About Southern Africa
A&K Southern Africa
More Africa
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the gateway to Southern Africa and offers first world infrastructure, hotels and a variety of world-class restaurants. Today Johannesburg is one of the South Africa's largest city and the world's youngest major cities. Soweto is an increasingly popular destination for travelers from around the world. The Apartheid Museum is a worthwhile stop for any traveler wanting to learn more about South Africa's previous regime. In 2004 the Constitutional Court was opened in the former infamous prison - The Fort.
Enjoy the buildings of the gold rush era and the sights from a top the Carlton Centre (Africa's tallest building).The Market Theatre precinct, Museum of Africa and Newtown (New Town) , Sterkfontein Cavesm, Hector Peterson Memorial, Cradle of Humankind and the Nelson Mandela Bridge are particularly vibrant sectors of the city centre. By day, a walk around Newtown will give you a taste for the wide range of traditions and cultures the city plays host to. Travelers can also visit a gold mine or the Lesedi Cultural Village for traditional dances and food in authentic Zulu, Sotho, Pedi, Xhosa and Ndebele villages.
Cape Town
The Cape Province is renowned for cosmopolitan Cape Town and the world famous landmark Table Mountain, its vast Cape Winelands and the most exquisite coastline. With its magnificent natural beauty, its rich cultural heritage and its world-renowned wines - the Winelands Region is synonymous with all the best that the Cape has to offer. Experience the hospitality and beauty of Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek and Robertson in the Breede River Valley. Also worth a visit is the World Heritage Site of Robben Island, and the Cape of Good Hope on a Peninsula Tour.
Kruger National Park
Known as Big Game Country, the world-renowned Kruger National Park has several luxurious private reserves within and on its borders. With breathtaking scenery, affordable and luxury accommodation and lodging, rich biodiversity and amazing wildlife encounters. Indulge in luxury and comfort in private reserves adjoining Kruger Park. Imagine open air dining or traditional cuisine under an African sky, superior personalised service, sensational game viewing and the adventure of a South African safari. The Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve Timbavati Private Game Reserve, Thornybush Private Game Reserve. Kapama Private Game Reserve are the ideal places to experience your incredible African safari.
Garden Route
The Garden Route is one of the most scenic areas and stretches for two hundred miles from Heidelberg in the West to the mouth of the Storms River in the East. Certainly, anyone who has explored the Garden Route soon comes to understand why it is considered by many to be South Africa’s “Garden of Eden”. When travelling along the scenic roads, relax and enjoy the drive, stopping off at popular spots such as George, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Nature’s Valley, Storms River and the Tsitsikamma National Park.
Mountains crowd close to a shoreline dotted with beaches and bays, and vividly coloured wild flowers delight the eye. Between Heidelberg and Storms River, the Garden Route runs parallel to a coastline featuring lakes, mountains, tall indigenous forests, amber -coloured rivers and golden beaches. Meandering trails are followed by hikers, the forests invite long, leisurely drives, and the lakes and rivers lend themselves to swimming boating and fishing. A wide range of leisure options, spectacular scenery and a mild climate guarantee an unforgettable holiday experience when visiting the Garden Route.
KwaZulu Natal
Washed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, KwaZulu-Natal, with its subtropical coastline, sweeping savannah in the east and magnificent Drakensberg mountain range in the west, generously caters for just about every taste imaginable. Known as the Kingdom of the Zulu, KwaZulu-Natal is a melting pot of African, European and Indian culture. KwaZulu-Natal boasts two World Heritage Sites – the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park and the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park. From the incredibly diverse natural habitats of the St Lucia Wetlands to the big game parks of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Itala, Mkuze and the Tembe Elephant Park, visitors are in for an absolute treat.
Botswana
Botswana is a landlocked country, dominated by the Kalahari Desert, but it is more famous for its spectacular inland Okavango Delta. Botswana offers travellers truly amazing and diverse safari experiences in pristine environments. Explore fascinating deserts, wetlands, savannahs, the delta and wildlife-packed game reserves in one of the wildest regions in Africa. Botswana is often referred to as 'Africa's success story'. Since its independence in 1966, it has continued to grow and develop economically.
The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world. Instead of flowing into the sea, the annual flood of freshwater flows inland, creating a maze of lagoons and channels. In the centre of the Okavango Delta is the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, a 3,000 square km paradise. Moremi is a place of lily-covered wetlands, grass plains and forests, where even at the busiest time of year you are likely to be the only spectator at the most dramatic animal sightings.
