Southern Africa
Getting beyond the safari camps
By Mazuba Kapambwe, Stuart Butler & Heather Richardson
Southern Africa is not so much a geographic or political entity, more a convenient term—often used by outsiders, including travel guides like ourselves—to group a collection of states marked by an astonishing diversity.
Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, occupy the southern tip of Africa; their location being one of the few things they have in common (some include Angola; the island of Madagascar is usually excluded because of its distinctiveness).
One thing they do share is a troubled past: a visitor to any of these countries will find plenty of food for thought as to the long-term effects of colonialism, many of which are still playing out, including, arguably, in the travel industry.
On the positive side there are the most fantastic sights on offer, and experiences to be had. The natural beauty is, of course, breathtaking; a safari in one of the world-famous national parks is an adventure not to be missed. But there's so much more to Southern Africa than its safari parks. There are nearly 70 million people living here, speaking something like 1,500 different languages, with individual cultures and distinct identities. You'll come for the safari, but you'll fall in love with the people.
It will be stunning, it may be unsettling. But a trip to Southern Africa comes with one guarantee: the memories you take home will stay with you forever.
Safari in South Africa
An essential guide to South Africa's top safari destinations
There can be few experiences more exhilarating than hearing the roar of a distant lion as the sun rises on an African morning. South Africa has long been regarded as one of the world’s great safari destinations. The diversity of landscapes, from jungly swamps to searing semi-deserts, is without equal and the wealth of wildlife simply extraordinary...read more
6 days
Kafue National Park safari and Victoria Falls
Wildlife, waterfalls and wilderness
10 days
Victoria Falls and Zambia’s wildlife
Wildlife sanctuaries and powerful waterfalls
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Botswana
Safaris for those in the know
With almost one third of its land set aside for conservation, a low-density tourism policy that leaves it blissfully crowd-free and the largest free-roaming elephant population on the planet, Botswana is touted as the ultimate safari destination by those in the know... -
Okavango Delta
World-renowned as a mecca for wildlife, this year-round watery paradise is sustained by rainfall in the Angolan highlands which arrives in the form of an annual flood just as natural rain-filled pans are beginning to dry out... -
Kwando River
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Central Kalahari Game Reserve
At some 52,000 square kilometres, making this Africa’s second largest reserve, Central Kalahari feels as wild and unfathomably remote as it was 50 years ago... -
Kasane
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Moremi Game Reserve
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Xakanaxa
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Maun
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Sankuyo
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Khwai Private Reserve
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Chobe National Park
Nestled in Botswana’s north-eastern corner, Chobe National Park incorporates Chobe Riverfront (close to the Zimbabwe and Zambia borders), famous for its large elephant herds; and Savute (in the west), where a juxtaposition of contrasting habitats and handful of pumped waterholes sustain a melting pot of species... -
Nxai Pan National Park
This compact, often overlooked park is worth visiting just to see the remarkable cluster of seven ancient baobabs (named after explorer and painter, Thomas Baines), presiding over a pristine salt pan... -
Selinda Reserve
Scattered along the northern waterways of the perennial Linyanti and Kwando rivers, and the seasonal Selinda spillway, the camps in these three neighbouring private concessions operate in a similar manner to those inside the Okavango Delta... -
Sepopa
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Kwando Reserve
Spanning over 2,300 square kilometres in Botswana's far north, the Kwando Reserve presents a vast, pristine, and lesser-visited wilderness... -
South Africa
Safari and beyond in the Rainbow Nation
The Rainbow Nation has really come of age as a tourism destination and is perfect if you've not explored this mighty continent before... -
Cape Town
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Johannesburg
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Durban
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Sabi Sands
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Kruger National Park
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Kwazulu-Natal
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Nelspruit
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Addo Elephant Park
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North West Province
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The Karoo
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Madikwe Game Reserve
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Timbavati Game Reserve
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Pilanesberg National Park
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Hluhluwe Game Reserve
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Welgevonden Game Reserve
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Kariega Game Reserve
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Pumba Game Reserve
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Waterberg Biosphere Reserve
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Amakhala Game Reserve
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Kwantu Game Reserve
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Lalibela Game Reserve
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Shamwari Game Reserve
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Balule Nature Reserve
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Klaserie Nature Reserve
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Thornybush Game Reserve
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Kapama Game Reserve
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Manyeleti Game Reserve
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Lion Sands Game Reserve
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Londolozi Game Reserve
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Ulusaba Game Reserve
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Stellenbosch
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Table Mountain National Park
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Port Elizabeth
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Plettenberg Bay
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Knysna
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Hermanus
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Pretoria
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Drakensburg
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Zambia
Discover Zambia, experience Africa
It’s ironic that landlocked Zambia is best known for its waterways... -
