The Bazaruto Archipelago is water-sport heaven and most resorts offer free equipment for non-motorised activities such as snorkelling, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. Book at the lodge for activities like scuba diving, seahorse safaris and sailing dhows at sunset.
Set where the woodlands of Zambia begin to merge into the grasslands of East Africa, this extraordinary oasis of water and wildlife has become not just the place to find the legendary Shoebill Stork but also somewhere to appreciate the natural bounty created by seasonal water.
Everything seems a bit bigger on South Africa’s Whale Coast. Towering mountains provide the backdrop to the ocean vastness under an arching blue sky. And there, breaking the water, a giant whale’s tail slaps the surface, the noise of impact rolling over you like canon fire.
They say you can see two thousand stars with the naked eye on a clear night. And when you look up the heavens on one of Botswana’s inky dark evenings, you’ll probably agree. But the most obvious question is: how does one sleep out under the stars in Botswana and not get eaten?
A labyrinthine landscape of wetlands, woodlands, rivers and grasslands, the Linyanti is sandwiched between the Chobe National Park and Namibia’s Caprivi Strip. It’s far from any town, without any tarred roads and all movement in and out of Linyanti is by light aeroplane.
Traveling with kids is always an adventure—but taking a 9-year-old to Zimbabwe? That’s a whole new level of unforgettable. When we first started planning our trip, we were excited, nervous, and full of questions. Would it be safe? Would there be enough to keep a child entertained?
You could say there are two sides to African safari travel. On the one hand, the famous places – the Kruger Park, the Serengeti, the Masai Mara, Victoria Falls; you know them, you may have travelled to them. And on the other hand, the destinations you may have heard of, or perhaps not at all…
South Africa’s Winelands lie in the valleys of the Western Cape’s magnificent mountains and are as diverse in character as the wines they offer. Climate, altitude and proximity to the ocean all play a part in producing not just fine wines but excellent food too.
With all the travel advisories these days – don’t go here, be careful there – there’s one warning you never get: African Safaris May Be Addictive. Travel on an African safari for the first time and it might well be that you become hopelessly, irreversibly, even gladly, addicted to the continent.
Close to Cape Town, Hermanus is famous for its whale watching but that’s just the start of that this town has to offer. Bring hiking boots, a camera, binoculars and a taste for fine food and wine. Got children? Even better: I hope they like penguins. Let’s see what Hermanus has to offer.
This small national park is somewhat hard to define when compared to the country’s other safari destinations such as Hwange and Mana Pools. Striking a balance between a safari & a hiking/biking destination, Matobo is also one of the best places for a rhino encounter…
Rising in central Africa, the Zambezi is home to or near several of the continent’s most iconic destinations – Victoria Falls, Chobe River, Lake Kariba – and offers the fullest range of safari activities: drives, walks, flights, river cruises – plus white-water rafting and canoe adventures.
The big thing about a Chobe River Safari is that it’s one of the most seasonally-affected destinations in Botswana. Rain is the most important factor, or more precisely, the lack of it. But peak season brings other aspects to the experience – not all advantageous to the traveller.
Set in an exclusive-use wildlife concession, Shinde Footsteps sits under forest trees next to a hippo-filled lagoon: it couldn’t be more Okavango Delta if it tried. And the camp’s position in a private reserve gives it advantages over a similar location in a national park…
Family safaris to Africa are becoming more and more popular because they are becoming easier and easier to do. Now you can explore the wildest places from the comfort of a camp that has been designed for families and one of the best places to experience this is Botswana’s Okavango.
Cape Town’s best nature and wildlife tours are easy to do on a self-drive holiday. But if you want to go birding at the best spot in town, or you’d like explore low-tide rock pools and learn about the plants that cover the mountains then you’re going to need a specialist guide.
There are different regions to Etosha National Park – its famous pan is only a quarter of its area – and these regions each have a character. You’ll need to decide about your accommodation: private lodges, state-run safari camps or camping facilities. Oh, and there’s a rainy season too.
Well, if you are planning a safari in Africa and want to combine it with a beach holiday then you no longer need fly all the way to the Seychelles – it’s lying on the Mozambique mainland. Set on a tropical peninsula, Coral Lodge lies on pristine beaches surrounded by the balmy Indian Ocean.
Of all the natural wonders that lie in wait for visitors at Victoria Falls, surely a lunar rainbow is the least expected. By the light of the monthly full moon, the misty spray of the waterfall reveals an arc of light, as surely as sunshine produces a rainbow on rainy days.
Safari guide training is gaining popularity as an alternative to a traditional safari. Instead of sitting in the back of a 4X4 and listening to all the information, travellers are now immersing themselves in experience by learning, training and practicing how to become professional safari guides.
