well-appointed hotel is a mere eight-minute walk from Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Ilala Lodge Hotel is ideally located and it is very easy for guests to access all the historical sites, restaurants and activities available in Victoria Falls. The friendly and attentive staff of this welcoming hotel makes sure that your visit is perfect in every way.
The award-winning Cassia Restaurant at Ilala Lodge Hotel is famous for its delicious gourmet cuisine and attracts guests worldwide. Diners can see the spray and hear the sounds of Victoria Falls, locally known as the ‘Smoke That Thunders’, while they enjoy the al-fresco dining under the starry African skies that the Cassia Restaurant offers. Wild animals, such as warthog and impala, often graze on the hotel lawns and entertain guests during mealtime.
Located on the Zimbabwean side of the mighty Zambezi River, Ilala Lodge Hotel is geographically the closest hotel to the magnificent Victoria Falls and is easily accessible to the town centre. Explore the lush wilderness surrounding the town on a game drive, surf the rapids on a Zambezi River white-water rafting expedition, get your heart racing as you bungee jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge, or view the Falls from the exhilarating angle of Devil’s Pools on the edge of the plunging water. You can also enjoy a legendary Zimbabwean sunset from the comfort of the elegant Ra-Ikane river cruisers, part of the Ilala Lodge Hotel group.
Chobe Safari Lodge
Set along the scenic Chobe River and a 5-minute walk from the entrance of the picturesque Chobe National Park, this tropical, relaxed resort is 4 km from Kasane Airport.
Modern rooms offer flat-screen TVs, minibars, and tea and coffeemaking facilities, plus in-room safes, mosquito nets, free Wi-Fi and balconies. Upgraded rooms add river views. Family rooms are also available.
Amenities include 2 chic bars, and a palm-thatched, open-air restaurant with a terrace overlooking the river. There’s also an outdoor pool. Activities such as game drives, and boat and fishing trips are available.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
The Kruger National Park lies in the north-east of South Africa and runs along the border of Mozambique in the east, Zimbabwe in the north, and the southern border is the Crocodile River. The park covers 20,000 square kilometers and is divided in 14 different ecozones, each supporting different wildlife. It is one of the main attractions of South Africa and it is considered the flagship of South African National Parks (SANParks).
The park was established in 1898 by the South African President Paul Kruger as a protected area for wildlife and it opened its gates to the general public in 1927 for the first time. Currently, the park is run by the South African National Parks (SANP) and is probably the best managed African National Park. Wildlife conservation, education and tourism are the main objectives of the KNP. Effective measures to prevent poaching are in place and as a result of this cars are generally inspected upon entering and leaving the park.
The Kruger National Park has now been combined with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and the Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe into a new transfrontier park to be called The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, although border restrictions at crossings still apply, and border posts are not open all day.
CAPE TOWN
Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa and is the capital of the Western Cape Province, as well as being the legislative capital of South Africa (the Houses of Parliament are here). It is located in the south-west corner of the country near the Cape of Good Hope, and is the most southern city in Africa. It is a stone’s throw from South Africa’s world-famous Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek.
For tens of thousands of years, Cape Town was inhabited by the Khoe people known to the Dutch settlers as ‘Strandloper’; South Africa’s surviving Khoe people are related to southern Africa’s indigenous ‘Bushmen’, who the Khoe called ‘San’. Cape Town’s European history began in 1652, when Jan van Riebeeck established a trading post there on behalf of the VOC (Dutch East Indies Company). The first European settlers were mainly Dutch, with some French Huguenots that had to flee from religious persecution in their home country. The first settlers soon explored the adjacent hinterland and founded the cities of Stellenbosch and Paarl in today’s Cape Winelands. The Voortrekkers (Pioneers of European descent) started from here to explore and settle the rest of South Africa.
VICTORIA FALLS
Victoria Falls is a town in the western portion of Zimbabwe, across the border from Livingstone, Zambia, and near Botswana. The town lies immediately next to the falls. They are a major attraction, but this popular tourist destination offers both adventure seekers and sightseers plenty of opportunities for a longer stay.
