South Africa

South Africa is a land of extraordinary scale and diversity, from thousands of kilometres of coastline teeming with marine life, to the millions of acres protected across its 21 national parks (Kruger National Park alone spans nearly 4.9 million acres), to an astonishing collection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is a country that truly has to be seen to be believed.

In the Western Cape, Cape Town offers world-class dining and a backdrop of mountains and ocean, while the nearby Cape Winelands invite visitors to sample some of the finest wines on earth. History runs deep here too, from walking in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela to tracing the scenic Garden Route as it winds from Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay. Along the coast, Hermanus and the surrounding whale watching areas rank among the best places in the world to witness southern right whales close to shore.

For those seeking adventure, South Africa delivers in every direction, with some of the finest hiking on the planet, along with bungee jumping, rock climbing, white water rafting and world-class surfing at spots like Jeffrey’s Bay.

Above all, this is a country for exceptional wildlife encounters. Track the Big Five in the iconic Kruger National Park, or spot leopard in the private reserves of Sabi Sands, including the legendary Mala Mala Game Reserve. Further afield, Phinda Private Reserve offers outstanding Big Five safaris on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, while the vast, wild expanse of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park between South Africa and Botswana reveals a starkly beautiful desert wilderness all its own.