As the savannah landscapes dry up across Southern Africa, the opposite is happening in the South Africa’s Western Cape: colourful sunbirds and sugarbirds take advantage of bright flowering winter-aloes and the ocean welcomes the southern right whales, migrating from the Antarctic to the Cape.
As sure as wine and cheese go together, the Cape Winelands is a destination that combines naturally with two wheels. After all, if you are there to taste wine then you certainly don’t want to be driving a car and it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to put in a little exercise too.
It may be stating the obvious but your Safari experience depends to a large degree on the quality of your guides. Of course there are great guides all across Africa but if you are looking for the most experienced and the most highly trained, then look no further than the guides of Zimbabwe.
Horseback safaris offer you the chance to ride alongside antelope, zebra and giraffe instead of disturbing them. It’s a great way to see birds and small animals going about their business as well as the African heavyweights – elephant, buffalo and rhino – in a natural, relaxed setting.
Photography hides are changing the face of an African safari. Available at a few select lodges, they provide the wildlife photographer – beginner or professional – with the perfect foil to traditional game drives and walks. Photographic hides are all about letting the wildlife come to you…
We go on safari to see wildlife during the day but Africa’s main show is at night. Elevate your safari experience with a night in a Star bed; they are available only at certain lodges across Africa but we’ve made it easy for you with our choice of Africa’s Top 10 star beds right here.
Sure there are safari lodges in the Kalahari but what about really sleeping out? As in under the stars. And what stars there are. The area is called the Makgadikgadi Pans (try Ma-ghadi-ghadi as the pronunciation). There are two salt pans, and they are surrounded by classic Kalahari savannah…
Botswana’s Tsodilo Hills are more than just a geological oddity. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, this is a place of deep spiritual and cultural significance for the indigenous San (Bushman) people and they have left behind a great treasure. Not gold or silver, but art…
One of the fastest growing travel trends in Southern Africa is for exclusive use safari camps, for an unbeatable safari experience for families with children & groups of friends. Fully serviced and very comfortable, these camps are found across Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Whether it’s the Kruger or Kenya, an African safari usually carries a risk of malaria. And while the risk of contracting malaria on safari is generally very low, a South Africa malaria-free safari is your chance to visit genuine Big 5 reserves with no risk of malaria at all.
Southern Right whales visiting the coastline of South Africa’s Western Cape have been recorded in a recent aerial survey & the results not only give us an idea about how many there are but also where they are most easily seen. And it’s all pointing to one place.
You’d expect such a well-loved family holiday destination to have plenty of things to see and do, and you’d be right. Set in a malaria-free landscape of sandy beaches and rolling mountain ranges, Garden Route family activities range from whale watching and interactions with friendly elephants.
First the good news: malaria in South Africa is restricted to a very small area of the country and is seasonally driven. In fact, you can enjoy a South Africa safari and avoid malaria entirely: there are many malaria-free reserves across the country which offer excellent Big 5 game viewing.
Travelling to Botswana with toddlers and babies on safari may seem a daunting prospect but with a bit of planning it is much easier than you think. For a safe and rewarding Botswana safari with activities for the whole family, it’s simply a question of when you go and where you go.
Experience Chobe Ballooning, in one of Africa’s great wilderness destinations, epitomises the very best of game viewing, flying over a vast concession known as the Seloko Plains in the Chobe Region of Botswana. It’s the ideal opportunity for us to share with our guests the wonders of the Chobe Region from a completely different perspective.
Okavango Delta activities are a range of motorised and non-motorised excursions, all of which are led by professional guides. A lodge’s location will dictate what activities it offers. Camps based on permanent water focus on water activities while those in drier areas specialise in game drives.
Hiking trails criss-cross the peninsula and include the most iconic destinations: Table Mountain of course, but also Lion’s Head, Cape Point and – beyond Cape Town – the Cape Winelands and Whale Route. Different kinds of hikes too: half-day and full-day hiking; easy, moderate or challenging hikes; and walks focussed on wildlife or bird watching.
The Livingstone Island tour is offered 5 times on a daily basis. A twin-engine boat will take you on a thrilling journey through the fast-moving channels of the Zambezi River. On the island you will be given a guided tour, learning about its history from ancient times when it served as a sacrificial site to the present day and its World Heritage status.
Providing a unique river-based experience, a Botswana houseboat safari is ideal for discerning safari travellers and those in search of a more intimate and unusual approach to a safari. Usually a chef, guide and housekeeper ensure guests want for nothing, and the focus in on a personalised stay. Guests aboard a Botswana Houseboat can look forward to plenty of rest and relaxation.
