Free South Africa Guidebook

We've put together a guidebook with everything you need to know about South Africa. Written by our specialists, it details destination information, a wildlife guide, some suggested itineraries and plenty more to inspire your holiday. Fill in the form below and if you live in UK, your guidebook will arrive by post within the next couple of days. For those who live abroad, we will send you a link by email which will allow you to download your own copy.

South Africa and Mauritius

South Africa and Mauritius couple superbly for a safari and beach holiday or honeymoon. Whilst South Africa offers both world class safari and cosmopolitanism, Mauritius encapsulates the very essence of laid-back island life. Start your adventure on the plains of one of South Africa’s many game rich national parks, spending your days on safari, tracking the Big Five and sipping on sundowners, before exploring the country’s vibrant cities or impressive coastal routes. A short flight to Mauritius takes you to another world of sugar white beaches, kaleidoscopic reefs and a verdant green mountainscapes. There, you can choose to do as little or as much as you like, whether it be soaking up the island’s unique Creole culture or whiling away lazy days under the shade of a leafy palm. The ultimate safari and beach combination for a year-round adventure.

Kruger conservancies guide

The Kruger National Park is South Africa’s premier wildlife destination and is one of the biggest attractions in this diverse country. Those wanting a luxury safari experience away from the crowds tend to favour the private concessions and here we give our guide to these.

South Africa on horseback

One of our South Africa specialists, Jen, recently saddled up for an exciting riding safari taking part in game census week at Ant’s Hill in the malaria-free Waterberg region of South Africa. Read on for more about Jen’s experience and all you need to know about exploring South Africa on horseback…

Exploring KwaZulu Natal

After living in beautiful Cape Town, our South Africa specialist Annie was looking for a new experience, and where better to head than KwaZulu Natal. Filled with breath-taking scenery, Zulu culture, history and wildlife – KwaZulu Natal is off-the-beaten-track in South African terms and well worth a visit, particularly for return visitors.

Top 5 Cape experiences

The Cape – comprising Cape Town and the Winelands – is one of the biggest attractions for visitors to South Africa and has much to offer. Here our South Africa specialist (and former Capetonian) Annie gives her top five experiences for those looking for something new.

South Africa for families

South Africa is without doubt the most family-friendly country in Africa and offers a wide-range of experiences to suit all ages and interests. From an exciting malaria-free safari to exploring the beautiful Cape to the warm Indian Ocean beaches along the Garden Route, we can help you put together the perfect holiday for your family. Here we give our rundown on our favourite spots for families to get you started.

The Big Five

Fabled for being the five most dangerous and difficult animals to hunt, the Big Five are now the most sought-after animals to capture on a point-and-shoot. Whilst sitting firmly at the top of every safari checklist, nature’s most magnificent animals are as elusive as ever before, making tracking them an exhilarating and unforgettable adventure. Home to all five showstoppers, the national parks of South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia and Botswana, are excellent destinations for a chance to see them all. On foot, by horseback or in the comfort of a 4x4, traversing the plains of sub Saharan Africa in search of these celebrated animals is the undisputed original safari experience.

Self-drive

Nothing beats taking on the open road and exploring all the ins and outs of a destination at your own pace, taking in shifting landscapes and jaw-dropping vistas.

Safari and beach holidays

Home to unrivalled wildlife viewing and one of the world’s most impressive coastlines, there is no better place to combine a beach and safari trip than in Africa.

Honeymoon Gift List

We want every Imagine Africa honeymoon to be a trip of a lifetime – and as part of this service we offer a honeymoon gift list. A gift list makes it easy for your friends and family to give you what you'd really like. Our honeymoon gift list allows friends and family to contribute any amount of money towards number of activities, treatments, upgrades, or extras – all chosen by you.

Highlights of Cape Town

Known as the Mother City, Cape Town has it all – history, culture, gastronomy and breath-taking scenery. Here we give you the low-down on our top Cape Town experiences and homes-away-from-home…

South Africa train journeys

One of the best ways to take in the spectacular scenery that South Africa has to offer, rail travel couldn’t be further from a daily commute in the luxurious surroundings of Rovos Rail and the Blue Train. Here we give you the lowdown on what to expect and what separates these two outstanding experiences.

Self-driving South Africa

Self-driving in South Africa is how a number of people decide to travel as it tends to prove a more adventurous and affordable option, as well as giving you the freedom to explore. Self-driving is a hugely rewarding way to travel and appreciate the always stunning and ever-changing scenery. Here we give you our tips for taking to the open road.

South Africa honeymoons

Contemporary Cape Town hotels, beautiful Cape Dutch wine estates and luxurious private game lodges, all combine to make South Africa the perfect honeymoon destination. Here we give our top ideas for making South Africa the perfect honeymoon destination for you.

Where to go on safari in South Africa

From the premier game viewing of the Kruger and malaria-free options in Madikwe and the Eastern Cape, to riding safaris in the Waterberg and getting off-the beaten-track in the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve – there is truly something for everyone. Here we give our lowdown on all that South Africa has to offer safari-wise – now all you have to do is decide which one(s) will suit you best!

