The Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Project protects the delicate high grasslands and craggy peaks of what some have termed Africa’s greatest water factory. The project also provides a sanctuary for rare birds, mammals and alpine flowers. more

Motswari Private Game Reserve, deep in the Timbavati bushveld, offers an authentic African bush experience in the land of rare white lions. This family-owned destination has been accredited by both Green Globe and Fair Trade in Tourism. It prioritises conservation and people above cigar bars and individual plunge pools. more

Animal conservation in South Africa is moving away from safeguarding animals behind fences. Now the trend is expansion, and linking conservation projects and areas along natural corridors. Everyone is involved – from river catchment authorities to private landowners to government parks. more

A tour of Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is an ideal add-on to any safari or wildlife lover’s itinerary. This Garden Route wildlife sanctuary is unusual in that it rehabilitates terrestrial and marine creatures, and offers visitors an opportunity to be up-close to 6 of South Africa’s 7 indigenous wildcat species. more

Great white shark conservation was pioneered in South Africa, the 1st country to declare this toothy predator a protected species. Perceptions have altered over the past 2 decades. Most adventure tourists don’t consider their trip complete until they have seen a shark, usually at Gansbaai in the Western Cape. more

A veterinary game capture adventure takes you behind the scenes of wildlife conservation for a hoof-and-dust escapade that will have your heart beating as fast as the animal you’ve recently helped capture. Once the animal is immobilised, the real work behind the adventure begins. more

Known for its dramatic scenery, abundant wildlife and rich cultural heritage, the area currently being developed as the Greater Mapungubwe transfrontier conservation area, brings together 3 countries – South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe - and offers a wide range of attractions. more

Capricorn district is named after the Tropic of Capricorn which passes through province north of Polokwane. Urban hub of Capricorn, the city is fast growing and friendly. You can visit art galleries, museums and African jazz clubs. And yet within a short hop from the city you can be in a nature reserve or at the top of a mountain. more

Doesn’t meerkat rehabilitation sound like the perfect job? On a farm near Nieu Bethesda in South Africa’s sprawling Karoo, one woman is helping dysfunctional meerkat pets turn into fully capable, wild meerkats in newly created colonies. Go there for the fresh air, the farm life, the fossils and meerkat encounters. more

The Tswalu Kalahari Reserve has a noble agenda – to return the Kalahari to itself. This magical land of dunes, grass, camelthorn trees and desert-adapted animals has been restored by 1 of South Africa’s foremost families. Care for local communities and environment has given Tswalu Fair Trade in Tourism accreditation. more

The Jane Goodall Institute’s Chimpanzee Eden, set in a forested reserve between Nelspruit and Barberton, has brought hope, peace and some degree of normality to dozens of traumatised chimpanzees from all over Africa. Visiting the sanctuary is a moving and uplifting experience. more

Blue duikers, with their otherworldly little Javanese faces and secretive ways, are among the smallest antelope in the world. Hardly larger than a scrub hare, they live a secretive life in forests and thickets. But there is a place where you’re practically assured of a sighting. more

African wild cats are the ancestors of those gorgeous, slinky felines that inhabit our homes. In the savannahs and bushveld of South Africa, they live fiercely independent and nocturnal lives. And look out for the similar small spotted cat – a ferocious little creature with the heart of a lion. more

Tsessebe (sometimes called topi) are rather odd-looking animals. They’d certainly be the last you’d pick out in a crowd as being the fastest antelope in the bushveld. Their rather picky eating habits and habitat requirements have meant that their numbers are decreasing. Keep a sharp eye out for them. more