Page 70 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

68  WILD SOUTH AFRIC A

Safaris, National Parks and The East Coast
Wildlife Reserves and Interior
The Golden Gate Highlands
South Africa has hundreds of parks and reserves, but most National Park takes its name
protect niche environments and cannot be considered true from the beautiful sandstone
safari destinations. Even so, the first-time safari-goer faces rock formations that change
a daunting array of possibilities, ranging from the vast from purple to gold at sunset.
Kruger National Park to the remote dunes of Kgalagadi and The park provides many
activities, including guided
the lush subtropical landscapes of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi and walks, hiking trails, abseiling,
iSimangaliso. Here, a brief region-by-region overview of the canoeing and horse riding.
country’s top reserves is provided to help narrow the options. Accommodation ranges
from luxury log cabins in the
volcano, it mountains to a rest camp
has many that is reminiscent of an
GAUTENG, LIMPOPO attractions, 18th-century Basotho village.
AND MPUMALANGA including Bird-watchers should look out
signs of early for the rare bearded vulture
humankind in and bald ibis.
several Stone iSimangaliso Wetland
THE EAST COAST
AND INTERIOR and Iron Age Park is South Africa’s most
sites. The park’s significant wetland reserve
colourful bush- and a World Heritage Site
THE ARID INTERIOR
veld and varied that incorporates bushveld,
topography have sand forest, grassland, wetland,
made it particularly coastal forest, swamp, beach,
THE WESTERN AND popular with artists coral reef and sea. The best
SOUTHERN CAPE
and photographers. time to visit is during the turtle
Within an hour’s drive of breeding season from October
Johannesburg is the Suiker- to April, or during the whale-
Gauteng, Limpopo and bosrand Nature Reserve, watching season from June
Mpumalanga named after the protea to December. Other animals
The flagship of South Africa’s (suikerbos) plant found to look out for are hippos,
game reserves and the ultimate throughout the area. This crocodiles, pelicans, Caspian
destination for the wildlife reserve is an excellent choice terns and fish eagles.
fanatic is the Kruger National for outdoor enthusiasts as the Set in the heart of Zululand
Park, with its 150 mammal and Suikerbosrand mountain range where tribal kings once
500 bird species. There are also provides first-rate hiking and hunted, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
sites of historical and mountain-biking opportunities. Game Reserve is renowned
archaeological interest in the There are several day and over- for rhino conservation. The
northern areas. Trails on offer night trails, plus the 700-m park also has several excellent
include 4x4, wilderness and (765-yd) Toktokkie trail, which wilderness trails and guided
mountain-biking, while golfers has been designed with walks. Accommodation
will love the unfenced nine-hole disabled visitors in mind – it ranges from the well-located
course at Skukuza. has wide paved paths and there Hilltop Camp to more rustic
The Madikwe Game Reserve are several benches to stop at. bush camps.
is situated in the corner of the
Northwest Province bordering
Botswana. A so-called “transition
zone” on the edge of the
Kalahari Desert, the region has
a unique eco logy with an
enormous variety of flora and
fauna, and several rare species
occur here naturally. Madikwe is
one of the few game reserves in
the world that represents the
most sustainable land use for
the area. To visit it, you must stay
at one of the lodges.
Pilanesberg Game Reserve is
also based in the transition
zone. Lying in an ancient Thirsty big cats at a watering hole in the Kruger National Park

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