Botswana is a year-round travel destination. Game viewing is most productive in the dry season of June to October, although temperatures rise significantly towards October. February to April is the best time to witness the incredible Zebra and Wildebeest migration in the Kalahari.

The sensational Okavango Delta is a unique habitat, made up of a checkerboard of islands and crystal-clear waterways brimming with wildlife. A host of African mega herbivores thrive on these islands, as do the big predators that feed on them – Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Spotted Hyena and endangered Wild Dog which really should be officially named the Painted Wolf. The majesty of the Delta is hard to clone – a most unique swampland of rich and highly protected ecosystems with varied and plentiful wildlife, harbouring over 500 species of birds, of which 24 is globally threatened, as well as 85 recorded species of fish.

The Congo is one of the least explored, yet oldest National Parks in Africa, having been proclaimed by the French Administration in 1935. This pristine rainforest spans 1.360 million hectares (3.360 million acres) and is an integral part of the Congo Basin – an immense tri-nation reserve between CAR, Gabon and Congo. It is the second largest rainforest habitat, outsized only by the Amazon. It houses a host of endemic forest wildlife, including African Forest Elephant and Giant Forest Hog, and Odzala is home to the highest densities of the Western Lowland Gorilla so far recorded. (Not to be confused with the more well-known Mountain Gorilla species found in Rwanda and Uganda)

The high-altitude Bale Mountain range is home to the world’s most rare canid – the Ethiopian Wolf. Gelada Baboons and the magnificent Walia Ibex can be found in the lofty heights of the Simien Mountains. Highly adorned animistic tribes have, for centuries, made the Omo Valley their home. Famed for its cultural traditions and tribal diversity, this remote corner of Ethiopia has been a cultural crossroads for millenia, and the variety and diversity of life is truly a melting pot of humanity.

Gondar, the Camelot of Africa, is known for its extensive castles and Lalibela for its distinctive rock-cut churches dating back to the 12th century – pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians. Ethiopia is a land of incredible landscapes and uniquity. Temperatures range between 14 ̊C and 41 ̊C and the best time to visit is from late June to September, or November to March.

The World-famous Ngorongoro Crater, also known as “Africa’s Eden”, is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. It is scenically breathtaking and among the world’s most dense populations of large mammals, and the highest concentration of large predators on the planet.

The vast green-gold savannas of the Serengeti, dotted with thorn trees and abundant wildlife, is a haven for photography. The Serengeti offers long, undisturbed views and utterly dramatic panoramas. The landscape is simply stunning.

The Maasai Mara is Kenya’s most well-known reserve. Boasting an astonishing selection of wildlife, here you can experience the ultimate safari. Famously, the Mara hosts the northerly end of the Great Wildebeest Migration that sweeps in from the Serengeti when the Tanzanian grass starts to fail.

The great Wildebeest migration is governed by nature and there is no precise timing. July to August is the time frame that the herds generally reach the Mara River, resulting in the famed Mara River crossings where crocodiles feast. During the long rains in April and May many properties close due to road conditions and inaccessibility.

The animal life and vegetation of Madagascar are anomalous, differing greatly from that of nearby Africa, and being in many respects completely unique. Here you will find the small, secluded island of Tsarabanjina, situated off the North-West Coast. This postcard perfect island paradise is replete with powder-soft white beaches, verdant vegetation and panoramic views of the warm Indian Ocean teeming with marine biodiversity.

No roads lead to the remote Masoala Peninsula, which can only be accessed by boat. The lush primary rainforest is dripping with lemurs (including the highly sought after Red Ruffed Lemur), chameleons and a host of other wildlife. This is Madagascar’s largest National Park.

The remote and exceptionally beautiful Anjajavy coastline with its sandy coves and turquoise waters, borders a superb dry forest reserve where a plethora of unique wildlife and majestic Baobab trees are highly protected. The most magical aspect of Anjajavy is the troops of delightful dancing Coquerel’s Sifaka. Other key mammals include Grey Mouse Lemur and the highly sought after Fossa.

On the Eastern slope of Madagascar’s mountainous backbone, spans Ranomafana Reserve over a wide range of elevations and forest types. Here, one can enjoy numerous lemur species from the rare Golden Bamboo Lemur to the tiny nocturnal Brown Mouse Lemur. Night walks also offer the opportunity to see colourful chameleons and strange Leaf-tailed Geckos.

Kirindy is a private reserve in the southwestern part of Madagascar and protects approximately 100 square kilometres of one of Madagascar’s most threatened ecosystems: its dry deciduous forests. Although the lodgings are very basic this is the best place to seek out the unique Fossa, the island’s largest carnivore. Kirindy is also known as a good location for Giant Jumping Rat. A trip to magical Madagascar is best planned for October, November and early December, before the rains ensue. We avoid cyclone season from January to March when rainfall, temperature and humidity are at their highest and the sea is choppy.

