Fall for the rugged terrain of Southern Africa

FEW places on earth offer such a variety of experiences in the wilderness as Southern Africa. It's nature at its finest, with adventure thrown in.

A woman walking up the ridge of sand dune in Southern Africa. Picture: Lonely Planet

A REMARKABLY diverse region fused by its prolific wildlife, breathtaking landscapes and remnants of a fascinating ancient culture, Southern Africa will etch itself on to your heart.

Accessible Africa

The many and diverse faces of Southern Africa make it the continent's most accessible destination. It's perfect for the intrepid traveller - think Zambian wilderness, remote Mozambican archipelagos and Namibian deserts; and it's ideal for new visitors wanting to slide a toe on to the continent for the first time.

Think sophisticated South Africa, compact Swaziland and friendly Malawi. From Okavango Delta luxury lodges to Cape Town budget digs, this is truly Africa.

Wildlife Watching

Southern Africa has some of Africa's great safari destinations: Kruger, Etosha, South Luangwa and Hwange National Parks, and the Okavango Delta. The sheer number of elephants, lions, leopards, hyenas, rhinos, buffaloes, antelope and myriad other species will quickly overwhelm your camera. Spot them on self-drives, guided wildlife drives or charter flights and if that's not up close and personal enough, what about the opportunity to track the highly endangered black rhino, on foot?

Landscapes

There's famous Table Mountain, the mighty Fish River Canyon, and the desertscapes of the Kalahari, but the lonely rural tracks that expose visitors to a wandering wilderness are just as memorable. In Namibia, huge slabs of flat-topped granite rise from mists of windblown sand dust. And Zambian flood plains are dotted with acacia trees and flanked by escarpments of dense woodland. Want to see all the landscapes the region has to offer? Put aside a lifetime.

Cultural Experiences

For insight into extraordinary rock art left by ancestors of the San, an ancient people with direct links to the Stone Age, visit Tsodilo Hills in Botswana and the extensive rock art galleries in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Peel back the centuries in the cultural melting pot of Mozambique Island; stay in a mud hut in Zimbabwe and watch Shona sculptors at work; prop up the bar at a shebeen in Soweto; or mingle with Basotho people in highland villages in Lesotho.

Adventure Activities

Namibia is Southern Africa's headquarters for adrenalin-pumping fun, but there's adventure to be had all over the region. Sail by dhow past remote islands off Mozambique's jagged coastline, abseil Livingstonia in Malawi, tackle the ferocious rapids down the Zambezi River or bungee from a bridge at Victoria Falls. In South Africa, the Garden Route with its old-growth forests offers shark-cage diving, surfing, skydiving, canoeing and kloofing (canyoning). And that's just scratching the surface.

Five Top Experiences

Victoria Falls in full cry. Picture: Lonely Planet

1. Victoria Falls

The largest, most beautiful and simply the greatest waterfall in the world. As iconic to Africa as "Dr Livingstone, I presume", thunderous Victoria Falls will blow your mind. It's the sheer scale of the falls that is its most impressive feature. A million litres of water per second are funnelled over the 108m drop, creating a plume of spray seen for kilometres. This is a sight that, when you're in Southern Africa, you should move heaven and earth to see.

2. Etosha National Park

There are few places in Southern Africa that can compete with the wildlife prospects of extraordinary Etosha National Park, Namibia. A network of waterholes dispersed among the bush and grasslands surrounding the pan - a blindingly white, flat, saline desert that stretches into the horizon - attracts enormous congregations of animals. A single waterhole can render thousands of sightings over the course of a day. Etosha is simply one of the best places on the planet for wildlife viewing.

3. Fish River Canyon

The enormous gash in the surface of the planet in the south of Namibia is an almost implausible landscape. Seen most clearly in the morning, Fish River Canyon is desolate, immense and seemingly carved into the earth by a master builder. The exposed rock and lack of plant life is quite startling, and any attempt to take pictures is soon replaced with thoughtful reflection. The canyon's rounded edges and sharp corners create a symphony in stone of gigantic and most imposing proportions.

4. Sossusvlei

The towering red dunes of Sossusvlei consist of incredibly fine sand that feels soft when it falls through your fingers and changes hue with the light. It's astounding, especially given that the sands originated in the Kalahari millions of years ago.

The valley is dotted by hulking dunes, and interspersed with unearthly, dry vleis (low, open landscapes). Clambering up the face of these constantly moving giants is a unique experience. Survey the seemingly endless swath of nothingness that surrounds you, and feel as though time itself has slowed.

5. Okavango Delta

The Okavango in Botswana is an astonishing, beautiful and wild place. Home to wildlife spectacles of rare power and drama, the delta changes with the seasons as flood waters ebb and flow, creating islands, river channels and pathways for animals that move this way and that at the waters' behest. No visit to the delta is complete without drifting in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe). Exclusive and remote lodges are an Okavango speciality, and self-drivers can find outstanding campsites in the heart of the Okavango's Moremi Game Reserve.

This is an edited extract from Lonely Planet Southern Africa (6th Edition) by Alan Murphy, et al. © Lonely Planet 2013. Published this month, RRP: $48.99.

GO2 - SOUTHERN AFRICA

When to Go

HIGH SEASON (April-August)

* Most places bask in temperate sunshine, with comfortable (but often very chilly) nights.

* Cape Town (a more Mediterranean climate) is characterised by rain and blustery winds.

SHOULDER (February and March, September and October)

* Usually quite comfortable in the central part of the region.

* Great time to visit with good wildlife viewing but fewer tourist numbers.

LOW SEASON (November-January)

* In the north, plan for inclement weather.

* Heat can be oppressive and travel more difficult due to washed-out roads.

* Birdwatching and thunderstorms at their best.

Getting There

Most flights into Southern Africa arrive at Johannesburg (South Africa) and this is usually the cheapest access point for the region.

Although not the most salubrious city to kickstart your travels, it is the heart of the new South Africa and change - be it good or bad - is in your face.

The airport itself is in between Jo'burg and Pretoria, so it's easy enough to catch a bus in the other direction and stay in a more relaxing city.

From Australia, Sydney and Perth are hubs for flights to Jo'burg, and Qantas has regular services (flying time about 14 hours from Sydney, 10½ hours from Perth).

Your Daily Budget

* Cape Town and the Garden Route are more expensive. Prices vary considerably between countries.

Mid-range from 450 South African rand (R or $A50)

* Guesthouse, B&B or hotel double: from R400

* Wildlife drive: R250

* Single room supplements are common.

MORE: Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa is responsible for promoting tourism in the region.

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