Pabala Private Nature Reserve

Start your bush adventure by checking out the range of outings available at the reserve – have a chat with staff to sort hikes, kayak outings (sociable or strenuous depending on your appetite for activity), birdwatching and safari drives, and special sunset drives with sparkling wine for those who’ve come over all romantic. Fancy a bit of fishing? The folk here can also organise freshwater fishing at the Gamtoos river, surf fishing or deep sea charters. If you’d prefer to laze on the beach, there are very fine stretches of sand in Jeffreys Bay and Gamtoos Mouth (both around half an hour away by car). Surf lessons, sandboarding, beachy horse rides and scuba diving can all be had in Jeffreys Bay, and you may also like to stop in at the shell museum or take a tour of the Brewhaha Brewery. If the wildlife didn’t come out to pose for your pics at the reserve, you should have better luck at African Dawn (20 minutes), a wildlife sanctuary whose breeding programme ensures it’s always got resident endangered big cats and birds to see.