Mozambique offers your quintessential African Beach holiday where the coral life is as healthy as can be, and untouched by over-commercial tourism. With its close proximity to the Greater Kruger and sensational Sabi Sand Game Reserve, you could be on a game drive in the morning, and on that very same afternoon, you could be sailing on a dhow through the crystal-clear archipelago sipping a sundowner off the coast of Mozambique. The exquisite Indian Ocean islands host a handful of small boutique lodges, pristine and idyllic sandy beaches and beautifully preserved oceans.

Along the historical Mozambique Channel lies tropical Ilha de Benguerra, an African island paradise washed by the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The Island comprises of forest, savannah, freshwater lakes and wetland eco-systems that sustain a diverse population of fauna and flora. Time here can be spent relaxing on the unspoiled white sandy beaches, diving the remarkable dive sites, fishing (subject to a strict “catch & release” policy) and enjoying the varying habitats the island has to offer.

Quilalea is a hidden gem, with a relaxed castaway style where you can snorkel the island’s shores, dive from the main beach, kayak the mangroves or relax in a hammock beneath the giant Baobab trees. Found in the Quirimbas Archipelago, this private island offers seclusion and privacy, with the only residents being the hotel guests and staff. For the diving enthusiast, Quilalea offers some of the best SCUBA diving in the Quirimbas, only 20 metres offshore. Mozambique has an enviable climate and the islands are blessed with hot, sunny weather year round.

Highlights, to name but a few, would be the star-studded sky patterned with constellations typical of the Southern Hemisphere, over the towering apricot coloured dunes of Sossusvlei in the oldest desert in the world; the desolate beauty of the Skeleton Coast where you could stay at some of the most remote camps on Planet Earth, the outside, painting-like with some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.

The rugged region of Damaraland is dotted with colossal granite koppies, plunging gorges, open plains and grassland where the sandy desert sustains desert-adapted wildlife and bizarre ancient Welwitschia plants dot the gravel plains. Etosha is one of Africa’s iconic big game destinations and home to desert-adapted Elephant, the rare Brown Hyena and the near-extinct Black Rhino.

Largely untouched by modern man with original stone circles, ancient Welwitschia plants, semi-nomadic Himba tribes and unexpected oases, Hoanib Valley is the land of Elephants, Giraffes, Lions and Brown Hyenas, among many other desert adapted species. Namibia is indeed, the epitome of a photographer’s dream and a year-round destination, albeit wildlife is at its best during the dry season from June to October and temperatures start to rise exponentially from October on.

Príncipe is on the equator off the West Coast of Africa. It is an extension of the African rainforests in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Congo. The island has a high rainfall together with very balmy days and brilliant sunshine. Although the island is small it has many micro-climates and there is seldom a day when you are not able to head out in great weather to explore.

This magnificent lost world offers fantastic beaches and adventurous jungle explorations through tropical rainforest. Hikes climb up volcanic mountains in the Unesco-declared Principe Biosphere and bring you to volcanic spires and the treat of excellent birdlife with an impressive total of 29 endemic species.

Snorkelling and sustainable fishing are highlights, as are turtle nesting grounds – a perfect beach destination after a long day of Lowland Gorilla trekking in nearby Odzala.

South Africa is a sensational ‘first-time-in-Africa’ destination to get your feet wet on the African continent.

Home to the Iconic Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve within the Greater Kruger Conservancy, your wildlife experience will be sensational and incomparable to absolutely nowhere on Earth. Most people today know the Sabi Sands more for its luxury Lodges and ‘Big Five’ game viewing, than as the reserve of great species diversity that it is. The wildlife checklists of the Sabi Sands are testament to the fact that this reserve truly is a wildlife paradise, and any intrepid wildlife enthusiast has not truly lived until you’ve experienced this magnificent wildlife sanctuary. Named after the Sabi River on its Southern Boundary and the Sand River flowing through it, this 60 000Ha (150 000 Acre) reserve forms part of the Greater Kruger Conservancy and shares thousands of different plant varieties and all animal species with the Kruger National Park. It is home to a staggering 145 animal species and a bird list which exceeds 500. As a result of extreme ethics being applied in viewing the wildlife in their natural habitat, as well as the fact that these animals have been sensitively viewed since the early 1900’s, the animals are accustomed to being viewed, making for excellent encounters with the wild.

Cape Town is like no other city on Earth with gorgeous beaches and mountains right on the doorstep of a very vibrant cosmopolitan city. Excursions in Cape Town are numerous but highlights include time on the beach photographing humorous African Penguins at Boulders beach, a visit to Cape Point in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, a walk through the very unique fynbos-rich Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a revolving cable car ride (or hike for the more active at heart!) to the summit of Table Mountain with spectacular views, and a scenic drive along the sheer cliffs of Chapman’s Peak Drive. There are several routes to climb up Table Mountain and from the top the views over the city, the Atlantic Ocean and Robben Island are truly sensational. Other hikes in the Cape Town area include several through the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where you can enjoy spectacular fynbos, troops of Chacma Baboons, shipwrecks and beautiful beaches with Ostriches, or kayaking trips where Cape Fur Seals or Heaviside’s- and Dusky Dolphin may join you as you paddle along the dramatic coastline.

