WELCOME TO SOUTHERN AFRICA

About Southern Africa

Southern Africa offers a wonderful blend of race and cultures, climate and topography, the region features incredible wildlife, traditional hospitality, sophisticated cities, unforgettable scenery and of course, a sunny climate. Experience the natural beauty, which Africa has to offer from the wide-open plains, wild animals in their natural habitats to the unspoiled coastlines of Southern Africa.

An unreal tapestry unfolds before your eyes as you reach the summit of the Katberg Pass… when the boat anchors at Robbins Island you realise that this is the place where Nelson Mandela spent many years of his life… the lady at the bureau arranged for the only traffic officer in town to show you the way… this is the way to tour around Southern Africa.

Close your eyes firmly before you plunge from the Storm River Bridge… sink back into your seat as the Land Rover's nose keep dropping down the Kalahari dune… grope desperately for the rope as the raft shoots right out of the muddy Orange River waters… this is the way to tame Southern Africa.

Hear the clatter of the bones as the Samgona rolls it across the floor… see the small ray of sunlight moving slowly towards a holy day in December… taste the curry in the samosa on a Durban beachfront… This is the way to go out and meet the people of Southern Africa.

Hear the call of the Bokmakierie… see the red African sun disappear like a ball of fire…… gliding into the waves at Plett… squeeze through the narrow tunnel and into the cave… this is the way to enjoy the sights of Southern Africa.

Whether you restrict your visit to one country, or choose to sample several in one trip, Southern Africa offers you the opportunity of a lifetime as well giving you a unique and unforgettable holiday experience.

Botswana

Botswana has only 1.3 million inhabitants, spread over an area, which is larger than France. Botswana is a land of real wilderness, although there are many excellent luxury lodges, set in areas varying from desert to lagoon, that are all rich in wildlife. If there is a place where one wishes time could stand still, it is this beautiful country which is called Botswana. With only 1.3 million inhabitants, spread over an area, which is larger than France, you will encounter endless horizons, unforgettable "real" wilderness, the splendid waterways of the Okavango Delta, the sand dunes of the Kalahari Desert and the abundance of wildlife.

The Okavango Delta is the most widely known area in Botswana. Some 16,000 square kilometres in extent at full flood, the Delta is an area of tranquil, lily-covered lagoons and narrow channels hemmed in by papyrus reeds. The Moremi reserve is on the north-east of the Okavango Delta and is home to some of the finest lodges. Chobe National Park, in north-eastern Botswana, is yet another wildlife haven with thousands of elephant, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, kudu and impala. The Kalahari Desert, which covers most of Botswana, is the largest stretch of wind-blown sand on the planet, and hides many remarkably adapted creatures which can be found in its striking, stark landscapes.

These are just a few features of what makes Botswana your ultimate travel destination and welcome to the very best part of Africa. Botswana, a country possibly better known for peace and tranquillity, diamonds and beef, holds a lot of suprises too, so come and explore the diverse cultures of its people and nature at its best where you will be joining others to experience the "Last Eden".

Lesotho

With just over 2 million inhabitants, the Kingdom of Lesotho is a land locked country and is totally surround by South Africa. There are many popular descriptions of this rugged country, with is majestic beauty and serene simplicity such as the "Mountain Kingdom" and the "Kingdom in the Sky". Lesotho can offer a very different tourism experience, with the main potential being its natural beauty, rich flora and fauna, and absorbing prehistoric and cultural heritage. The appeal of this extraordinary country is rarely found in many other destinations.

Mountains, valleys, and rivers provide a memorable backdrop of scenery for the visitor. This is where Lesotho gets its crystal clear water as well as green pastures for livestock and minerals such as diamond can be found in the mountains, making Lesotho indeed, the "Kingdom in the Sky." Many people travel many kilometres from their own countries just to come and patch in the rocks of Lesotho. But they also enjoy playing around in the clean water of Lesotho' s mountains, this being one of the biggest sources of income to the country.

Basotho are a nation that has solid traditions, beliefs and customs wit the annual Morija Arts Festival portraying at the best levels, the rich culture and celebrations that Lesotho is truly proud of. Being a part of these celebrations if possible and you will be welcomed with smiling faces and in the villages, you will be offered the traditional porridge called Motoho and can experience a wealth of other savoury food, natural attractions, and reserves.

