Kruger ..... a palette of Eden
Facilities
The main restcamps offer a variety of accommodation possibilities such as camping sites, affordable huts, safari tents, bungalows, family cottages and even luxuriously appointed guesthouses. A restaurant or cafeteria, public telephones and a filling station can be found at all the major restcamps. Access to the bushveld camps are restricted to the guests that stay overnight, only if you have reservations will you be allowed to visit. The Roodewall and Boulders Lodges are exclusive, private and with a unique atmosphere.
Activities
The four-night/ five-day Lebombo 4x4 Overland Trail is a must for the true adventurer. It stretches from the Crocodile River in the south hugging the Lobombo Mountains. Interesting places include Sabie River Gorge, Pumbe and Nyandu sandveld, and Crook’s Corner. There are 7 wilderness trails providing visitors with a close-to-nature experience, with experienced guides and rangers who unwrap the wonders of the Kruger National Park.
How to get
there
Daily flights operate from Johannesburg International Airport to airports on the periphery of the park. Visitors can use the following roads to get to the park:
In the South- Paul Kruger, Numbi, Albasini, Malelane and Crocodile Bridge gates.
Orpen gate leads to the central part of the park.
Phalaborwa, Punda Maria and Pafuri gates the northern Part.
Useful Information
Kruger is an endemic malaria area, so take necessary precautions, like using mosquito repellent and malaria prophylactics.
Marakele.....a place of sanctuary
Watch the clouds drift by as they stage an ever-changing play, duplicated in the water’s reflection. Thrill to the sight of the Cape vultures as they effortlessly ride the currents, looking down on the yellowwood trees, ancient cycads and tree ferns. Watch as the orange sun turn to blood red as it sets behind the mountains and tranquillity descends. Marakele National Park, set in the heart of Waterberg, has the largest colony of Cape vultures. With its temperate climate and summer rainfall, Marakele Park gives you the ideal setting for a bush experience.
Facilities and
Activities
Get close to nature and enjoy the novelty of staying in an unfenced safari camp. The furnished tents sleeping two each are situated on the banks of the Apierivierpoort Dam. You can get extra beds for children, only by request. All safari tents come fully equipped with its own kitchen, bathroom and barbecue facility. New features have been added to the park like the camping and caravan sites and communal facilities which are suitable for the mobility impaired. Although the park can be entered with a normal vehicles, but most of the internal roads need to be travelled by 4x4 vehicles or vehicles with sufficient clearance.
How to get there
The park is situated in the Waterberg mountain range within Limpopo, in close proximity to the town of Thabazimba. The park is situated 250km north of Johannesburg in a malaria-free area. You can take the N1 to Bela-Bela(Warmbaths) and from there follow R516 via Mabula and Leeupoort to Thabazimbi or travel to Brits and follow the 511 via Beestekraal to Thabazimbi.
Vaalbos .... Diamond country
Tsessbe and red hartebeest look up attentively as a family of warthogs scamper by, leaving small dust-storms in their wake. A group of giraffe lopes across the road in their distinctive way, curiously eyeing their surrounds and the human visitors and some eland make their way to the waterhole. Vaalbos National Park, approximately 23 000 hectare, lies along the Vaal River. The name Vaalbos comes from the dominant camphor bush that grows in the park. The Park also serves as a breeding centre for endangered African herbivores such as rhino, roan, sable and disease-free buffalo.
Facilities and Activities
Guests can be accommodated in either a rustic camping site or quaint four-bed cottages. Eco-adventures on arrival in the park accompanied by a ranger can be arranged.
How to get there
The park lies 20km from Barkly West and 52km from Kimberly with its airport and car rental services.
Golden
Gate .... A golden promise
Wit a magician’s dramatic flourish , the sun starts to set, transforming the ochre sandstone formations with their purple hues to the molten gold fortress. Plenty of plants, trees and birds are residents of this park. Come and see the mushroom-shaped rocks, dark caves and deep shelters guaranteed to take your breath away. A beautiful stream winds its way among weeping willows and fairytale surroundings, the rare bearded vulture and bald ibis nest on the ledges of the cliffs. In winter there’s occasional snow, the autumn colours rich and the summer’s mild and warm.