Victoria Falls
At the height of the rainy season, more than 500 million cubic metres of water plummets over the edge of the Zambezi River into a gorge 100m below... -
Livingstone
Relaxed Livingstone is best-known as the base for visitors to the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, but it also has a growing adventure scene... -
Lower Zambezi National Park
The Lower Zambezi National Park’s wildlife is centred around the floodplain along the northeastern side of the Zambezi River... -
South Luangwa National Park
Found in eastern Zambia at the end of the Great Rift Valley, South Luangwa National Park is famous for its population of leopards, who stalk the antelope, impalas and pukus that line its riverbanks... -
Kafue National Park
Kafue National Park is one of Zambia’s oldest — and largest — national parks... -
Lusaka
Sprawling Lusaka is Zambia’s capital and commercial centre... -
Kasanka National Park
Although Kasanka National Park is one of the smallest parks in Zambia, it still offers great opportunities to see animals such as antelopes, bushbucks and warthogs... -
Liuwa Plain National Park
A remote park with stretching grass plains that host the second largest wildebeest migration in Africa, with an estimated 30,000 animals... -
Luambe National Park
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Victoria Falls
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Chirundu
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North Luangwa National Park
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Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
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Mana Pools National Park
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Victoria Falls
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Hwange National Park
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Matusadona National Park
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Matobo Hills
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Malawi
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Lake Malawi
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Blantyre
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Majete Wildlife Reserve
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Liwonde National Park
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Cape Maclear
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Lilongwe
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mulanje
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Zomba
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Namibia
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Kalkrand
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Namib-Naukluft National Park
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Swakopmund
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Damaraland
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Ongava Game Reserve
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Omaruru
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Windhoek
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Okonjima Nature Reserve
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Etosha National Park
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Divundu
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Nkasa Rupara National Park
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Onguma Game Reserve
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Sossusvlei
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Mauritius
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Eswatini (Swaziland)
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Places to go in Southern Africa
Southern Africa Tours
The Best Of Lower Zambezi
Four-day private safari of Zambia's Lower Zambezi
4 daysFrom $1,425| Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Family, Adventure, Water Sports, Canoeing, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture |
Explore South Luangwa Bush Camping
5 days bush camping in South Luangwa
5 daysFrom $3,047| Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Family, Adventure, Active, Walking, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture |
Zambia’s Premier Wildlife Safari
Wildlife safari in South Luangwa National Park
7 daysFrom $4,120| Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Family, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture |
Exploring Luangwa’s Unspoilt Wilderness
5 day walking safari in Luangwa National Park
3 daysFrom $2,925| Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Family, Adventure, Active, Walking, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture |
Zambezi Canoeing & Kafue National Park
Canoe, safari and boat cruise in Kafue National Park
10 daysFrom $2,991| Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Cruise & Sailing, Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Family, Adventure, Water Sports, Canoeing, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture |
Zambia's Animal Kingdom
13 days safari in Kafue National Park and South Luangwa National Park
13 daysFrom $7,300| Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Family, Adventure, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture |
Southern Africa Travel Companies
Wayfairer
Tailor-made luxury travel
| East Africa, Southern Africa | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour | |
| Luxury, Family, Nature & Wildlife, Culture, Culinary, Responsible Travel |
Absolute Zambia Safaris
Custom safari holidays to Zambia
| Zambia | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour | |
| Safari, Luxury, Family, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Responsible Travel |
Wild Frontiers
Safaris into East, West and Southern Africa
| East Africa, Southern Africa | |
| Custom itinerary, Small group tour, Private guided tour | |
| Safari, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Overlanding, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, National Parks, Culture, Indigenous Tourism, Solo Travel |
The African Wild
Botswana tours and safaris
| Botswana | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour, Self-guided tour | |
| Safari, Luxury, Family, Active, Walking, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks |
Take Me To Africa
Experts in small group travel to Africa
| East Africa, Southern Africa | |
| Small group tour | |
| Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Beach, Family, Active, Walking, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Culinary, Food, Solo Travel |
YellowWood Adventures
Sustainable travel for the modern-day explorer
| Central America, North Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, Central Asia | |
| Custom itinerary, Small group tour, Private guided tour | |
| Safari, Adventure, Backpacking, Hiking & Trekking, Mountain Biking, Water Sports, Active, Walking, Overlanding, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History, Responsible Travel, Conservation, Solo Travel |
African Encounters
| East Africa, Southern Africa | |
| Small group tour | |
| Safari, Luxury, Family, Adventure, Active, Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Responsible Travel, Conservation, Eco-travel |
Southern Africa Articles
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