Into the Wild – Your Extraordinary South African Adventure!

For wildlife enthusiasts, there is always an undeniable urge to experience close encounters with the wild in their natural habitats. If you are planning your next wildlife adventure, South Africa is one of those places where you get to experience nature at its fullest. You can dive right into the epic wilderness and see the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo) up close. But it’s not just about that – soak in dramatic landscapes, enjoy the pleasant weather and go on an adventure filled trip with your family while here.

The list below will show you the best ways to explore wildlife and nature in South Africa:

Self-Driven Tour at Kruger National Park

The national and private parks in South Africa offer plenty of opportunities to experience wildlife. If you want to watch animals at your leisure and opt for self-driven tours through the wilderness, you should definitely visit Kruger National Park, a top wildlife destination in South Africa. Spread across 19,485 square-kilometer, this park is home to a large number of African elephants, Cape buffaloes, lions, rhinoceros and leopards, along with the African wild dogs, hyenas and many other predators.

Explore the park at your own pace by renting a car for a thrilling self-driving experience. The tarred and gravelly paths are well laid-out to drive amidst the lush wilderness. If you drive on the gravelly Albasini road route from Phabeni gate as the entry point, you should stop at the Mestel Watering Hole to watch the gorgeous birds. Another popular route on the park’s eastern part is the Crocodile Bridge Gate where you can spot white rhinoceros, lions, leopards, cheetahs and black-breasted snake eagles.

Family Fun at Private Game Reserves

Named after the Boekenhout tree, Mongena – native to the Dinokeng Game Reserve, Mongena Game Lodge is a perfect retreat for families who want to spend an exciting vacation together. This luxurious lodge is also a malaria-free zone and your little ones would love the domesticated springbucks, nyalas and zebras within the vicinity.

Another private and luxurious wildlife destination for game viewing is Mabula Game Lodge, located close to Limpopo Province. Here you can opt for safaris twice a day if you feel you didn’t get to see much on your first visit. If this isn’t enough, enjoy safaris on horsebacks with expert guides or even take thrilling quad bikes to witness animals from close.

Adventurous Times at the Valley of Waves

Apart from the country’s extraordinary wildlife parks, you and your loved ones should also not miss out on several other entertainment opportunities here. Do visit the Valley of Waves at the Sun City Resort in Pilanesburg. One of the main attractions at this water park is its Roaring Lagoon - a massive wave beach with a hydraulic system, generating 2-metre high waves at the speed of 35 km per hour, that recurs every one-and-a-half minute.

For those bold enough to take the plunge and pump up some adrenaline, Temple of Courage has a chute about 70 metres long with a staggering 17-metre vertical drop. The Tarantula body slide within this fantastic water park should be next on your adventure checklist. This half-submerged slide will let you ride through a dark tunnel at an unbelievable speed that you will never forget.

Exploring the Garden Route

No vacation in South Africa is complete without visiting the famed Garden Route, close to Cape Town. Covering roughly about 200 km from Mossel Bay to Storms River, this picturesque stretch on the southeastern coastline consists of dense forests, lakes, mesmerising beaches and gorgeous mountainous regions. There are umpteen things to do while you are here!

Bungee Jumping from Bloukrans Bridge

If you want to take your adventure to the next level, try bungee jumping from Bloukrans Bridge at Tsitsikamma Forest Village Market. Not many people are aware that this is one of the highest bungee jumping sites in the world – about 216 metres high. This bungee jump due to its ‘pendulum bungee technology’ will make you swing like a pendulum instead of bouncing up and down. After your stirring (and swinging!) experience, you can head to the Cliffhanger Restaurant to satiate your hunger pangs. This restaurant also records and displays live-feeds of the jumps. Remember to buy the live-feed video of your thrilling jump from here!

Witness the Sea Predators at Seal Island

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If the most terrifying predators at sea interest you, you should definitely head to Seal Island at Mossel Bay. To kick up a notch, go for cage diving with the Great White sharks. These apex predators are found in great numbers here and many do not know this fact. The sea is warm most of the year, which allows the diving trip to last for more than 2 hours. Don’t worry, it’s not important to have the technical know-how of diving. You will be briefed before you dive and there will be other experienced divers along with you too. This is one of the best places to visit as you may get to see the Orca, Humpback whales and Bottlenose dolphins.

For enjoying the perfect adventure holiday, you should visit all of these places in South Africa. From getting up close with the predators on land to the hunters of the sea and indulging in countless activities to test your limits with nature. Not only would they refresh you, but give you a new perspective on being one with the natural world. So, check out the excellent MakeMyTrip packages and pick the best itinerary for an adventure of a lifetime.

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