Vic Falls, Hwange & Mozambique

Set in the northwest corner of Zimbabwe, across the river from Zambia, Victoria Falls is one of the most alluring locations in Africa, surprisingly pleasant and undeveloped, with guest accommodation in around 20 diverse hotels and lodges, offering a very wide range of safari, cultural and adrenaline-based activities.

Set just 130 km south of Victoria Falls, Hwange is the most popular wildlife reserve in Zimbabwe, renowned for the quality of its safari guiding, rich and varied wildlife, authentic walking safari and superb hides, with guest accommodation in around 25 largely earthy and authentic lodges and camps.

Set to the northeast of South Africa, Johannesburg is the great commercial heart of the country and the main transport hub, a sprawling mess of a place, scarred through its heart by the gold mines. It is not somewhere safari travellers tend to linger too long, although the Cradle of Mankind may be worth a visit.

Set 500 km north of the capital Maputo, the Bazaruto area is our favourite tropical beach area in Mozambique, with some fabulous offshore islands, strong diving and sailing, with guest accommodation in a decent range of lodges and direct flight connections from Johannesburg.

Set 300 km north of Maputo, the Inhambane area of Mozambique contains some interesting beach lodges, centred on the well known settlements of Tofo and Barra, most of which can be accessed via the airport at Vilanculos to the north.