A movement near your feet on the Augrabies Falls boardwalk. Suddenly a small, feisty and impossibly colourful lizard pops into focus. This is Broadley’s flat lizard, which lives in little groups where rivalries and territory are all linked to their techni-colour markings. At night they forget their feuds and cuddle up together. more

Emmarentia Dam in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs offers an excellent retreat from the urban jungle that surrounds it, whether you are a watersports enthusiast, fishing fanatic or simply looking for some peace and tranquility. A large variety of avian life inhabits the area around the dam that borders the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens. more

Thonga Beach Lodge is one of those places that simply must be on your bucket list if you are a diver or a snorkeller, or if you enjoy prolific birdlife and animals, especially turtles, elephants and whales. The lodge falls within South Africa’s first World Heritage Site – the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. more

Rocktail Beach Camp has a legendary reputation as one of South Africa’s most idyllic coastal escapes. Expect glorious deserted beaches of golden sand, unforgettable turtle watching and some of the best diving in the world – all in a protected marine reserve and World Heritage Site. more

Only 20 minutes by road from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, Modderfontein Nature Reserve is an oasis of natural beauty smack-bang in the middle of an urban setting. Environmentally and user-friendly, you can choose to hike, cycle or just wander through a bird-rich landscape of hills, grasslands and dams. more

South Africa has over 1 000 indigenous trees, some of which you’ll begin to recognise as you travel the country so keep watching for the great trees of South Africa. In the bush, on the coast, in the mountains, you’ll meet ancient giants as well as their younger counterparts. more

Some little towns in the mountains appear out of thick mist, other long-forgotten seaports give up their shipwrecks, while in the flower season everything takes on bright colours – that’s the essence of this Namaqua back-roads route, with a surprise and a local delight around every corner. more

False Bay has an intriguing history of naval battles, pirate visits and the establishment of scenic little seaports all along its shores. It is also one of the most beautiful bays in the world, and seems to cater for everyone’s holiday needs, offering adventure, leisure, bright lights and great food. more

Kosi Bay, although in a remote part of northern KwaZulu-Natal, is well worth a visit for the beauty of its isolated white beaches, palm-fringed reed channels, lakes and waterways. Known for its traditional system of fish-trapping in woven baskets, this little known area is one of Zululand's loveliest holiday destinations. more

Backpacking along the Wild Coast provides opportunities to explore this desolate, incredibly beautiful region of South Africa. Whether you stay in a simple hut with local rural communities or at a funky backpackers lodge, the scenery, the surf and the beaches will ensure that this is one travel experience you’ll never forget. more

Crystal Springs Mountain Lodge, 1 800m up in Mpumalanga’s majestic mountains, is a place of dramatic vistas – deep valleys, purple-patched mountains and steep rocky slopes that burst with colourful flowers and endemic plants. Rated as one of the best big resorts in the country, Crystal Springs is a great place to unwind. more

Experience good fly-fishing for yellowfish in the rivers around Kimberley, which boast abundant, stable populations of indigenous largemouth and smallmouth species. Fly-fishing here will lure you back time and again as you absorb the evocative game-rich environment while casting for record catches. more

The Langebaan Lagoon is a nature lover’s dream. With hundreds of indigenous and migratory bird species, visiting Southern Right Whales, and a horde of mammals, there’s a wealth of wildlife. It’s also a watersports mecca, with a number of activities adding an exhilarating edge to your lagoon explorations. more

Witsand Nature Reserve in the Northern Cape is an exceptional eco-destination featuring geological and climatic anomalies that cause the desert sand to ‘roar'. This natural attraction is one of the Green Kalahari’s best-kept secrets. The birding here is exceptional, and you'll see plenty of dryland wildlife. more