During the Jurassic Period (150-200 million years ago), volcanic activity resulted in thick basalt deposits covering large parts of Southern Africa. As the lava cooled and solidified, cracks appeared in the hard basalt crust, which was filled with clay and lime. Erosion and the course of the mighty Zambezi River cut through these softer materials, forming the first of a series of waterfalls.
Over at least 2000 years, the falls have receded 8 km upstream, as the Zambezi carved its way through seven gorges. This geological history can be seen in the dark basalt in the series of rocky gorges below the falls. It is believed that the Devil’s Cataract, which is presently the lowest point of Victoria Falls, will eventually become the next gorge as the river continues to cut its way back upstream. Essentially, the river falls into a gorge directly in front of the falls and then flows through a narrow cutting. You can view the falls straight on from across the gorge.
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
The Chobe National Park is located in the north-west of Botswana, near the borders to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia and is famous for its vast variety of wildlife. It is the second biggest National Park in Botswana, covering an area of 10566 km². Chobe National Park was founded in 1967 which made it Botswana’s first national park (read more on Chobe National Park’s history).
Located in the northern Botswana, the Chobe National Park attracts thousands of visitors every year due to its fame as one of the largest game concentrations in the country. Not only this, but this wildlife sanctuary also boasts the largest elephant population in Africa both in number and size. Area wise, the Chobe national park is the most diverse and third largest park, but is the first national park in the country. Chobe has one of the greatest concentration of elephants of any national park in Africa. They are most visible during the dry season when they congregate around the water sources, especially the Chobe river. You can see 4 of the Big 5 in Chobe: elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo – but not (or very rarely) rhino. Chobe has a multitude of antelope including the rare sable.
The park has a distinct wet and dry season, the wet being from December until May. As with much of Africa the animals may migrate further from the permanent water sources during the wet, and therefore are easier to view during the dry season.
Experience the wonders of South Africa on this captivating 19-day journey.
Embark on a thrilling 19-day journey through South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, filled with wildlife, culture, and scenic beauty.
Your adventure begins in Johannesburg, where your local guide will greet you upon arrival and escort you to the lively Emperor’s Palace. After a briefing on your South African stay, settle into your room and explore the complex before a relaxing dinner.
The next day, you journey through the rural heart of South Africa, passing villages and picturesque landscapes as you make your way to Dundee. In Dundee, visit two of South Africa’s most historic battlefields—Blood River and Rorkes Drift—where you’ll learn about the fierce struggles between Zulu warriors and European settlers. A picnic lunch and visit to the Talana Museum round out the day, providing a glimpse into the nation’s rich military and industrial history.
From Dundee, you’ll head to Zululand for a luxurious two-night stay at a game park. Enjoy your first African bush experience, sleeping in a raised tented chalet under the stars. After a free afternoon spent spotting wildlife from the observation deck, embark on an exciting evening game drive. The following day brings more game drives at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, home to Africa’s famous Big Five—lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, and leopards.
Crossing the border into Swaziland, you’ll explore the proud culture of this mountainous kingdom. Visit the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, home to a variety of wildlife, before an interactive visit to a local chief’s homestead. Participate in traditional activities and experience Swazi cuisine, followed by visits to craft markets and a candle factory.
Your tour continues into the Timbavati Kruger Concession, where you’ll stay at the Motswari Private Game Reserve. Over two days, indulge in morning and afternoon game drives, bush walks, and informative safari talks in a luxurious setting. You’ll also explore the stunning Panorama Route, visiting the Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes.
From Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain to the penguin colonies of Boulders Beach, and the serene winelands of Paarl and Stellenbosch, the tour concludes with unforgettable experiences in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls and Botswana’s Chobe National Park, where your African adventure culminates with an epic sunset cruise along the Chobe River.
Prepare for breathtaking landscapes, cultural immersion, and thrilling wildlife encounters on this once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Will you join us?