The Maluti Mountains, which are spurs of the Drakensberg Mountain range, extend north and south and they form a high plateau. The highest point is Thabana Ntlenyana in the east and the rich volcanic soils of the foothills and mountains are some of the best in the country. The sources of two of the principal rivers in South Africa, the Orange and the Tugeld, are in these mountains with the tributaries of the Caledon River, which forms the country's western border, also rising here.

Mozambique

Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with Mozambique gaining independence in 1975, but large-scale emigration by whites, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war, was since hindered the country's development. The ruling party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A United Nation negotiated peace agreement with rebel forces ended the fighting in 1992.

Time and tide have not really been kind to Mozambique. After its long, horrific civil war which scarred the country, shattered its infrastructure and left a million land mines scattered about the countryside, much of its wildlife, including big game such as elephants and rhinos, was decimated by war, and much of its coastline has since been ravaged by cyclones. Droughts and floods have also taken turns at rubbing salt in Mozambique's wounds.

Many Mozambicans, however, have begun putting the past behind them and have already started rebuilding their country at a remarkable pace. It's now possible to travel in relative safety, although getting around does require keeping your wits about you. And there are now a fair number of things to see including their world-renowned beaches, World Heritage Sites, funky colonial architecture and very colourful local culture.

Namibia

Situated on the Atlantic Coast of Africa and covering 823,145 square kilometres of the south-western part of the African continent, Namibia is a country of stunning contrasts, diverse landscapes and weather and offers a vibrant array of sights, people, flora and fauna. Bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Angola, it is a vast land considered by many to be 'Africa's finest Jewel', and truly out of this world.

Thanks to its diverse topography, agreeable climate and huge size, Namibia offers a host of opportunities for outdoor activities of all kinds. These range from the creative, such as photography, to the highly active, like white water rafting. In fact, nowhere else on the continent could a visitor find so many different pursuits within one country. Namibia is a sunbaked land of rugged mountains, endless sand dunes and vast rocky plains and has an excellent network of roads making touring a pleasure.

It's been said that people who visit Namibia take with them more unforgettable images in their memories or on film than of anywhere else in Africa. It's certainly true that there are few places that offer such spectacular diversity, vivid colours and wild beauty. From the depths of the Fish River Canyon to the multitudes of wildlife on the Etosha Pan, Namibia is unforgettable and you can now discover the many splendours that this country has to offer as you set foot into the 'great unknown'.

South Africa

South Africa is not a land through which you travel; it is a land through which you roam, so vast and untamed. With a natural glory that is some of the best preserved on the African continent. When the continents first shifted, Africa was blessed with many natural gifts and no where is this more evident, than at the continent's southern-most tip, for this land at the foot of the African continent is one of immeasurable beauty and great contrast. Here you will discover nineteen National Parks, like the famed Kruger National Park, which is South Africa's largest, covering an area the size of New England.

From bushveld through deserts and forests, up winter snow-capped peaks down to wide, unspoiled beaches and coastal wetlands, lies the sprawling land called South Africa. This land of unequalled splendour and diversity beckons you. In a country so spoiled with natural beauty, you will find the great outdoors irresistible. Hiking trails, hot-air ballooning, bungee jumping, river-rafting, surfing, all types of water sports and eco-adventures, if fact almost any outdoor activity that you can imagine. There are the exciting cities of Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg to visit, the famous Garden Route to explore, the abundant wine growing region and of course the National and Private Game Reserves and much, much more.

As you can see there are so many reasons for visiting South Africa, whether it is for its natural beauty, its abundant wildlife, its rich cultural heritage or its year-round sunny climate, which can all be had for great value for money, where you can wine, dine, shop and stay at incredible bargain prices. So enjoy its fine hotels and lodges, excellent roads and modern services, with access to unspoilt beaches and scenery and a grand array of wildlife. South Africa is "The Rainbow Nation"

Swaziland

Swaziland is an independent Kingdom headed by an absolute monarch, within the borders of South Africa and is the smallest country in the Southern Hemisphere and also one of the most easy going and laid-back. The British guaranteed autonomy for the Swazis of Southern Africa in the late 19th century although independence was only granted in 1968. During the 1990s the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) has allowed some political reform and greater democracy, although this process is not complete yet.

