South Africa

Our Destinations | Botswana | Malawi | Mozambique | Namibia |
Zambia | Zimbabwe | Other Destinations

With its diversity of scenery, wildlife, people and cultures, South Africa is one of the most interesting and attractive places to visit in the world. The roads are consistently good and the infrastructure developed - even in the national parks and game reserves. So you don't require a 4x4 to get around! South Africa's camping facilities are the best on the continent and you can expect hot showers and flushing lavatories wherever you go. Technically you don't require a fully-supported Black Pot Safari in South Africa! We have therefore only included a list of those places it makes sense to visit en route to Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia or Zimbabwe. However, we are always happy to put together a comprehensive South African itinerary and we do offer a Black Pot Safari 'South Africa' option to the Kruger National Park which includes the following:

1. Simple, comfortable self-catering accommodation in Kruger National Park's affordable bush camps which enjoy total privacy in exceptional bush settings away from the more commercial camps offered by the park
2. Gourmet meals prepared by an outstanding bush chef
3. A full-paying bar
4. Collection from and return to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
5. Open game-viewing vehicles driven by experienced local guides
6. Our services as safari leaders
7. The highly recommended option of staying at the beautiful Killarney Farm House before and / or after your safari

But BE WARNED these little-known bush camps are highly sought after and reservations need to be made as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 

All of South Africa's national parks and game reserves are fenced.

In line with many of Africa's national parks, off-road and night driving is not permitted except when staying in private lodges or unless otherwise specified.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (On the way to or from Zimbabwe and Mozambique)

This world-renowned park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Kruger is home to an impressive density of permanent game and the sheer diversity of species is unrivalled; 507 birds, 147 mammals, 114 reptiles, 49 fish and 34 amphibians! It is one of the most popular public-entry game parks in the world.

The Private Game Reserves on the western border of Kruger National Park form a mosaic of private land and super-luxury lodges offering game walks and drives, night drives, exceptional knowledge from trained guides and local trackers, and all the pampering you can handle!

SEASONS

Rainy Season: The subtropical climate has hot rainy summers starting in October and ending around March. The summer rains transform the arid park into a lush flowering paradise, but the increased foliage does make animals harder to see.

Dry Season: The winter months from April to September are extremely pleasant with warm dry days and cold nights. Traditionally, the best game viewing is in winter as the vegetation becomes sparse and water is restricted to rivers and artificial waterholes.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SPECIALITIES

1. Animal density and variety
2. The "Big Five"
3. Wonderful subtropical climate
4. Plenty of birds
5. Opportunity to book night drives, open-vehicle game drives and bush walks
6. Overnight wilderness trails
7. Land Rover Lebombo 4x4 Eco-Trail along Kruger's eastern boundary with Mozambique
8. Cross-border 4x4 routes into Mozambique's Limpopo National Park
9. Driving to or from the park along the Panorama Route and taking in the magnificent Blyde River Canyon

FACTS

The park was established in 1926.
The surface area of Kruger National Park is 7,580 miles² (19,633 km²).
Off road driving is prohibited.
There are almost 254 known cultural heritage sites in the Kruger National Park, including nearly 130 recorded rock art sites.
Night drives can be booked in advance in a guided vehicle.
This is a malarial area.

THE KALAHARI (On the way to or from Botswana and Namibia)

KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK

The Kgalagadi - the place of thirst - is a vast wilderness of undulating red dunes, sparse vegetation and dry riverbeds. It is renowned for being a valuable storehouse of plants and animals adapted to withstand harsh desert conditions. This park was formerly opened in May 2000 and united South Africa's Kalahari Gemsbok National Park with Botswana's Gemsbok National Park and Mabuasehube Game Reserve. It is the first fully operational cross-border partnership in Africa and will serve as a role model for all future Transfrontier Conservation Areas.

and

AUGRABIES FALLS NATIONAL PARK

This national park is well organised and well visited, with several driving and walking trails offering viewpoints over various sections of the falls and river.

KALAHARI SEASONS

Summer: Spring and early summer from September to December is dry and warm, but by January it is very hot (up to 102°F (39°C), and the rain arrives. If you brave the very hot late summer months of January to March, you might be entertained by formidable light and sound extravaganzas from thunder and lightening storms.

Winter: The cooler winter months of April to September are probably the best times to visit the Kalahari as the days are clear and warm, but nights can get very cold.

