Tsakane Nxumalo is a sergeant in the Black Mambas, South Africa's first all-women anti-poaching team.
19.07.2023 - 08:59 / nationalgeographic.com
While many African reserves are only accessible to those with the thickest wallets, Kruger, South Africa’s first national park, offers the chance for a far more affordable self-guided safari. Here, on the border with Mozambique, you can see giraffes and even rare African wild dogs from a rental car little different to the one you might drive at home. It’s a place to be enjoyed at your own pace, going wherever a road or a water hole draws the eye, stopping to consult a dog-eared map or reach for your supply of biltong.
With wildlife so abundant, particularly in the south of the park, it’s possible to tick off lions, leopards and even rhinos by dinnertime. And come the evening, such close encounters make perfect campfire tales — particularly if the lions came slightly too close for comfort.
From Johannesburg, the most convenient route into the park is a domestic flight straight into Skukuza, the park’s largest rest camp. There are 23 of these camps in all, with accommodation ranging from pitches and safari tents to pricier thatched bungalows.
A more affordable option is to fly to Kruger Mpumalanga, pick up a car at the airport and drive an hour to Kruger’s Malelane Gate. Wi-fi and 4G is very limited but you can buy maps at the airport and in park shops; Kruger’s major camps have petrol stations. Once in Skukuza, recover from the journey with a trip to the nearby hide at Lake Panic — a favourite spot for birdwatchers. Spend a lazy afternoon admiring the pied kingfishers, and hope that the leopard that’s occasionally seen here prowls into view. The best spot for dinner is Cattle Baron steakhouse back at camp, overlooking the hippos of the Sabie River — try the fillet rossini with a creamy peri peri sauce, just R189 (£8),
Tsakane Nxumalo is a sergeant in the Black Mambas, South Africa's first all-women anti-poaching team.
The chance to spot a bear, bison, or bald eagle in the wild is one of the major reasons travelers visit the United States’ 63 national parks. You might assume that a megafauna mecca like Yellowstone National Park would offer the best odds of seeing multiple animals.
Thanks to tour deals and budget airlines, you don’t necessarily have to spend a small fortune to go on a South African safari anymore—but what if you could experience a bucket-list game drive from the comfort of your computer?
The parent and child relationship is a famously complicated one. It’s one of the few in life where the love is often so pure—and the bond so established—that both members expect to continually transition together through the different stages of life. But as children grow and develop their own identity, boundaries are redefined and the foundational rules drummed into us are questioned.
Kalmoesfontein Farm
Glacier National Park is one of the most gorgeous parks in the national park system. The sprawling park is in northern Montana and is home to some of the oldest glaciers in the US — not to mention wildlife like grizzly and brown bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pumas, wolves, elk, moose, and more. The park has gorgeous day hikes running between half a mile or 20 miles, and some of the best backcountry backpacking in the US. You can even hike from the US into Waterton Lakes National Park, the attached national park just on the other side of the US-Canada border.
Tsingy National Park (full name: The Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park) is a national park in Madagascar. The name “tsingy” comes from a Malagasy word meaning “walking on tiptoes,” which is an apt description of the landscape of the park. It is known for its unique karst formations, formed by rain that dissolved the soft limestone over time, creating sharp, rocky spires.
For most travelers, there are a few trips considered bucket list must-dos: seeing the northern lights, sleeping in a tropical over-water bungalow, and walking through Times Square in New York City are just a few. And for many, one of those dream trips is also taking an African safari.
For visitors to South Africa, wildlife encounters are often top of the list. Thornybush Game Lodge, located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, is a dream destination for wildlife enthusiasts. Situated on a 34,000-acre private game reserve adjoining Kruger National Park, the luxury safari lodge offers its guests a chance to immerse themselves in the surrounding wilderness and get up close with the wildlife.
In southern South Africa, right along the coast, you’ll find an adult-only oasis called Nima Lodge. This hotel is a perfect destination for travelers looking to reconnect with nature and explore all the natural beauty of South Africa, whether it’s the nearby parks or enjoying the view from an on-site spa.
South Africa has diverse landscapes, from beautiful beaches to rugged mountains, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers. One of the unique accommodations in South Africa is the Stargazing Cube Misty Mountain Cube, located in the scenic Garden Route region.
At the far north of New Zealand’s South Island, visitors flock to the Nelson Tasman region to hike and kayak in spectacular Abel Tasman National Park. The turquoise waters and sheltered bays of this protected coastline are undeniably beautiful, but increased visitor numbers in New Zealand's smallest national park are putting pressure on infrastructure – particularly along the popular 60-kilometre Abel Tasman Coastal Track. Just beyond Abel Tasman’s northern rocky headland, peaceful Golden Bay sees a fraction of the park’s visitors.