The Chobe River originates in the highlands of Angola and eventually flows to the mighty Zambezi River. It dominates the northeast of Botswana, drawing huge numbers of game to drink and has possibly the highest density of elephants in Africa residing in Chobe National Park.
Zambia
Zambia offers travellers a real challenge, but that is a large part of the country’s attraction. Zambia has some of the greatest natural scenery on the continent - a gently undulating plateau of forests, savannah and marshland, studded with lakes and rivers. Zambia also boasts world-class wildlife parks such as the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, the Lower Zambezi National Park, and the South Luangwa National Park. Situated along the upper Zambezi stretching from Victoria Falls, 12km up the Zambezi River, is the magnificent Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. This intimate park offers relaxing drives along the river, where a variety of species may be viewed. The Lower Zambezi was for many years a forgotten wilderness, lying along the northern banks of the Zambezi River opposite the Mana Pools area. Nestling at the tail end of the Great Rift Valley, in the Luangwa Valley, the wild and remote. South Luangwa offers a superb safari. With over 100 species of mammals and over 420 species of birds as well as various reptiles, insects, amphibians and plants, a safari in South Luangwa emulates traditional African adventures in one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is very conservation conscious and as a result more than 13% of the land has been allocated for national parks, allowing for a great variety of wildlife sanctuaries. The diversity of its landscape runs from the great Zimbabwe Ruins outside Masvingo, the oldest town in Zimbabwe, to Bulawayo, originally the royal kraal of the legendary Ndebele kings where the very wide streets were designed to allow a full span of oxen to turn.
Victoria Falls, the tourist capital of Zimbabwe, is one of the world's greatest natural wonders. Declared a World Heritage Site, The Falls are steeped in legends, romance and myth. Long before the Scottish missionary and explorer, Dr David Livingston, ‘discovered’ The Falls on November 16, 1855, the local Batonga people had named them Mosi-Oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders.
The Zambezi National Park is situated along the banks of the river, and you might spot elephant, waterbuck or buffalo, not forgetting the hippo and birdlife along the banks of the river. Hwange National Park is the largest and probably the most popular national park in the country. With a land area of more than 14,000km², the park boasts over a hundred species of animal and over 400 species of bird. Hwange is also one of the few great elephant sanctuaries left in Africa.
.
Namibia
Namibia is a land of contrasts - arid, rough land,wind-whipped coasts and kilometres of orange-red dune fields. Namibia is the least known of the Southern African countries, but her attractions are unparalleled. From the spectacular red dunes of the Namib Desert, with its unique fauna and flora, to the wild Skeleton Coast and game rich Etosha National Park, Namibia is a photographer's paradise. Safaris in Namibia offer a rich cultural and wildlife experience for any visitor to the country.
Damaraland is part of the Kunene region and is one of the most interesting and dramatic regions in the country. It includes fascinating geological features and some of the most extensive galleries of rock paintings and engravings in the world. The area is predominantly populated by the Damara who together with the Bushmen are the oldest inhabitants of Namibia. Dense fog, mighty storms and violent surf caused many ships to run aground the Skeleton Coast, the world's largest ship graveyard. The area includes the Etosha National Park, one of the greatest wildlife parks in Africa. Depending on rain, the pan is either dry or filled with shallow water, which then attracts thousands of wading birds, including flamingos, to the glistening pools. The park is home to the 'Big Five' and is definitely not to be missed. Located in the Namibia Naukluft Park, Sossuvlei is the largest conservation area in Africa, and the fourth largest in the world, boasting immense rich ochre coloured sand dunes in the heart of the Namib Desert..
Mozambique
With endless beaches, World Heritage sites, colonial architecture and colourful local culture, Mozambique is a fascinating place to visit. Mozambique Island, in the north, is steeped in history and culture reflecting indigenous African culture and architecture, combined with Arab and Portuguese influences.The Ibo islands and the city of Pemba in the north of the country are also very popular tourist attractions. The southern coast is renowned for its beaches. The peaceful Bazaruto and Benguerra islands lie off the coast from Vilanculos while in the far north is the exclusive Quirimbas Archipelago with islands such as Quilalea, Ibo, Matemo and Vamizi off the mainland from Pemba.
