South Africa

South Africa is a country of diversity and offers something for everyone.  To fully explore this unique and beautiful destination you will have to either spend some quality time or return for quite a few visits!!

All’s not lost however as E.Y.E’s On Site will give you the best recommendations to allow you to experience the best South Africa has to offer!

The Western Cape Province, a geographically small area, offers many interesting tourist destinations. This is where Cape Town lies the Cape Peninsula and the Cape of Good Hope. Other attractions are the Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek.

Visit the Whale Capital – Hermanus or enjoy White Shark Cage Diving at the nearby hamlet of Gansbaai. The rugged, romantic West Coast with the picturesque Lambert's Bay and the beautiful Cedarberg (pristine Rock Art sites and unparalleled natural beauty). The peaceful Breede River Valley and the still hardly known Overberg region.

The Western Cape Province, a geographically small area, offers many interesting tourist destinations. This is where Cape Town lies the Cape Peninsula and the Cape of Good Hope. Other attractions are the Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek.

Visit the Whale Capital – Hermanus or enjoy White Shark Cage Diving at the nearby hamlet of Gansbaai. The rugged, romantic West Coast with the picturesque Lambert's Bay and the beautiful Cedarberg (pristine Rock Art sites and unparalleled natural beauty). The peaceful Breede River Valley and the still hardly known Overberg region.

The Garden Route with its capital George and its numerous seaside resorts of Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, the Tsitsikamma National Park.

The southern part of the Karoo with attractions like the ostrich farms of Oudtshoorn, the quaint town of Graaff-Reinet and the Valley of Desolation or the Mountain Zebra National Park and other private reserves offer excellent game viewing.

The Eastern Cape Province with its capital Port Elizabeth, the Addo Elephant Park and malaria-free private game reserves (Big Five game viewing), are well worth a visit. The Wild Coast offer excellent beaches and unspoilt wilderness areas.

The north-east of South Africa features the province of Gauteng, with the capital Pretoria and the metropolis of Johannesburg, the port of entry for many travelers.

Johannesburg is the major international gateway into South Africa so you are quite likely to spend, at the very least, a few hours in this rather misunderstood and misrepresented city. It's a vibrant and dynamic place with a throbbing pulse and an awesome sense of rhythm.

Infused with the history of the struggle against apartheid and abuzz with the energy of the city of gold, Soweto is a must-see for tourists who are looking for more than sun, sea and the big five.

Known as the Jacaranda City for all the purple blossom-bedecked trees which line its thoroughfares, Pretoria is a lovely, quiet city. It has a long, involved and fascinating history. Here you will find many significant old buildings and some fascinating museums.

The Cradle of Humankind is a World Heritage Site first named by UNESCO in 1999, is about 50 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg. This site currently occupies 183 square miles (474 km²); it contains a complex of limestone caves, including the Sterkfontein Caves, where the 2.3-million year-old fossil Australopithecus africanus (nicknamed "Mrs. Ples") was found. Maropeng is the official visitor's centre for the area.

Mpumalanga (Where the Sun Rises) and Limpopo are home to the world-renowned Kruger National Park and other private game reserves for excellent safari opportunities. The Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains) of Mpumalanga with the spectacular Blyde River Canyon and various cultural villages allows for a wonderful excursion “off the beaten path” either en-route to your “Big 5” destination or as a unique day-visit.

The province of KwaZulu Natal with the metropolis Durban on the Indian Ocean, where you will find wonderful swimming beaches. The Mkuzi, Umfolozi and Hluhluwe, Ndumo, Tembe and Ithala game parks, the Greater St.Lucia Wetlands Park, the Zulu Cultural Villages, the Midlands and the highland region of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park.

Some of South Africa’s best preserved Anglo/Boer & Anglo/Zulu Battlefields are also found in this region and are worth the visit – not only for its historical value, but for the scenic beauty of the “Midlands” of Natal.

The northern Karoo and the Kalahari include the highlights of the spectacular Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the thundering Augrabies Falls and the town of Upington on the banks of the Orange River. The diamond town of Kimberley is also well worth a visit. The Free State with its capital Bloemfontein has attractions like the Golden Gate National Park and the Sterkfontein Game Reserve.