KALAHARI SPECIALITIES

1. The Oryx (Gemsbok) - highly adapted to the Kalahari
2. Space and solitude
3. Black-maned lions
4. Meerkats
5. Social weaver nests
6. Augrabies Falls
7. Red dunes
8. San Bushmen
9. San Rock art and engravings
10. Cross border 4x4 routes

FACTS

This is not a malarial area

NAMAQUALAND (On the way to or from Namibia)

In the north-west corner of South Africa is Namaqualand - famous for an extraordinary springtime transformation of the lifeless scrubland into a veritable explosion of colours from a multitude of small flowers.

SEASONS

Summer: Namaqualand is hot and dry with an average of 86°F (30°C) during the mid-summer months of December to February.

Winter: In the winter the north-westerly wind brings rain which may fall between May and September but the coldest months are June, July and August where temperatures can drop below 40°F (5°C). Days are often clear and bright but the wind can be very chilly.

Spring: The spring flowers emerge in force from July through to September but there are no guarantees as to when they will peak, although late August is a good bet.

NAMAQUALAND SPECIALITIES

1. Walking through carpets of spring flowers
2. Flower shows all along the West Coast
3. Quiver trees

FACTS

This is not a malarial area.

PILANESBURG NATIONAL PARK (On the way to or from Botswana)

Situated next door to the famous leisure and entertainment resort of Sun City, this small park has a real wilderness feel to it and most of the big animals you could wish to see.

SEASONS

Rainy Season: It rains during the summer months of November to March, with thunder and lightening showers predominantly in February and March. Temperatures hover around 79-86°F (26-30°C).

Dry Season: April to September is the cool dry winter season with bright clear warm days and cold nights, particularly in the mid-winter months of June to August. The winter is the best for game viewing as the foliage has died back and animals frequent waterholes.

PILANESBERG SPECIALITIES

1. Proximity to Sun city
2. Small park with lots of animals including the 'Big Five'
3. Attractive scenery
4. Good choice of safari lodges in the area

FACTS

The Pilanesberg covers an area of 135,908 acres (55,000ha).
The volcanic peaks in the Pilanesberg area average about 9,750 feet (3,000 metres) high.
It is approximately 2½ hour's drive north-west of Johannesburg.
This is not a malarial area.

NDUMO GAME RESERVE (On the way to or from Mozambique)

This reserve is best known for its magnificent bird life. It is situated near the Tembe Elephant Park on the Mozambique border. Ndumo boasts many beautiful pans fringed with yellow fever trees, extensive wetlands and pans, reed beds, thick bush, savannah and extensive sand forests.

SEASONS

Rainy Season: In this sub-tropical region the wet summer months from October to March are hot and humid.

Dry Season: The dry season lasts from April to September and the temperatures are very pleasant with warm to hot days and cooler nights.

NDUMO SPECIALITIES

1. Both black and white rhino
2. Tracking rhino on foot
3. Ndumo Wilderness Camp in an area not open to the public
4. Thick tropical forests
5. Exceptionally good bird sightings

TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK (On the way to or from Mozambique)

This remote reserve lies deep in an area of sand forests, pans and wetlands on the border between KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique and is home to South Africa's last free-ranging elephant population. There are now about 100 elephants in the area, many of them rescued from Mozambique during the civil war. Tembe also has a spectacular variety of birds and other animals – including white rhino and leopard.

TEMBE SPECIALITIES

1. Elephants
2. Remoteness
3. 4x4 trails

FACTS

This is a malarial area.

KOSI BAY NATURE RESERVE (On the way to or from Mozambique)

This reserve lies on the coast in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal and includes the unique Kosi Bay lake system, fig and raffia palm forests, mangrove swamps, sand dunes, deserted beaches and rewarding coral reefs. This area is home to a large variety of birds and animals, including humpback whales on their northerly migration to calve in Mozambique as well as loggerhead and leatherback turtles.

SEASONS

Rainy Season: In this sub-tropical region the wet summer months from October to March are hot and humid.

Dry Season: The dry season lasts from April to September and the temperatures are very pleasant with warm to hot days and cooler nights.

KOSI BAY SPECIALITIES

1. Kayaking adventures on Kosi Lakes system
2. Seasonal turtle tracking

FACTS

This is a malarial area.

If you would like to download a PDF File with more detailed information, please click the link below.

  South Africa Fact File (pdf)

Information courtesy of the Game Reserve website