The Kruger

The Kruger National Park is among South Africa's finest assets and is renowned for its magnificent game viewing. Established in 1898 by the then president, Paul Kruger, as a protected area for wildlife, the Kruger was not opened to the public until 1927. Today the Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and is one of the main attractions of South Africa.

Covering an area of nearly 20,000km² and extending roughly 360km north to south and 40km east to west, it is divided into 14 different eco-zones, each one supporting different wildlife. This famous park boasts over 140 different mammal species and over 500 bird species, not to mention a wide variety of amphibians, reptiles and plants. It is of course one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five (elephant, buffalo, lion, rhino and leopard).

Over the years the Greater Kruger area has developed and grown to include a number of private game reserves including the Sabi Sands, Timbavati and Makalali – the former two sharing porous borders with the main National Park.

The Kruger works well in combination with elsewhere in South Africa, with daily direct flights to Cape Town as well as flights connecting it to beach destinations including Mozambique, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Zanzibar.

For a winning combination of safari in the Kruger and beach in Mozambique check out our Luxury Kruger and Mozambique itinerary.

Madikwe

Our top choice for a malaria-free safari in South Africa, the Madikwe Game Reserve in the north-west of the country (abutting the border with Botswana) offers premier big five game viewing. In fact, the guides here prefer to look for the ‘Top Ten’ which includes hippo, giraffe, cheetah, hyena and the elusive wild dog in addition to the big five! As well as being able to rival the Kruger for game viewing, Madikwe offers some of the most beautiful scenery that South Africa has to offer, with an incredibly varied landscape due to it lying on a transition line between Lowveld, bushveld and Kalahari thornveld, punctuated by volcanic inselberg (isolated rock hills).

Still something of a hidden gem, Madikwe is fast becoming one of South Africa’s most in-demand safari destinations, in large because of the quality of safari experience on offer combined with the fact that it is malaria-free – making it a particularly attractive choice for families.

Protecting a 750km² area and just over three hours drive from Johannesburg (or a twice-daily one hour charter flight), Madikwe is a convenient option both from Johannesburg but also to combine with going on elsewhere, including Mozambique, Mauritius and the Seychelles, as often you can go from the reserve to the beach whilst avoiding an overnight stay in Jo’berg.

For a malaria-free safari in the Madikwe which doesn’t scrimp on the game-viewing, check out our Madikwe Safari and Cape Town Family Holiday itinerary.

Eastern Cape

The malaria-free reserves of the Eastern Cape work in perfect combination with the Garden Route, either at the start or end of South Africa’s most popular road trip.

As well as there being a number of private game reserves offering a range of safari activities including bush walks and boat safaris, Addo Elephant National Park offers the opportunity for a self-drive safari experience.

Established in 1931 with only 16 elephants, South Africa’s third largest national park now plays host to over 550 elephants as well as a variety of other game. There is also the opportunity for horse and elephant rides here too.

Why not combine a malaria-free safari in the Eastern Cape with a self-drive Garden Route trip? Check out our Classic Self-Drive Garden Route itinerary.

KwaZulu Natal

For those looking for the ease of combining safari and beach, look no further than KwaZulu Natal, where you can track rhino on foot in the morning and swim with turtles in the afternoon should you wish.

Here you can combine a big five safari with an ocean safari whilst staying on the Elephant Coast.

The area around the St Lucia wetlands is home to the best diving and snorkelling that South Africa has to offer.

Have a look at our Mountains, Battlefields and Lions itinerary to see the diversity on offer in KwaZulu Natal.

The Waterberg

The Waterberg, a three hour drive north of Johannesburg, not only offers an excellent malaria-free safari option but is also one of the best places to go on a riding safari in South Africa – with riding available either as an optional one-off activity or longer riding safaris on offer which are either mobile camping or lodge based . Straddling an area of approximately 15,000km² across the Limpopo province, the Waterberg is unmatched in its beauty, with a landscape comprising plains, dry bushveld woodland, rivers and mountains, as well as a wide range of flora and over 40 species of large mammals and well over 300 species of birdlife. Such variety led to the Waterberg becoming the first part of northern South Africa to be named as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

Can’t wait to saddle up in the Waterberg? Check out our South Africa Malaria-Free Family Safari.

The Kalahari

For seasoned safari-goers looking for something new or those wanting to get off the beaten track, the Kalahari in the far north-west of the country, towards the borders of Botswana and Namibia, is the perfect choice. Offering a safari experience like nothing else in South Africa, the unique environment pays host to some of the most rewarding and sought-after game viewing possible, with elusive sightings such as pangolin and aardvark being some of the most impressive. Whilst many expect the Kalahari to be an inhospitable and desolate desert, it is in fact far more diverse than that, with open savannahs and semi-arid grasslands. The remote location also means that you will have one of the most exclusive safari experiences possible too, sharing it with just a handful of other people.

Our top pick for a Kalahari stay is Tswalu Kalahari – a private game reserve offering premium game viewing, exclusive guiding as well as the opportunity for safaris on horseback.