TOUR PRICING: A$17,599
TOUR DATES: 14TH AUG – 1ST SEP 2025
Peermont Metcourt, Emperors Palace
Escape to the Peermont Metcourt at Emperors Palace, and experience the contemporary convenience this 3-star gem has to offer. The hotel’s modern façade is complimented by a private pool terrace, set in a beautifully manicured garden. Guests can enjoy an early morning swim followed by breakfast at the F.L.A.G Café, or enjoy a sundowner at the 21 Degrees cocktail bar. Even business guests will feel at home with a boardroom and business centre available for their exclusive use.
The hotel offers 348 stylish and comfortable rooms and is the Peermont Metcourt is ideal for corporate, convention and leisure guests, as well as groups. The new 5 166 m² Peermont Metcourt annex includes the grand Capri Suite, comprising of a private lounge and dining area balcony overlooking the pool terrace, additional seating to the existing F.L.A.G. Café, an extra guest lift, a sky bar, a 24 hour gymnasium and enhanced access to the offerings of the entire Emperors Palace resort. In addition, the resort has also completed the façade cladding of the Peermont Metcourt Suites and Convention Centre to match the Romanesque surroundings of the remainder of the resort. The Standard Family Rooms also feature extra-length king-sized beds, draped in our signature soft white linens. With warm taupe and fresh teal colours boasting splashes of plum and pink to modernise the classical Roman idiom, guests can look forward to increased living space. The Deluxe Family Rooms offer the space of a family suite with a full bathroom and modern, yet private walk-in shower and bath with separate toilet. The spacious Superior Family Rooms introduce a dining area and casual seating, all enhanced by luxurious materials and the convenient Peermont amenities. A single suite, located on the North side of the hotel, allows guests to enjoy a private balcony with a separate lounge and bedroom area. Oozing elegance, the combination of large windows, sliding doors and beautiful fabrics ensures an opulent, yet affordable accommodation solution.
Battlefields Country Lodge
Battlefields Country Lodge & Sports Resort is very well positioned halfway between Durban & Johannesburg in the heartbeat of the well known historic Battlefields of KwaZulu Natal. Our beautiful lodge overlooks rolling hills, dams and the famous Talana hill with accommodation comprising of 70 air-conditioned, en-suite rooms surrounded by immaculate lawns, gardens & game. We are in close proximity to the famous battle sites: Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, Blood River monument and Talana Museum, rated as one of the best in South Africa.
Our vision is to be the first choice of those seeking first-class guest services, accommodation and experiences.
It is our belief that employees are an organization’s most important asset in attaining its vision. The Battlefields Country Lodge & Sports Resort has made a commitment to its employees to provide the best possible working conditions available. We all love our jobs and it shows in our service to you.
Falaza Game Park, Hluhluwe
Privately owned Falaza Game Park and Spa offers Luxury Tented accommodation and an array of authentic bush experiences in a lush indigenous setting.
A mere three hour scenic drive from Durban International Airport, just 100km from Richards Bay Airport, you can enjoy the true African experience and impeccable service offered by Falaza Game Park and Spa.
Neighbouring the World Heritage Site of St Lucia, Falaza is near the renowned Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve (boasting the African ‘Big Five’), the fascinating corals and dive sights of Sodwana Bay, with endless activities and excursion opportunities within a close radius.
Summerfields Resort & Botanical Garden
Nestled within an idyllic Botanical Garden enclave is the charming, elegant, warm and welcoming Summerfield Boutique Hotel. Stay in one of our supremely sumptuous Luxury Rooms, Executive Suites & Garden Villas.
Sophisticated and elegant fine dining await you at Summerfield with choices of venues offering unsurpassed excellence in gastronomic delights.
Embrace nature in this sanctuary of hushed repose & enjoy the effortless luxury and deep-cushion comfort of Summerfield’s unique “one-of-a-kind” hotel, garden paradise & leisure resort.