Facilities and Activities
The park has two rest camps. Brand offers guests a wide spectrum of services and hospital accommodation. Guests here enjoy walks and hiking trails.
How to get there
The Golden Gate Highlands National Park is easily accessible from Johannesburg(320km), Durban(390km) and Bloemfontein(305km).
Mountain Zebra .... Rare beauty
A family of Cape mountain zebra stands silhouetted against the craggy Karoo landscape, bathed in the golden light of the late afternoon. Up in the Bankberg mountains, grey rhebok and mountain reedbuck graze, looking down on the valley, as a pair of yellow mongoose set out on a hunt. This park is home to the world’s rarest large mammals, the Cape Mountain Zebra. At present there are about 350 left after being on the brink of extinction. Recently the park was extended and reintroduced malaria-free buffalo and black rhino. The average rainfall is some 390mm, in winter the snowfall occurs on the higher ridges and the summers are warm.
Facilities and
Activities
Visitors can choose between the fully equipped Doornhoek historical homesteads. Meals can be enjoyed at the parks a la carte restaurant and basic commodities can be bought at the shops.
How to get there
The park is situated about 12km from the picturesque town of Cradock. Cape Town and Johannesburg are some 800km away.
Addo
.... grey matter
A herd of elephants ambles past in a single file, the calves, some holding onto their mother’s tails with their trunks, shielded by the protective adults. Reaching the waterhole, a bull elephant indulges in a mud bath. In the dense valley-bushveld of the Eastern Cape lies the Addo Elephant National Park. The Park is home to 350 elephants, black rhino, plenty of birds and antelope. After being extended, the Park became the third larges park in South Africa. It rains throughout the year and both vegetation and animals benefit.
Facilities and
Activities
Addo offers guests a wide range of accommodation , such as forest cabins, rondawels, chalets and guesthouses PPC/Discovery trails and boardwalks has been incorporated into the activities.
How to get there
The park is situated some 72km from Port Elizabeth where an airport as well as car rental agencies are located.
Wilderness.... luscious jewel
Lush forests and green-clad mountains unveil a loosely knit web of fertile wetlands threaded by snaking rivers. Plenty of birdlife and fishing opportunities. There are 5 different species of kingfisher in the 4 lakes of the Wilderness National Park, which was awarded Ramsar status.
Accommodation and
Activities
The park has two restcamps with accommodation ranging from rondawels and forest cabins to log cabins and family cottages. Bird watching , camping sites and canoeing are the activities. Pedal boats and canoes can be hired in the park. Wilderness Canoe Trail can be very invigorating and will enhance your visit.
How to get
there
The Wilderness National Park is situated some 15km from George with its airport and car rental facilities.
Knysna.... tranquil water
With a sudden flash of silver , a shoal of fish darts by. Brilliant Splashes of colour abound as fish ceaselessly navigate the seaweed, sea anemones and predators. Living here, in this fabulous National Lake Area, are the Knysna seahorse and a large diversity of marine life. This area enjoys a warm summer and quite suitable temperatures.
Facilities and
Activities
The park offers no accommodation but picturesque town of Knysna provides a wide range curio shops. Sailing , angling, and power boating are the activities here.
How to get there
The park lies on the scenic Garden Route, some 500km from Cape Town and some 300km from Port Elizabeth.
Bontebok.... fragile beauty
Lit by the sun , the distinctive white blaze on the face of a heard of bontebok almost seems to glow as they graze contentedly. Antelope and birdlife flourish in this temperate climate.
Facilities and
Activities
Six-berth chalevens, fitted with basic kitchens equipment are available. Caravans and camping sites are located close to the peaceful Breede River.
How to get there
The Garden Route is situated 240km from this stopover and 6km from the south of the Swellendam town.
Agulhas.... southernmost tip of Africa
Seagulls screech as they swoop past a lonely lighthouse set on the bleak and rugged coast. Windy coastline and nearby islands ideal for breeding the unique limestone fynbos thrives on the 450mm annual rainfall.