The wine region of the Cape has grown as a destination in itself, and is just a short drive from Cape Town. Franschhoek is known as the food capital of South Africa there is no wine like South African wine!

South Africa is pleasant year-round, as a wonderful travel destination. Although big game sightings are excellent year-round, some feel they peak in the winter months from June to October because the bush is dry and less dense making it easier to spot wildlife. The winter months are also a good time of year for whales and great white sharks in the Cape. South Africa has many climates. The Mediterranean Western Cape, the sub-tropical and arid Eastern Cape and the sub-tropical Natal and Kruger regions. They all have hot summers (December to February), and the coldest months are July and August. The Western Cape has a winter rainfall, while the Kruger/Natal area has summer rainfall and the Eastern Cape relatively little rainfall.

No other area in all of Africa can match the diversity of Primates here. Gorilla trekking is certainly a life-changing experience and viewing Gorillas and Chimpanzees in their natural habitat has to be a bucket list item. Here, one can also encounter vast concentrations of the Nile Crocodile, Hippopotamus, and other big

game including African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, and the famed tree- climbing Lions of the Queen Elizabeth National Park – a vast reserve boasting impressive crater scenery, expansive grasslands and tropical forests. The Volcans National Park in Rwanda is home to no less than six Virunga Volcanoes and the Virunga species of Mountain Gorilla. While exploring the large stands of bamboo that grace these verdant mountains, you could also trek for the delightful endemic Golden Monkey. With over 330 mammal species and a bird list of over 1000 species, there’s plenty to see in these parts.

Uganda and Rwanda are year-round travel destinations. Both destinations’ close proximity to the equator means equatorial climates and conditions remain consistent throughout the year with temperatures never really lower than 15 ̊C and highs in the mid to high 20s

The number one attraction for visiting these two countries, is no doubt, the breathtaking Victoria Falls – one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Smoke that Thunders”very accurately describes the rising shining spray and foaming waters that roar deafeningly as the Zambezi River hurls itself 103m down the falls. When David Livingstone “discovered” the falls in 1855, he gave them the highest honour possible, by naming them after his Queen.

Zambia is certainly the home of the walking safari: an authentic, totally immersive, and non-pretentious bush experience.

The Lower Zambezi National Park, on the mighty Zambezi, and opposite to Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools, offers an authentic experiential safari with a large variety of activities including day & night game drives, walking, canoeing, boat safaris and catch & release angling. The legendary Zambezi River is a spectacle to behold, and the namesake of this pristine wilderness.

South Luangwa National Park is where walking safaris originated and still today, remains one of the finest ways to explore this exceptional wilderness. The concentration of wildlife in the area is awe-inspiring – Buffalo and Puku congregate on the plains alongside endemic species such as the Thornicroft’s Giraffe, Cookson’s Wildebeest and unique Crawshay’s Zebra. Predators here include Lion, impressive numbers of Leopard and the elusive African Wild Dog.

Mana Pools, deep within the Zambezi Valley is one of the least commercial (but most famed amongst safari veterans) National Parks in Southern Africa. Mana is remote, breathtakingly beautiful and thriving with Big Game. The Zambezi River is flanked on either side by Ancient Natal Mahogany- and African Ebony Trees and Wild Fig forests. This is one of the best areas to view African Wild Dog, or as they should be names, The Painted Wolf. The famed “flight of the angels” helicopter flip over the roaring Victoria Falls is a must do.

Hwange, Zimbabwe’s largest National Park, is a haven for wildlife and one of the most highly rated Game Reserves in Southern Africa. The numerous waterholes attract game of great variety and in large numbers – especially in the winter months when animals gather around the waterholes to quench their thirst. Game viewing is most productive in the dry season of June to October although it does get very hot towards October. The Victoria Falls is at its best after the summer rains in April and May.

This scented land of coconuts and spices is so idyllic that the Sultan of Oman decided to move the seat of his empire to the shores of Zanzibar! Today, the Zanzibar Archipelago is still bathed in the heady scents of cloves and cinnamon, and traditional dhows drift across the horizon. Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. On the main land is the quirky Stone Town – a historic trade centre and World Heritage Site – and along its winding cobblestoned lanes are carved doorways and minarets, and 19th century landmarks such as the House of Wonders, a former Sultan’s Palace.

A breathtaking escape from the world with its crystal clear, unnaturally-bright turquoise water and truly unspoilt powder-white sandy beaches.