While South Africa holds more than enough wonders for a lifetime of wandering, there’s nothing that can quite compare to a passport stamp and entering a strange new land.
If you’re longing for the thrill of discovering a new place, then the following four old favourites next door might do just the trick.
Sossusvlei, Namibia
Picture: Ker Downing Africa
Why go: For the ‘oh wow’ moments one gets exploring the dunes and Deadvlei.
How to get there: Sossusvlei is a five-hour drive from Windhoek, and a two-day drive from Johannesburg or Cape Town.
Where to stay: Many people don’t realise that you can’t actually stay at Sossusvlei. Sesriem is the closest ‘town’ (really just a cluster of lodges, campsites and a fuel station) and is outside the park gates. It gets busy with overlanders and self-drive 4x4s, whose rooftop tents look almost ready to hatch. Staying at Namibia Wildlife Resorts’ Sesriem Camping, which is just inside the park gate, gives you the advantage of access: campers are allowed to enter the park an hour before dawn and stay an hour after sunset. R490 per person.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia
Why go: For the smoke, the thunder and the lightning bolt of adrenalin you get from paddling on the world’s best white-water rafting river.
How to get there: Vic Falls is a three-hour flight from Cape Town, and a 1hr40 flight from Joburg. Some of the main international airlines flying the Cape Town to Victoria Falls route include Kenya Airways, South African Airways, and Air Namibia.
Where to stay: 528 | Victoria Falls is a beautiful boutique guesthouse decorated with pieces made by local Zimbabwean artisans. Located just 2.5km from town and 3km from the falls, 528 has 7 en-suite rooms and modern yet welcoming atmosphere. From R720 pp.
Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
Picture: Teagan Cunniffe
Why go: Sun, salt, sand and stone; prolific birdlife and the world’s second-largest wildebeest migration.
READ: Biggest-ever wildebeest river crossing in recent years caught on film
How to get there: Drive 900 km north from Joburg, and stop when you get to one of the largest salt flats in the world.
Where to stay: Nata Lodge, 9km from Nata, is a firm favourite. It has several campsites (R130 pp) nestled in the shade of palm trees and knobthorns, safari tents (R1 350 for two) and chalets (R1 750). Maya Guest Inn, in the shade of palm trees on the Nata River, is also a good option. Chalets from R590. +267 621 1296 [email protected]
Santa Maria, Mozambique
A brown scrub robin in the coastal dune forest and birding while sea kayaking the mangrove forests of Inhaca Bay. Picture: Jacques Marais.
Why go: World-class fishing and snorkelling, kayaking in mangroves and the small chance of spotting dugongs.
How to get there: Maputo is a six-hour drive from Johannesburg or an hour flight. Santa Maria is on the far side of Maputo Bay, reached in an hour via speedboat.
Where to stay: Bemugis has a campsite, chalets and a beach-sand restaurant that serves cold beer and the type of half chickens we somehow can’t cook as well here in SA. The restaurant has a menagerie of driftwood, washed up boat masts, fishing nets and carved dhows. Campsites R135, chalets from R340.
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