Active adventure

Mapungubwe National Park, located in South Africa's northern border where it meets Botswana and Zimbabwe, is a breathtaking haven of nature and history. Its stunning scenery is a blend of savannah, sandstone formations, ancient floodplains, and unique forests, creating a natural stage for an abundance of wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, white rhinos, captivating predators like hyenas, leopards, and lions, various antelope species, and a diverse range of birds.

Never has wellness been more relevant, with health and immunity now at the forefront of consciousness after months spent at home during lockdown, and entirely new concepts added to the plethora of health concerns - from Zoom fatigue and maskne to the loneliness induced by self-isolation. Here are some of South Africa’s top wellness experiences for travellers to nurture the mind, body, and spirit on a 2021 post-lockdown trip.

Feast your eyes, feed your soul and be inspired by South Africa in full bloom… South Africa is unique. It is one country in the world where one can weave a vibrant tapestry of culture and heritage from the many and varied attractions, experiences and influences that permeate daily living.

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg region offers breath-taking mountain views and adventures of note: hiking, rock-climbing, paragliding, mountain-biking, abseiling, ice-climbing, horse-riding and more.

South Africa has amazing trail-running terrain for visiting athletes, including mountains, forests, bushveld, beaches, savannahs and deserts – as well as some competitive runs to consider.

The Tsitsikamma Woodcutters’ Journey on the Garden Route in Western Cape takes you through pristine indigenous forests in one of South Africa’s most beautiful national parks.

Zipline through breath-taking Mpumalanga scenery with Induna Adventures in the Sabie River Valley on the Panorama Route – one of several exhilarating zip slide experiences on offer in South Africa.

South Africa’s Overberg region, where mountains, fynbos and strandveld descend spectacularly to the sea on the Whale Coast of Western Cape province, is a great spot to explore on horseback.

The Klein Karoo in Western Cape might be dry, but it offers unique plants, enthralling nature reserves, magnificent mountain vistas, its own wine route, ostrich farms and the world-famous Cango Caves.

Hike the Hunter-Gatherer Trail in Western Cape along the Garden Route to experience the landscape as humans did for tens of thousands of years, and you’ll know you’re in the Cradle of Human Culture.

The Freedom Trail is an exhilarating mountain-bike route from East Coast to West Coast in South Africa that runs through some of the most spectacular natural beauty the country has to offer.