Facilities and
Activities
The limestone lighthouse houses Africa’s only lighthouse museum as well as Cape Agulhas Restaurant . Swimming and angling are the water sports available
How to get there
Approximately 230km from Cape Town and can be reached via Caledon(R316) , or Swellendam(R319)
Cape
Peninsula.... floral crown
jewel
Have you ever dreamed of towering mountains, a pulsating nightlife, moonlit beaches , busy streets and exquisite vegetation, all harmoniously blended together.
Facilities and
Activities
Accommodation ranging from, luxury hotels and exclusive country houses to cosy guest-houses is available . A cableway and a number of trails provide access to Table Mountain summit and its spectacular views
How to get there
National and international flights land at Cape Town’s International Airport daily and car rental facilities are available.
West
Coast .... Neptune’s
playground
Brilliantly contrasted against an azure sea and golden beaches, the petals of field upon field of vivid pink, white, yellow , blue and orange spring wildflowers seem to dance in the playful breeze.
Facilities and
Activities
Cottages and cafeterias are available as well as environmental education courses are offered here.
How to get there
Cape Town is 120km north of the R27. Access can be gained via the town of Langebaan.
Namaqua.... flowering desert
As if by magic a tapestry of brilliant colours unfold enticingly along the winding roads of the Namaqua National Park. Living here are birds, butterflies and long-tongued flies that dart across from flower to flower. Every road you turn into paints different colours of flowers, from Lilies to daisies and other spring flowers. Namaqua is home to bulb flora and more than 1000 are found nowhere else on earth.
Facilities and
Activities
Walking trails , drives and picnic areas are the facilities and accommodation can be arranged.
How to get there
Kamieskroon is north-west and is 22km from the park and Cape Town is 495km north off N7
Richtersveld.... mountain desert
Conjure up a desolate and forbidding landscape, seemingly devoid of life, for some people dotted along the horizon. This desert proves to be a treasure-chest containing the world’s richest desert flora. This is the 162 445-ha Richtersveld National Park, which borders Namibia and is contractual park managed jointly by the South African National Parks and the local Richtersveld community. The days here are very hot and the nights are very chilly. It seldom rains here.
Facilities and
Activities
Camping and tent sites are available, 4x4 trails are also offered. Camping sites can be found at Potjiespram, Richtersberg, Kokerboomkloof, Die Koei and De hoop.
The terrain is
only suitable for tents as no shelter, water or any facilities are available.
You should carry insect repellents and clothing to suit the extreme temperatures.
Temperatures can rise up to 53 degrees.
How to get there
The park can be reached via Springbok off the N7 to Steinkopf, Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay, then turn onto a gravel road leading to Sendelingsdrift/Reuning.
Kgalagadi.... gripping beauty
A gemsbok warily scents the air while scattered camel-thorns and scrub provide scant protection for a slithering lizard closely watched by a bateleur. Many scientists, artists and philosophers have been fascinated by the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. It is a result of a vision shared by Botswana and South Africa. With only rain that falls once a year, wildlife have to rely on waterholes and tsamma melons as their sole supply of water. The days are very hot but the temperature can drop to sub-zero degrees at night.
Facilities and
Activities
Chalets and cottages make up the accommodation and 4x4 and walking trails are the activities. All accommodation is equipped and has some form of cooling method. You can accommodate yourself at Mata Mata, Twee Rivieren and Nossob. There are filling stations and shops that sell commodities. Twee Rivieren has a swimming pool, restaurant, information centre, day visitor area and public telephones. A new rest camp was put in, with a 24 hour guard and a view overlooking the waterhole.
How to get there
This park is approximately 260km from Upington and 904km from Johannesburg. Rental cars can be booked in advance at Twee Rivieren and if prior permission is obtained you could use light aircraft.
Tel: (012) 428 9111
Fax: (012) 343 0905
E-mail: reservations@parks-sa.co.za
Web: www.parks-sa.co.za