The Best Place to visit in Southern Africa

Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent and includes countries like Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Southern Africa’s terrain is incredibly diverse, ranging from forest and grasslands to deserts. The region is also home to both mountains and low-lying coastal areas, as well as a wide variety of ecoregions including grassland, bushveld, semi-desert, savannah, and riparian areas.

These diverse landscapes and terrain, are a result of the distinct climactic conditions throughout the region. It ranges from Mediterranean in the southwestern corner of the continent to temperate, subtropical and even desert-like further north. Most of the region enjoys warm, sunny days and cool nights.

• Botswana

The Okavango Delta is the country’s evergreen jewel and at the heart of Botswana’s safari attractions. This vast inland river delta’s meandering waterways are best explored on a mokoro, a traditional dug-out canoe, and the quintessential game drive ‘vehicle’ of the Delta. Considered Africa’s Garden of Eden, the Okavango Delta is home to an astonishing array of birds and big game – especially predators.

Chobe National Park  is Africa’s elephant kingdom. Home to around 120 000 individuals grouped in the largest herds on Earth, Chobe delivers some of the best and most close-up sightings of these gentle giants; especially around the Chobe River during Botswana’s dry season (May to October). The park’s remote Savuti region, a.k.a. 'Predator City', is famous for its well-documented rivalries between powerful lion prides and hyena clans.

The Kalahari scrubland is home to unique experiences like quad biking (ATV) safaris and authentic cultural encounters with Africa’s first people, the San. It’s also the setting for Botswana’s dazzling zebra migration, which happens between January and March (depending on seasonal rainfall).

• South Africa

The Kruger National Park is home to the South Africa's greatest diversity of animals and exquisite safari lodges on private game reserves. As one of the oldest conservation areas in Africa, it boasts healthy populations of wildlife and highly sought-after sightings of cheetah and wild dog. But the Kruger’s pièce de résistance is the almost guaranteed encounter with the super-celebrities of the safari circuit: Africa’s iconic Big 5 (elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard).

Cape Town  is technically not a safari destination per se, but it’s a must-add to any South Africa itinerary. Continuously voted as one of the world’s best cities to visit, Cape Town boasts beautiful mountains and beaches, historical landmarks and the bottle-green valleys of the renowned Cape Winelands.

• Namibia