My top 10 places to view Wildlife in South Africa

We lived in Centurion, Pretoria for 4 years and welcomed numerous visitors every year to South Africa, including family, friends and work colleagues. We were regular visitors to the first 6 places and enjoyed annual trips to 7-10.
In no particular order, other than closest to our home at the time, are the following places to view game, wildlife and birds.

1. Reitvlei Nature Reserve just off the R21. Fantastic for picnics, bird watching and viewing Rhino.

2. Groenkloof on the outskirts of Pretoria where the M18 and the R21 join. Get out your car and take a walk with Giraffes, Zebras and Gnu’s. Hire bikes, ride horses or experience the awesome 4x4 route. Picnic, camp and experience authentic African food at Moyo’s restaurant.

3. Walter Sisulu Gardens in Johannesburg. Enjoy a picnic, a stroll through the gardens, view the nesting Eagles and walk to view the waterfalls.

4. Krugersdorp Lion Reserve, best to visit on a Sunday and experience the feeding habits of the Lions in a semi wild habitat. Picnic site and camp site with restaurant.

5. Pilanesburg Game Reserve. The closest place to view the Big 5. A two hour drive from Pretoria or stay over in a lodge, Sun City or camp site. Take a picnic or eat at Pilanesberg Centre. View Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Cape Buffalo and a Leopard if you’re lucky. Self drive or game drives available.

6. Kruger National Park. Nearest entrance is Malelane, nr Leopards Leap Golf Course, stay inside or outside the park in a lodge or camping. Drive along Crocodile River and take a walk with a ranger to view the hippos. Visit one of numerous restaurants in the park or take a picnic and braai.

7. Take a road trip to Cape Town via Port Elizabeth and visit the Addo Elephant National Park, there’s a variety of lodges nearby at reasonable prices. Spend the day viewing Elephants and other game.

8. Port Elizabeth Light house and visit the SAMREC Penguin Sanctuary. Learn about the plight of the penguin and the good work they do to rehabilitate penguins and return them to the wild. Take a walk on the beach to the light house and view the Oyster Catchers in their natural habitat.

9. Visit Oudtshoorn, inland of Mossel Beach and George. There is a great restaurant and gift shop and take a guided tour of the Ostrich farm and learn about their environment and the trade in feathers. Finish the day off with an Ostrich ride.

10. Finally visit the Cape of Good Hope, where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean meet. Take a walk on the beaches with the free roaming antelope.

Spring in the Western Cape in search of Flamingoes

I've visited Cape Town many times. I've also driven the entire East Coast and Garden Route, but I'd never made it to the West Coast. I'd also never seen Flamingoes in their natural habitat and really didn't want to leave without seeing them. We were leaving South Africa in December 2014, so with there being no time like the present, I booked a return flight from Johannesburg, car hire and accommodation for one and left a week later.

September in South Africa is spring. They joke that spring lasts until midday on September the 1st then it's summer. However cape Town has a completely different climate to Johannesburg, which is a 2 hour flight away.

I arrived in the early evening and after discovery the accommodation I'd booked and received confirmation for in Green Point was double booked, I ended up on the other side of the city at Green Market at The Glam Hotel. There were restaurants within a very short walk from the hotel and a wide selection.

I'd made my way from the airport to Cape Town by bus, collecting my car hire in the morning. The reason being is that the Avis car hire from the airport was limited mileage, whereas collecting from the city centre wasn't. I've no idea why this is the case but that's how it was.

View from Bloubergstrand

Driving out of Cape Town, Table Mountain was visible in the rear view mirror for around 70kms, until I started to drive a little inland. There were plenty of places to stop for photos and coffee on route.

View from Yzerfontein

I stopped for breakfast at West Coast Farmstall and could've quite happily spent the day here. It was so pretty inside, staff friendly, food fantastic and beautiful gardens. There was also a farm shop and I stocked up with some snacks and drinks for the next few days.

I opted to drive through, rather than round, the West Coast National Park, taking advantage of my SANPark Wild Card.

Arriving late at my Absolute Beach Accommodation, in Britannia Bay. I was shown to my room and understood why their advertisemnt stated it was ideal as a retreat. I had a double room with en suite and the most amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean and I was treated to a whale sighting during my stay.

A full English breakfast was served with a wide range of drinks and freshly baked muffins. Each Self contained room had a veranda and there was a shared TV room with fully equipped kitchen and a small pool. I opted to eat out in the evenings at a near by hotel.

After breakfast I set off in search of Flamingoes at the Lower Berg River Wetlands, I wasn't disappointed, pulling over on the side of the road I was able to take as many pictures as I wanted. I ended up seeing quite literally hundreds of Flamingoes during my 3 day trip.

I then drove down to the harbour to locate a coffee shop, I came across a wonderful souvenir shop, a bar and restaurant and a variety of coffee shops.

I travelled South from there to Vredenburg where there was a mall for lunch and to buy my dinner to eat at the accommodation that night.

Heading back to Britannia Bay, I decided to visit Pasternoster I'd watched a documentary on the area and wanted to see it for myself. There is plenty of accommodation in the area, the scenery is stunning, but apart from a hotel and a sea shell shop and being a very expensive location to holiday in, you would need to be committed to just relaxing, walking, photography or art.

I spent an hour explore the rock pools before heading back to Absolute Beach.

Leaving early the following morning I made my way back slowly to the airport in Cape Town, my flight was at 8pm, so I drove through the West coast National Park and stopped to take numerous photographs, sit and watch the other wildlife.

 The roads were quite literally covered with these caterpillars and insects

I marvel at the stupidity, these were Puff Adders, there are also Cape Cobra's in the area and you really wouldn't want to encounter either one of them.

My drive back to Cape Town can only be described as Scenic 

I visited Darling Cellars to sample a cheese basket for lunch (I was driving)

Heading into the town of Darling, I was slightly disappointed to discover that the famous Spring Flowers had almost finsihed their season, but the rains had started a couple of weeks earlier than normal. parts of Darling and the Postberg Section of West Coast National Park are only open during August and September for the spring flower season.

 Postberg

Darling

My journey ended with a final stop to capture yet another photograph of Table Mountain, although I'm returning to South Africa in October and November, I will be staying in Johannesburg to work with a charity and I doubt I'll ever return to Cape Town.