Swaziland's rather progressive and hands-on attitude towards wildlife preservation has endowed the country with a striking number of national parks and game reserves, where black and white rhino, elephant, and more recently, lion, have been reintroduced. You can trek, horse ride, raft on wild rivers or cycle through many of the parks and get surprisingly close to a huge variety of wildlife. The system of reserves also protects unique and rare plants and plant communities, such as the finbos or fine bush, more common in South Africa.

The entire Kingdom is a scenic paradise although the Ezulwini Valley south of the capital of Mbabane is probably the most popular with visitors. Some of the more important festivals turn the Ezulwini ('Heaven') Valley into a brilliant spectacle of dancing and singing a couple of times a year, as tribes people decked out in flamboyant costumes reaffirm their belief in the monarchy and their culture. There are a number of good hotels, a casino and markets where some of the Swazi people's excellent crafts are found.

Zambia

Land of the legendary African walking safari, the wild Zambezi River, breath-taking lakes and wetlands, a profusion of birds, abundant wildlife, raw, pulsating wilderness and the most spectacular views of Victoria Falls. Zambia has an incredible natural heritage with many unique wildlife species, which can only be found here. With both large and small carnivores along with the more common types of wildlife plus over 740 species of birds throughout the country, sightings can be frequent. All of this is Zambia and all in one friendly country!

Zambia has some of Africa's finest Game Reserves in the world. From South Luangwa National Park, which is rated as one of the top game reserves in the world to Kafue National Park, one of Africa's biggest parks and absolutely teeming with game. From Nyika, a highland National Park with awesome views to Mosi-o-Tunya, which has all of Zambia's plains game such as rhino, elephant and giraffe and is just minutes from Victoria Falls.

At Lochinvar National Park, although not abundant in the larger mammals, is a wetland birders' paradise, with over 420 recorded species. Nsumbu National Park, on the southern shores of Lake Tanganyika, is famous for excellent angling, right off the shoreline. Catches can include the Nile perch, goliath tigerfish, vundu catfish, lake salmon and the tasty yellow belly and on occasions, the much sought after golden perch. Zambia can offer high action adrenaline thrills and off-the-beaten track adventures including rafting, kayaking and canoeing trails, 4x4 routes. House-boating, horseback trails, scuba diving, bungy jumping, micro lighting and, all in one friendly country!

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's foremost attraction is Victoria Falls, which borders Zambia and is one of the natural wonders of the world, and truly worth a visit. Words cannot do justice to the impact of the world's largest waterfall, with an amazing 545 million litres of water pouring over the falls each minute. However, Zimbabwe has so much more to offer, in a land nearly the size of California there is an abundance of natural resources, rich cultures and natural beauty.

The capital city, Harare, is a blend of old and new with superb street markets between modern buildings, while nearby are excellent botanical gardens. Bulawayo is Zimbabwe's second city with an interesting colonial history and is an excellent base for exploring the Matobo National Park, a rugged wilderness of soaring black eagles, caves, 'bushmen' paintings and rainbow coloured lizards. In marked contrast are the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, the site of the Shona city-state that thrived from the Middle Ages to late in the 15th century. The Great Enclosure is the largest stone structure in Africa south of the Pyramids.

The Eastern Highlands, with the city of Mutare as its commercial centre, provide striking mountain scenery. The road from Birchenough Bridge to Mutare is particularly scenic. Lake Kariba is man-made, the result of the Kariba Dam, built during the 1950's. The lake covers some 7,700 square kilometres and its shores are shared with Zambia. The scenery is superb and the sunsets vibrant with colour. Hwange National Park is the country's biggest game reserve, covering 14,620 square kilometres, about half the size of Belgium. There are over 30,000 elephant, 15,000 buffalo, 3,000 giraffe and 400 bird species.

CONSUMER PROTECTION

The air holidays and flights shown are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under the ATOL licence of 1st Class Holidays Ltd. The ATOL number is ATOL 5421. ATOL Protection extends primarily to customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom. Click on the ATOL logo if you want to know more.