An outing to Phezulu Safari Park presents a handful of options for the first-time visitor to South Africa. From a game drive to a traditional Zulu village experience – and seeing some of the country's most fearsome reptiles – this is a great introduction to Africa. more

When you first take the N14 between Springbok and Upington, you might be overwhelmed by the wide-angle vastness of the landscape – but you'll also be fascinated by what you find in the little stops, meeting locals, visits to memorable national parks and the quirky, interesting hideaways along the road. more

Gay Johannesburg celebrates in public style during its annual Gay Pride March in September, but in the meantime its gay-friendly bars, café-culture, trendy restaurants and steam baths maintain the tempo year round. From township venues to dance spots, Jo'burg's gay rhythm never lets up its exciting beat. more

There are few places in the world where, in the space of a few days, you can visit a lighthouse, catch a break wave, bungee jump, slide through the forest on a canopy tour, and hike to your heart’s content. The Port Elizabeth to Nature’s Valley route allows you to do this. more

If you want to visit the coldest town in South Africa (which doubles as the ‘home of the rusk'), wander into the southern Drakensberg on a cave-art expedition, take to the ski slopes, or simply chill out in the mountains, then the Stormberg route is your kind of road trip. more

From the minute you leave Port Elizabeth to the moment you arrive in the dusty Karoo village of Nieu Bethesda, this journey is all about a farmstall food safari, a trip back into the Victorian-era frontier days, trout fishing and zebra spotting in the mountains, and the search for Harry Potter’s resting place. more

The Kruger National Park has accommodation to suit all budgets, from camping sites to luxury lodges, but if you’re looking for somewhere more remote and less busy than the big main camps, tuck yourself away in one of the Kruger Park’s bushveld camps. Game still abounds but there are fewer people. more

If you like back roads with their pleasant surprises around each corner, such as dusty little pubs in the middle of nowhere, friendly encounters with elephants, elegant guest houses and funky ‘theatrical’ hotels in the middle of the Karoo Heartland, then take the ‘back-roads route’ between Port Elizabeth and Graaff-Reinet. 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

Ever wanted to find a destination where very little happens, the air is clear and all is quiet? Then look no further than the little towns that line the N9 from Willowmore to Graaff-Reinet in the Great Karoo section of the Eastern Cape. more

Kestrelling has become a popular activity among birders, simply because kestrels and falcons are such intriguing little raptors. There are five kestrel species in South Africa, but the long-distance travellers among them are quite awe-inspiring. Lesser kestrels, Amur falcons and red-footed falcons travel thousands of kilometres to summer in South Africa. more

Come with us on a slow ride through Frontier Country in the heart of the Eastern Cape, from Port Elizabeth to Grahamstown, where we travel from exquisite dune fields to a sunset gathering of elephants to a feast in an olive grove outside an old Victorian-era railway village. more

From fancy governors to dandy explorers, from hard-pressed shipwreck survivors to hard-bitten timber barons, from whalers to captains of industry, and from famous artists to world-class polo players, the jet-set elite of South Africa and beyond, Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route has welcomed them all. more

The copper culture of Namaqualand, the Jewish community that made its livelihood there, the Namas who still outnumber everyone else, and the diamond divers who wrestle riches from the sea are all part of your drive between Springbok and Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape. more