Rivier-Oord Vaalwater

If you’re having a hol in South Africa mainly to amble with the animals, head to Marakele National Park (a 45-minute drive away) in the middle of the Waterberg Mountains, a wildlife-filled setting sandwiched amid the arid western and wetter eastern parts of the country, to keep an eye out for cheetah, brown hyena and aardvarks, along with 300 different types of birds and, of course, the Big Five. And it's not just about the critters: Welgevonden (15 minutes) is a stunningly scenic area with grasslands, savannahs, wood-covered mountains and rock ravines ripe for exploring, as well as ancient Bushman rock art to help you add a cultural twist to your safari. Other geological expeditions are be had at the Makapan’s Caves in Mokopane (an hour and a half away), while South African city times are over in one of the nation's three capitals, Pretoria (two hours and 10 minutes), or in Johannesburg (two hours and 50 minutes). Gaborone in Botswana is about a four-hour drive from the park.