Graskop Hotel
The Graskop Hotel has been lovingly renovated and redecorated from the original “70’s style” hotel to become a quirky and interesting boutique art hotel offering luxurious accommodation in a homely and relaxing atmosphere.The hotel has a total of 37 en-suite bedrooms, 19 of the 22 upstairs bedrooms have been decorated by different contemporary South African artists. The 15 garden suites each have a patio overlooking the peaceful gardens. Unconventional art pieces are found around each corner.
The bedrooms are a mix of twin and double rooms and some family rooms.Breakfast is included and consists of a generous spread of cold dishes and hot dishes to order.Dinner is from a daily set menu and includes three courses of delicious home-style food.The hotel is perfectly situated on the well-known Panorama route of the Kruger-Lowveld area. The famous Blyde River Canyon is a 40min drive, God’s window is 7km away and the Phabeni gate to the Kruger National Park is 45 min away.The hotel is 1-hour drive away from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and 4,5-hour drive from Johannesburg.
Motswari Private Lodge
Motswari is a luxury family-owned lodge situated within the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Guests can experience bush trails with trained guides and spend evenings in the wilderness, eating authentic open-air boma meals.
The airy lodges at the Motswari Private Game Reserve feature thatched roofs, each equipped with air conditioning and unrivalled savannah views from large wooden decks.
They combine traditional décor with a designer touch and include a lounge and bathrooms with bathtub. The accommodation is relaxed and guests can benefit from an outdoor pool, a library and free Wi-Fi in public areas.
Commodore Hotel
There are many reasons why Cape Town is regularly selected as one of the top tourist destinations in the world for location, sight-seeing and dining. Experience everything special that Cape Town has to offer while staying in this stylish and elegant setting. Located in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, The Commodore Hotel provides sweeping views of Table Mountain, Cape Town Harbour and Robben Island.
With all of the services that you require, The Commodore is the perfect hotel, in the perfect city.
Ilala Lodge Zimbabwe
lala Lodge Hotel is a family-run hotel that offers luxury and comfort in the heart of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Nestled in attractive gardens, the well-appointed hotel is a mere eight-minute walk from Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Ilala Lodge Hotel is ideally located and it is very easy for guests to access all the historical sites, restaurants and activities available in Victoria Falls. The friendly and attentive staff of this welcoming hotel makes sure that your visit is perfect in every way.
The award-winning Cassia Restaurant at Ilala Lodge Hotel is famous for its delicious gourmet cuisine and attracts guests worldwide. Diners can see the spray and hear the sounds of Victoria Falls, locally known as the ‘Smoke That Thunders’, while they enjoy the al-fresco dining under the starry African skies that the Cassia Restaurant offers. Wild animals, such as warthog and impala, often graze on the hotel lawns and entertain guests during mealtime.
Located on the Zimbabwean side of the mighty Zambezi River, Ilala Lodge Hotel is geographically the closest hotel to the magnificent Victoria Falls and is easily accessible to the town centre. Explore the lush wilderness surrounding the town on a game drive, surf the rapids on a Zambezi River white-water rafting expedition, get your heart racing as you bungee jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge, or view the Falls from the exhilarating angle of Devil’s Pools on the edge of the plunging water. You can also enjoy a legendary Zimbabwean sunset from the comfort of the elegant Ra-Ikane river cruisers, part of the Ilala Lodge Hotel group.
Chobe Safari Lodge
Set along the scenic Chobe River and a 5-minute walk from the entrance of the picturesque Chobe National Park, this tropical, relaxed resort is 4 km from Kasane Airport.
Modern rooms offer flat-screen TVs, minibars, and tea and coffeemaking facilities, plus in-room safes, mosquito nets, free Wi-Fi and balconies. Upgraded rooms add river views. Family rooms are also available.
