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

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

The Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, named in 1723 after landowner Roelof Oelefse, who was then known as the 'Groot Vader' (Great Father) of the region, is part of a World Heritage Site that includes precious indigenous forest, scores of unusual birds and small mammals, a ghost frog and a unique butterfly. more

The Dwesa Nature Reserve is a little green gem along the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast. A provincial reserve, it offers coastal forest, grasslands with wild animals, and best of all, a chance to laze on a gloriously empty beach. During the mild winter, look out for humpback whales and the incredible Sardine Run, when sardines migrate in their millions up the east coast of South Africa, followed by predators such as sharks and birds. more

See the last naturally occuring gemsbok in Limpopo at the Langjan Nature Reserve, which is also renowned for its striking red sand dunes resembling those found in Botswana's famous Kalahari desert. There is no overnight accommodation at Langjan, but it makes for a really rewarding day trip. more

Visitors to South African game reserves are usually thrilled to see Africa’s big cats. But what of Africa’s smallest cat, the black-footed cat? This tiny carnivore is rarely seen, other than at Benfontein Nature Reserve near Kimberley in the Northern Cape, where it has been studied for 19 years. more

Hiking, biking and walking are 3 pursuits perfectly suited to the expansive Magaliesberg mountains. Add pristine mountain pools, endemic animals, ancient rock formations and leafy overhead canopies, and you begin to get an idea why Mountain Sanctuary Park is considered a perennial favourite. more

Situated on the southern shores of the Gariep Dam, the Oviston Nature Reserve is one of the Eastern Cape’s best-kept secrets. Those who know the area love to visit the quiet little waterside village of Oviston and spend their time fishing or game driving through the 16 000ha reserve. more

The Kgaswane Mountain Reserve outside Rustenburg lies in the Magaliesberg mountains, 1 of the oldest mountain ranges on Earth. It is conveniently located about an hour and a half from Johannesburg or Pretoria, and attracts hikers, mountain bikers and birders. more

If you would like to experience wildlife in Bloemfontein head for the Franklin Game Reserve in the heart of the city. Established in 1930, it is 1 of only 2 city wildlife reserves in the world. The other is in Hong Kong. more

The Spitskop Nature Reserve in the Northern Cape offers hunting, hiking, bird watching and viewing of Kalahari game. These include the majestic oryx (or 'gemsbok' as it is called in South Africa), eland, mountain zebra and great herds of springbok. more

Get your birding gear together for a day trip to the Faan Meintjies Nature Reserve, where lark, waxbill, robin, grebe, finch, owl, cisticola, courser, spoonbill and the secretary bird are just some of the seasonal species to be spotted. Overnight facilities offer the added appeal of spotting nocturnal birds. more

Never underestimate the restorative power of nature. The Karkloof Nature Reserve has a number of rustic lodges set amid a beautiful mist-belt forest, where a few days spent hiking and relaxing will do wonders for you and your family. more

Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge is a soulful spot. Set high in the Magoebaskloof Mountains overlooking the Kudu River Valley, this nature reserve has dramatic views and charming, eco-friendly accommodation. Take your pick from a rustic farmhouse, tree houses on stilts in an indigenous forest, or a remote and romantic cottage. more