The northwestern part of South Africa with its endless open expanses and fascinating landscapes. Visit the remote fishing villages and Namaqualand - covered in wildflowers in spring (August - September). Visit the farming communities of the Hantam Karoo. On the border with Namibia you will find the remote Richtersveld National Park

Malaria Free Game Reserves in South Africa

Here is a selection of National Parks and Game Reserves in Malaria – free areas. There are many more interesting and smaller reserves, please contact us for a quotation or more suggestions.

The Pilanesberg National Park, which covers some 55 000 hectare, is the fourth largest in southern Africa. This park is perched on the eroded vestiges of an alkaline volcanic crater - one of only three such craters in the world. First intensely farmed, the Park has at considerable expense, been restocked with game, the scars of human settlement were removed and tourism infrastructure was developed during the first 15 years (1979 and 1993). This constituted the largest and most expensive game stocking and land rehabilitation project ever undertaken in any African game reserve at the time.

Welgevonden Game Reserve is over 35 000 hectares of prime - malaria free – private game sanctuary and is home to an impressive variety of Fauna & Flora, immensely interesting cultural & geological history, spectacular Waterberg scenery, excellent game viewing and bird life in the lush green of summer. Crystal clear streams have, over 2 billion years, carved the scenic topography of the Waterberg mountain wilderness we know today. It is a pleasant 2.5-hour drive, or an easy 45-minute flight from Johannesburg.

The Madikwe Game Reserve, situated against the Botswana border, just three hours' drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, is now one of South Africa's prime safari destinations. Madikwe is a Big Five game reserve covering some 75,000 hectare. It is one of the largest private game reserves in South Africa. The rich diversity of vegetation ensures a wide range of game and the topography offers ideal game viewing opportunities.

Addo Elephant National Park: Situated just one hour's drive from the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, the magnificently diverse national park offers a wide variety of game viewing, outdoor adventure, accommodation and cultural experiences.

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve lies in the heart of South Africa’s malaria-free Eastern Cape near Grahamstown, and is a natural conclusion to a journey along the world-famous Garden Route. A victory for far-sighted conservation, 20 000 hectares (49 000 acres) of farmland in the Great Fish River region were restored and restocked with African wildlife. Today, thousands of animals including lion, black and white rhino, buffalo and elephant roam this diverse and fascinating reserve.

Shamwari Private Game Reserve is home to Africa’s Big 5 (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard), is malaria free and is situated in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. This reserve has received numerous international awards, including the World’s Leading Conservation Company and Game Reserve for many consecutive years. It is situated in verdant bush along the Bushmans River, halfway between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown, a pleasant drive from Cape Town and forms a natural extension to the famous Garden Route.

Samara Private Game Reserve is a place where time stands still as you stop to gaze across the open spaces and distant horizons of pure wilderness. This Eastern Cape game reserve is situated on 70 000 acres of lush, indigenous wilderness. This family owned game reserve offers modern colonial living in the heart of the African bush. The reserve is home to an abundance of African wildlife, including a large diversity of game and endangered birds. It is here that you will be introduced to the elusive Cheetah by your expert and knowledgeable guide, free from the restrictions of other reserves. Interacting with these amazing creatures in their natural environment is indeed an unforgettable experience.

Travel area 6: Northern Cape

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - One of Africa's great parks. The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (South Africa) and Gemsbok National Park (Botswana) have been formed into a transfrontier park of over 3,6 million ha. A rugged wildlife sanctuary with 3 rest camps & abundance of game.

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. Surrounding the rugged Koranneberg Mountains in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve covers 1000km2 (100 000 ha) of land on the edge of the mysterious desert wilderness that is the Kalahari. In the Kalahari, the thornveld and sweeping sand dunes are home to some of the world's most fascinating wildlife. This most extensive private game reserve is owned by the well-known Oppenheimer family, it boasts 70 species of mammal including lion, cheetah, desert black rhino, sable and roan antelope. More than 200 species of bird can also be found. Tswalu is the historical home of the San, whose storytelling and dream imagery can be seen at the many archaeological sites found in this unique private game reserve.