SOUTHERN AFRICA

Southern Africa is a term mainly used in the tourism industry and it regroups all the tourist destinations bordering South Africa or which are easily accessible via Southern Africa. Botswana - from the crystal-clear waters of the Okavango Delta to the large elephant herds in the Chobe National Park and the unpredictable Savute Channel, which runs dry and floods seemingly at random. Blessed with some of Africa's most beautiful reserves and an array of exceptional wildlife, Botswana is an unforgettable safari destination.

Zambia is the undiscovered treasure trove of Africa. It shelters extraordinary natural beauty and is one of the most pristine and unspoiled wildlife havens on the continent. It is easy to see why Zambia boasts one of the largest areas of land under protection as a national park in Africa. The thundering splendor of the Victoria Falls draws most visitors to this gentle and peaceful country. Less frequented than Zimbabwe, many travelers prefer to see the falls from the Zambian side and some claim the views are even more spectacular.

Namibia is the soul of Africa, characterized by vast open spaces, breathtaking scenery and great contrasts - ocean, dunes, mountains and deserts. This vast desert country of rolling dunes and swirling mists stirs the spirit and moves the heart.Namibia is so large and sparsely populated that it is possible to discover enormous open spaces without roads, towns, trees or even stones, just the lonely desert wind passing through one of the most enchanting corners of the earth.

The pearl of the Indian Ocean, Mozambique boasts 2 500 km (1 550 miles) of pristine beachfront on the mainland, with a string of beautiful and idyllic tropical islands, glittering like jewels in the warm, azure waters of the Indian Ocean.

Some of these destinations can easily be traveled alone for others a guide is necessary and recommended but generally the countries are safe to travel, especially when staying on the main paths. The roads however might be tricky to drive in some parts. Most destinations can be fairly easily be reached with direct flights from Johannesburg.