Amenities include 2 chic bars, and a palm-thatched, open-air restaurant with a terrace overlooking the river. There’s also an outdoor pool. Activities such as game drives, and boat and fishing trips are available.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
The Kruger National Park lies in the north-east of South Africa and runs along the border of Mozambique in the east, Zimbabwe in the north, and the southern border is the Crocodile River. The park covers 20,000 square kilometers and is divided in 14 different ecozones, each supporting different wildlife. It is one of the main attractions of South Africa and it is considered the flagship of South African National Parks (SANParks).
The park was established in 1898 by the South African President Paul Kruger as a protected area for wildlife and it opened its gates to the general public in 1927 for the first time. Currently, the park is run by the South African National Parks (SANP) and is probably the best managed African National Park. Wildlife conservation, education and tourism are the main objectives of the KNP. Effective measures to prevent poaching are in place and as a result of this cars are generally inspected upon entering and leaving the park.
The Kruger National Park has now been combined with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and the Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe into a new transfrontier park to be called The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, although border restrictions at crossings still apply, and border posts are not open all day.
CAPE TOWN
Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa and is the capital of the Western Cape Province, as well as being the legislative capital of South Africa (the Houses of Parliament are here). It is located in the south-west corner of the country near the Cape of Good Hope, and is the most southern city in Africa. It is a stone’s throw from South Africa’s world-famous Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek.
For tens of thousands of years, Cape Town was inhabited by the Khoe people known to the Dutch settlers as ‘Strandloper’; South Africa’s surviving Khoe people are related to southern Africa’s indigenous ‘Bushmen’, who the Khoe called ‘San’. Cape Town’s European history began in 1652, when Jan van Riebeeck established a trading post there on behalf of the VOC (Dutch East Indies Company). The first European settlers were mainly Dutch, with some French Huguenots that had to flee from religious persecution in their home country. The first settlers soon explored the adjacent hinterland and founded the cities of Stellenbosch and Paarl in today’s Cape Winelands. The Voortrekkers (Pioneers of European descent) started from here to explore and settle the rest of South Africa.
VICTORIA FALLS
Victoria Falls is a town in the western portion of Zimbabwe, across the border from Livingstone, Zambia, and near Botswana. The town lies immediately next to the falls. They are a major attraction, but this popular tourist destination offers both adventure seekers and sightseers plenty of opportunities for a longer stay.
During the Jurassic Period (150-200 million years ago), volcanic activity resulted in thick basalt deposits covering large parts of Southern Africa. As the lava cooled and solidified, cracks appeared in the hard basalt crust, which was filled with clay and lime. Erosion and the course of the mighty Zambezi River cut through these softer materials, forming the first of a series of waterfalls.
Over at least 2000 years, the falls have receded 8 km upstream, as the Zambezi carved its way through seven gorges. This geological history can be seen in the dark basalt in the series of rocky gorges below the falls. It is believed that the Devil’s Cataract, which is presently the lowest point of Victoria Falls, will eventually become the next gorge as the river continues to cut its way back upstream. Essentially, the river falls into a gorge directly in front of the falls and then flows through a narrow cutting. You can view the falls straight on from across the gorge.
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
The Chobe National Park is located in the north-west of Botswana, near the borders to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia and is famous for its vast variety of wildlife. It is the second biggest National Park in Botswana, covering an area of 10566 km². Chobe National Park was founded in 1967 which made it Botswana’s first national park (read more on Chobe National Park’s history).
Located in the northern Botswana, the Chobe National Park attracts thousands of visitors every year due to its fame as one of the largest game concentrations in the country. Not only this, but this wildlife sanctuary also boasts the largest elephant population in Africa both in number and size. Area wise, the Chobe national park is the most diverse and third largest park, but is the first national park in the country. Chobe has one of the greatest concentration of elephants of any national park in Africa. They are most visible during the dry season when they congregate around the water sources, especially the Chobe river. You can see 4 of the Big 5 in Chobe: elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo – but not (or very rarely) rhino. Chobe has a multitude of antelope including the rare sable.
The park has a distinct wet and dry season, the wet being from December until May. As with much of Africa the animals may migrate further from the permanent water sources during the wet, and therefore are easier to view during the dry season.
