TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN SOUTH AFRICA

Sharing an unfenced border with the iconic Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sands Game Reserve is home to some of the country’s most luxurious safari lodges, where thrilling off-road game viewing is the order of the day.

The region is renowned for its leopard sightings, but you can also expect to meet with giraffe, hippo, hyena, packs of wild dog and the much sought-after ‘Big Five’. With strict regulations around vehicle numbers at wildlife sites, an uncrowded safari is guaranteed.

The best time to see the spring flowers is from early August to late September, when South African proteas and other rare indigenous flora carpet the rolling hills of the Cederberg in a riotous profusion of colour. In the foothills of these mountains, you’ll also discover ancient bush rock art paintings dating back some 10,000 years. An irresistible combination.

Madikwe Game Reserve is our pick for a wildlife-packed, malaria-free safari. Here is the opportunity to track everything from big cats to rhinos, elephants and giraffe without the crowds at some of South Africa’s better known reserves. Also without having to worry about the risk of malaria, making it the perfect destination for a family safari.

If you want to do more than just see wildlife on safari, Phinda Reserve offers visitors the chance to assist their veterinary team with rhino notching and de-horning for research and security monitoring. As well as securing the longevity of the reserve’s rhino population, this is a magical opportunity to get up close and personal with these highly endangered giants of the African bush. All funds raised from the experience goes directly into Phinda’s rhino conservation and management scheme.

Just 90 minutes from Cape Town, the seaside town of Hermanus is Africa’s leading spot for whale watching, and easily slots into a self-drive along the Garden Route.

Between July and December each year, southern right whales migrate from the southern seas to breed and calve in these calm, sheltered waters. Whales can be seen within 30m of the shore, as the whale crier walks through town announcing their location.

Lying on the southernmost edge of the Kalahari, Tswalu Reserve is not only South Africa’s largest private game reserve, but an ambitious conservation project where you can join dedicated researchers in the quest to preserve the natural state of the landscape.

Guests stay in one of three luxury camps, and have access to their own private safari vehicle, field guide and tracker, giving you the flexibility to explore the reserve at your own pace. The opportunity to track rare and elusive wildlife – meerkats, desert rhinos, bat-eared fox, pangolins, brown hyena and the black-maned lion – is a major draw.

Snorkel among hundreds of brightly coloured fish; watch hippos and crocs lurking in the waters of Lake St Lucia; hike through ancient Raphia palm forests; listen out for the calls of rare birds… or simply revel in the extraordinary beauty (and untold biodiversity) of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether you choose to explore by canoe, motorised boat or on foot, the variety of activities on offer make iSimangaliso a dream for any nature enthusiast.

From broad Indian Ocean beaches to the dramatic peaks of the Drakensberg, the province of Kwazulu-Natal claims a diverse and scenic beauty. But that’s not the only reason to include it in your bespoke itinerary. It is here, too, that the evocative battlefields of Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana bring the infamous Anglo-Zulu wars into sharp and thrilling focus. Listen as your local guide recounts the momentous events on the actual fields of battle.

Treat yourself to a blissful escape at Steenberg Hotel, set on a historic wine farm just outside Cape Town. Sumptuous guestrooms (housed in immaculately restored old farm buildings) and pretty grounds await, alongside a stylish swimming pool and spa. When not tasting some of South Africa’s finest Sauvignon Blanc at the winery, you can practise your swing at an 18-hole golf course right on the estate.