Welcome to your bi-weekly travel blog from Surbiton high street's independent travel agent, 7 Seas Holidays.

This week, 7 Seas is providing an insight into the "best" wildlife and safari destinations.

South Africa is a diverse country with an up-and-coming economy, situated in the southernmost tip of continental Africa.

It is a magical destination that is often overlooked by budget travellers, offering amazing safaris, rugged mountains, world-class wineries, endless coastlines, and lively cities like Cape Town.

Whether you are looking for stunning natural wonders or vibrant cities, there is something for everyone.

There is lots to see and do in South Africa (Credit: 7Seas Holidays)

South Africa is one of the world's most developed nations on the African continent, which makes it one of the most visited African countries by international tourists because of its vast array of cultures, languages, and climates.

A major source of income for the country comes from gold, diamonds, and other precious materials.

Most of the population lives in and around big urban areas. The biggest ones being Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Pretoria is the capital but is mostly overshadowed by its bigger neighbour being Johannesburg.

Known for its breath-taking natural beauty, a South Africa safari experience is ideal for families, honeymooners, and adventure enthusiasts of all ages.

Kruger National Park is widely considered to be the best place to see leopards in Africa. Great Karoo is a semi-desert region on the southern side of the plateau that fades into the drier and more arid Kalahari Desert in South Africa's far north-west.

Cape Town

Cape Town is a modern city in South Africa (Credit: 7Seas Holidays)

Cape Town is a modern city with high-rise office buildings and pedestrian malls. The city's reputation is still based on its beautiful location between mountain and sea, its cosmopolitan population, and the liberal outlook of many of its citizens. 

A unique combination of cultures, cuisines and landscapes, Cape Town is one of the world's most beautiful cities crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain National Park.

Cape Town attractions are Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain, Robben Island, Boulders Penguin Colony, District Six Museum, Noordhoek Beach, and Bloubergstrand.

Going on safari is a must-do experience when visiting Africa. A few hours' drive from Cape Town's centre are the Big Five — lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo — which may not lend themselves to traditional African bush experiences.

Here is a list of five places where you can see the big five:

• Aquila Private Game Reserve
• SanbonaWildlife Reserve
• Inverdoorn Game Reserve
• Garden Route Game Lodge
• Fairy Glen Private Game Reserve

Johannesburg

South Africa's capital, Johannesburg, is not only the largest city in the country, but also among the 50 largest urban areas in the world. This includes the city of Johannesburg, the capital of Gauteng, the richest province in the country.

Johannesburg is the principal gateway to South Africa and a transit point for connecting flights to Cape Town, Kruger National Park and Durban. There are many things to do in Johannesburg, like many other big cities around the world.

There are substantial Portuguese, Greek, Italian, Russian, Polish, and Lebanese communities in the city, as well as significant English and Afrikaans communities.

Places to visit in Johannesburg include Apartheid Museum, Gold Reef City, Constitution Hill, Maboneng Precinct, Nelson Mandela Museum, and Johannesburg Zoo. Johannesburg sees the most tourist visits during the summer.

South Africa is a prime wildlife destination. Some of the famous Wildlife National Parks are:

Kruger National Park

7Seas recommends you visit Kruger National Park when in South Africa (Credit: 7Seas Holidays)

The Kruger National Park game reserve is found in South Africa, the country at the southern tip of the African continent. The Kruger National Park lies across the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo in the north of South Africa, just south of Zimbabwe and west of Mozambique.

This is the land of baobabs, fever trees, knob thorns, marula and mopane trees underneath which lurk the Big Five, the Little Five (buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, ant lion and rhino beetle), the birding Big Six (ground hornbill, kori bustard, lappet-faced vulture, martial eagle, pel's fishing owl and saddle-bill stork) and more species of mammals than any other African Game Reserve.

The Kruger Park is a self-drive destination, although there are guided tour operators, with an excellent infrastructure that includes picnic sites, rest camps, waterholes and hides. The Kruger Park is a remarkable reserve offering an incredible experience of Africa at its most wild.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Golden Gate Highlands National Park is nestled in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains (Credit: 7Seas Holidays)

Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains of the north eastern Free State lies the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. At the foot of Lesotho's Maluti Mountains, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park will literally leave you high with inspiration with endless horizons, overlooking the vast beauty that is South Africa.

Loved for its unusual scenery and renowned for its golden aura as the sun lights up the sandstone cliffs and outcrops, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park is central to Johannesburg, Durban and Bloemfontein, making it the ideal escape.

Black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, oribi, springbok and burchell's zebra graze in the wild, grassy pastures, while rare, bearded vultures circle the skies above the lost pathways of the San hunter-gathers, who once dwelled in the park's caves.

Table Mountain National Park

A variety of species can be found at Table Mountain National Park (Credit: 7Seas Holidays)

Table Mountain is the most iconic landmark of South Africa. It is a unique and urban Western Cape Nature Reserve stretching from Signal Hill in the city to dramatic Cape Point, encompassing magnificent valleys, bays and beaches, the glorious Table Mountain and the legendary Cape of Good Hope.

It is also the country's most photographed attraction, and its famous cable car has taken millions of people to its top. There are about 2,200 species of plants found on Table Mountain and 1470 floral species. Many of these plants and flowers are endemic to this mountain.

Table Mountain National Park is part of the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site. Animals living in Table Mountain National Park are well adapted to their environment and not that easily seen amongst the vegetation. A variety of antelope species can be spotted including Klipsringer, Eland and Bontebok as well as other mammals such as Cape Mountain Zebra, Chacma Baboon and Cape Clawless Otter.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park can be seen as a haven for birders (Credit: 7Seas Holidays)

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park lies in a large sand-filled basin in the west of the southern African subcontinent, known as the Kalahari Desert. It straddles both South Africa and Botswana to create an enormous conservation area. Kgalagadi could be considered a haven for birders especially when interested in birds of prey. Red sand dunes, sparse vegetation and the dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob show antelope and predator species off at a premium and provide excellent photographic opportunities.

Royal Natal National Park

Hiking is popular at Royal Natal National Park (Credit: 7Seas Holidays)

Royal Natal National Park has some of the best mountain scenery in Africa. The main feature is the world famous Amphitheater, a rock wall approximately that is approximately five km in length, and approximately 500m high. On top of the amphitheater is the Mont-aux-Sources peak where the Orange river begins its long journey to the Atlantic ocean and Tugela river cascades down the face of the amphitheater, in the second highest waterfall in the world, on its way to the Indian ocean.

Hiking is by far the most popular activity at Royal Natal National Park. Comprehensive hiking guide's are available for purchase at the Visitor Centre, Thendele camp office and at the main entrance gate.

Addo Elephant National Park

Addo Elephant National Park is home to over 600 elephants (Credit: 7Seas Holidays)

Addo Elephant National Park is located near the southern tip of central South Africa. It is the third-largest South African national park behind Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Addo Elephant National Park is home to over 600 elephants, more than 400 cape buffaloes, and almost 50 black rhinoceroses. Other popular species include the lion, hartebeest, zebra, warthog, and hyena. The park has plans to expand adding in a marine reserve and neighbouring islands.

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