In the far north of South Africa, where the Limpopo and Shashe rivers meet and you can peer into Botswana or watch eagles soar over Zimbabwe, lies Mapungubwe National Park. It’s rich in biodiversity and scenic beauty, conserves fossils and ancient rocks that are nearly three billion years old, and has 24 species of acacia tree and a magnificence of baobabs. Discover things to do in Mapungubwe National Park and everything you need to know before you visit.
By Roxanne Reid
In the far north of South Africa, where the Limpopo and Shashe rivers meet and you can peer into Botswana or watch eagles soar over Zimbabwe, lies Mapungubwe National Park. It’s rich in biodiversity and scenic beauty, conserves fossils and ancient rocks that are nearly three billion years old, and has 24 species of acacia tree and a magnificence of baobabs. Discover things to do in Mapungubwe National Park and everything you need to know before you visit.
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By Roxanne Reid
Kalahari. It’s a word loaded with nostalgia for this dry thirstland, its red sand dunes, long-horned gemsbok, camel thorn trees and endless blue skies. If you’ve felt the Kalahari’s essence before, such words will bring memories that tug at your core. So imagine my joy to be glamping in Namibia – luxury Kalahari camping – in this matchless environment near Mariental. By Roxanne Reid
If you care about wild animals and conservation in South Africa, you’ll want to read the book Rhino War: A General’s Bold Strategy in the Kruger National Park (Pan Macmillan 2022). It gives an insider’s view of what the struggle to prevent poaching of rhinos in Kruger has been like. Regular visitors to Kruger will recognise many of the places referred to, to add to their sense of ‘being there’. By Roxanne Reid
Etosha King Nehale is a glorious lodge just outside the northern Nehale Lya Mpingana Gate of Etosha National Park, one of my favourite wild spaces. Apart from treating you like royalty, the lodge opens opportunities to explore Etosha’s Andoni Plains and a private waterhole not open to the ordinary visitor. By Roxanne Reid
Palmwag Lodge & Camp in Damaraland, part of Namibia’s rough-and-tumble Kunene region, is a peaceful green oasis in a landscape of basalt rocks. If you love intense 4x4 routes, Himba settlements and stark desert landscapes, this is your gateway to remote places like Sesfontein, Opuwo, the Marienfluss, Van Zyl’s Pass and Epupa Falls. By Roxanne Reid
[Updated May 2024] Dominated by the white salt flats of Etosha Pan, Etosha National Park is one of southern Africa’s great safari destinations. This 22 700 square kilometre wilderness area in Namibia is home to nearly 115 species of mammals, including four of the Big Five (no buffalo). Here’s the ultimate guide to everything you need to know about Etosha. By Roxanne Reid Deserts, rivers, wildlife, amazing landscapes. I’ve written elsewhere about the best places and things to do in south and central Namibia. In this companion piece about a country I’ve visited more than 30 times and has crept into my heart, I’m sharing my pick of places to visit and things to do in Namibia: the north. You’ll also find some tips to know before you go. By Roxanne Reid
Just a four-hour drive from Durban, Mkhuze Game Reserve in South Africa’s northern KwaZulu-Natal province is well worth visiting for its superb birding, Big Five sightings and excellent hides. Find out everything you need to know about the wildlife you can expect to see, the accommodation and things to do in the reserve. By Roxanne Reid
People who live in Swellendam know just how much there is to do in the area, but those who think of it as a two-hour drive from Cape Town on their way to the Garden Route need a little encouragement to stop and explore. Here are 20 things to do in Swellendam; spend three days here and you’ll barely touch the surface. By Roxanne Reid
If you’re a nature lover and seeker of birds, you simply must visit Ndumo Game Reserve in Maputaland on the border between South Africa and Mozambique. Find out everything you need to know about things to do in Ndumo, its roads, landscapes, animals, trees and conservation challenges, as well as its accommodation and campsite. |
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AboutI'm an independent travel writer and book editor with a passion for Africa - anything from African travel, people, safari and wildlife to adventure, heritage, road-tripping and slow travel. Categories
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