Transfrontier parks

Wilderness safeguarded in Transfrontier Parks.

© South African Tourism

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South Africa's Transfrontier National Parks are large wilderness areas that straddle the borders between two or more countries and cover large-scale ecosystems encompassing one or more protected areas.

Transfrontier National Parks recognise that animal populations traditionally migrate across or straddle political boundaries. By recognising this, Transfrontier Conservation Areas are pioneering a new approach to conservation that extends beyond national boundaries.

This makes South Africa's Transfrontier National Parks fascinating destinations for the traveller interested in people as well as places. No longer do you have to visit an area split by national groupings. Instead, you can enjoy the rich cultural heritage of integrated communities living in and around natural environments of exceptional value.

At Transfrontier parks you can experience unique wildlife migration routes as international boundaries yield to ancient natural cycles. You can appreciate whole eco-systems as opposed to mere fragments. Islands of conservation are being integrated into massive wilderness areas.

As their infrastructure develops, you will be able to enjoy an increasing number of cross-border activities, from game-viewing opportunities to hiking trails, 4x4 trails and cultural tours in South Africa's Transfrontier nature reserves.

This is socially responsible tourism at its best: with the opening up of their borders, the countries that participate in Transfrontier conservation initiatives are also creating new eco-tourism business opportunities for people living in and around protected areas.

By visiting a Transfrontier park and enjoying some of the most unique and beautiful regions in the world, rich in biodiversity, you will be contributing to a global movement to not only protect the parts of the continent we can't afford to lose, but to improve the lives of people who live in or around them.