Moretele River Lodge

The big draw here is of course the chance to see some big animals – and to do that you can either join a guided game drive or bush walk or explore the 140 kilometres of track in your own vehicle (you’ll need to buy a permit to do this). There are picnic sites and bird hides along the trail where you can sit quietly and soak up the peaceful atmosphere. Wildlife sightings around the park can never be guaranteed, so if you want to be sure of seeing some animals, make your way to Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wildlife Park, next to the Rust de Winter Dam (35 minutes’ drive), which is home to lots of big cats, meerkats and bears as well as primates and colourful birds. For different ways to spend a day, you could go zipping through the trees at Adventure Zone Cullinan (45 minutes), get a taste of historic mining life at McHardy House Museum (50 minutes) or sign up to see some of the scenery from above on a helicopter, skydiving or hot air balloon trip.