Conservation

Read about Conservation

The Peace Parks Foundation

Peace Parks consolidate conservation areas across borders, offering opportunities for better ecosystem management – they offer benefits beyond boundaries.

Leliefontein

Leliefontein, in the flowering desert of Namaqualand in South Africa’s north-western sector, is a perfect base to explore spring flowers and intriguing local heritage.

Knersvlakte

The Knersvlakte is a magical land of miniature succulents that have intriguing ways of surviving the harsh conditions in a winter-rainfall desert.

Grassland wildflowers

Grassland wildflowers, especially in the Drakensberg, are more subtle but just as rewarding for floral fans as the spectacular horizon-wide blooms of the Namaqualand semi-desert.

View images

The Boschendal wine farm in Franschhoek.

The award-winning Vergelegen Wine Estate.

Watch video

Top 10

Animal encounters

The Big 7, Addo Elephant Park, Eastern Cape

First prize on your checklist is ticking off the big 7, which includes lion, rhino, buffalo, elephant, leopard as well as the southern right whale and the great white shark.
Ostrich Farms, Oudtshoorn, Western Cape

Don’t miss our famous ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn – where you can ride an ostrich, stand on an ostrich egg (they can withstand 250kg!) and learn the history of the feather palaces. And, yes, it’s...
Meerkat Tours, Oudtshoorn, Western Cape

Rise at dawn and wait for these wildlife celebrities (think Meerkat Manor) to come on set. Be entertained by a real-life suricate soap-opera – complete with tangled alliances, family dramas, food...
White Rhino in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, KwaZulu-Natal

Look out for the white rhino at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi – rescued from the brink of extinction.
Cango Wildlife Ranch, Oudsthoorn, Western Cape

Hug a pigmy hippo, tickle a white Bengal tiger and go cage-diving with Nile crocodiles. Sure it’s Afro-Disney, but there's a serious commitment to conservation here, and it’s loads of fun!
Turtle Tours, Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal

Between November and January, experience the privilege of watching leatherback turtles emerge from the ocean and lay their eggs, or between February and March, hold your breath as the hatchlings run...
Whale Watching, Hermanus, Western Cape

Humbling, awe-inspiring and rewarding, no wonder it’s such a popular wildlife encounter. Watching the whales in Hermanus from June to November is a fantastic opportunity for those who love marine...
Shark Encounters, Western Cape

Watch Great White Sharks hunting off Duiker and Seal Island, in False Bay. If your timing’s right, you’ll see one breach fully out of the water to snatch a seal meal in mid-air. Alternatively, meet a...
Penguins at Boulders Beach, Simonstown, Western Cape

Don’t forget to take the camera along for this charming encounter. Check out nearly 3000 penguins at Boulders Beach at the world’s only urban penguin colony.
Wild Dogs, Madikwe, North West

Admire these wild canines with their eye-catching Jackson Pollock-splashed pelts and playful antics – highly endangered, they are seldom seen.