Stand atop Table Mountain and see fertile seams of natural beauty threading through the city below, from the fynbos-covered hills of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens to the soul-melting sunsets of Lion’s Head and the sands of Boulders Beach, home to thousands of African penguins. Down by the docks, the chic V&A Waterfront hosts the Zeitz MOCCA, the largest collection of contemporary African art in the world, while the food and wine across melting pot Bo-Kapp and trendy Woodstock neighborhoods are an artform in themselves.

Forever shapeshifting beneath the sun, the Okavango is Africa’s mercurial wonder, a flooded paradise where oxbow lakes lie still and serene, and islets come and go with the tides. Unlike most deltas, the waters of the Okavango never reach the sea, as if guarded jealously by the land. And what treasures it hoards: from prowling lions and vast herds of wildebeest to hundreds of species of birds, wading and watching from the water’s edge. 

Named after the BaTawana tribal chief and his wife – who campaigned for the area to become a nature reserve in 1962 – this small but mighty reserve is located in the Okavango Delta’s central and eastern regions. Some of Africa’s most endangered species of large mammal can be seen in these savannahs and floodplains: cheetah, leopard, lion and African wild dog, making Moremi a must for those looking for the superstars of safari. 

Livingstone pulses with the raw energy of the Zambezi River and the thunderous roar of Victoria Falls. Named after the 19th-century explorer David Livingstone, the town retains a rugged, frontier feel, with adventure seekers flocking to its lively waterfront. Colonial architecture, characterized by Victorian-style buildings with wide verandas, gabled roofs and intricate woodwork, contrasts with the vibrant local markets and the surrounding untamed wilderness.

Few cities can claim to be home to endangered black rhinos, lions, giraffes and zebras, but Nairobi National Park is just half an hour from the center of this fun, fast-growing capital. Not only can travellers take a safari with a backdrop of skyscrapers and find the history of these creatures in Nairobi National Museum, but there’s also a thriving community of artists, musicians and trend-setters that populate the independent shops around town. 

Occupying 150 square miles of savannah, woodland and swamp within sight of the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli is one of Kenya’s most dramatic safari destinations. As well as providing a privileged perspective on the Maasai way of life, it offers endless opportunities for wildlife encounters, with lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and large herds of elephants among the highlights, as well as more than 400 species of bird. 

Bordering Tanzania in Kenya’s southwest, Masai Mara is named after its ancestral inhabitants and the dotted appearance of its acacia-studded plains. Its golden savannahs, riverine forests, low-lying mountains and sheer cliff are best known for hosting one of the most extraordinary events on the globe: the Great Migration, in which over two million wildebeest and zebra arrive from the southern Serengeti between August and November. Year-round, though, the reserve supports a range of wildlife from hippos, crocs, lions and hyena to elephants and eagles.