The arid beauty of the Namib desert is just one of Southern Africa's breathtaking landscapes (photo courtesy of NamibRand Reserve)

Southern Africa is a region loosely defined by the UN as being made up of five countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland.

One of the most geographically diverse regions on the planet, it spans mountains, forests and deserts, and its numerous ecoregions support a staggering range of wildlife from traditional safari animals like lions, rhinos and kudu to the feral horses of the Namibian plains. Of course, the mix of cultures – ancient and modern, rural and urban – in Southern Africa is also simply incredible, rivalling even the most dramatic natural spectacles.

Whether you’re in the region to meet its people, ogle its animals or discover its secret and stunning places, you’re guaranteed a unique personal journey.

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FEATURE ARTICLES

LESOTHO IS MORE: AN INSIDER SHARES

The land-locked Kingdom of Lesotho, surrounded by South Africa, offers travellers awesome opportunities for exploration. By staying in a Basotho village, you can be within easy reach of incredible sights like Maletsunyane Falls and little-visited Liphofung Cave. MORE…

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NAMIBIA: A TRULY MEAT-LOVING COUNTRY

To most Namibians, meat is a way of life. More than just a dietary choice, meat underpins some of Namibian culture, especially as the central ingredient of the traditional braai (‘barbeque’ is the closest English word). MORE…

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LAID BACK IN NAMIBIA AT THE ERONGO WILDERNESS LODGE

There’s getting away from it all, and there’s getting away from it all… Namibian style! Remote and set in stunning surroundings, the Erongo Wilderness Lodge is wild in more than just name. MORE…

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SOUTH AFRICA’S PANORAMA ROUTE: DRAMATIC IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT

Take in South Africa’s natural splendour on one of the world’s most dramatic journeys. Wind through the Mpumalanga mountains and skirt the Great Escarpment on the way to Kruger National Park. MORE…

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SOUTH AFRICA TOURISM GETS A 4.5-MILLION RAND BOOST FOR A FUTURE BEYOND SOCCER

The impact of the FIFA World Cup on tourism in South Africa will be big. Thankfully there’s now also a tourism development project looking beyond 2010 too. MORE…

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CAUGHT BETWEEN WORLD CUP GAMES IN SOUTH AFRICA? GET CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND

With the FIFA World Cup rapidly approaching, learn about some of the sights to be seen outside of South Africa’s football stadiums. MORE…

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CIRCUM-SWAZI: A HUMAN-POWERED CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF SWAZILAND

Experience the vicarious thrill of a 600-kilometre hike and bike the length of Swaziland’s border. There is quite honestly no better way to get a unique and all-encom- passing perspective of the country and discover a truly ‘hassle-free Africa’. MORE…

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A SWAZI RIVER DELIVERS WATER AND OPPORTUNITY TO A RURAL AFRICAN COMMUNITY

Funds raised from white-water rafting visitors to Swaziland have been put to good use helping local communities. MORE…

DESTINATION SITES

whl.travel currently supports 12 destinations across four countries in Southern Africa. The network is constantly evolving, so be sure to check back regularly for further additions.

• Cape Town (South Africa)
• Cape Winelands (South Africa)
• Etosha National Park & Northern Namibia
• Garden Route (South Africa)
• Johannesburg (South Africa)
• Lesotho
• Mpumalanga Highlands (South Africa)
• Panorama Route (South Africa)
• Port Elizabeth and Addo National Park (South Africa)
• Sossusvlei & Southern Namibia
• Swaziland
• Western Kruger (South Africa)
• Windhoek & Central Namibia

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FINGER ON THE PULSE

With whl.travel’s regional office for Africa based in Cape Town – one of Southern Africa’s greatest cities – you can follow efforts to support local partners across both the region and the continent via:

• Flickr
• Twitter: @peterfabricius
• YouTube

For further insights direct from our local partners, check out the following:

• Swazi Trails Adventure (Swaziland): Blog – Circum-Swazi blog – Facebook – YouTube
• Induna Adventures (Western Kruger and the Panorama Route): Blog – Facebook – Twitter – YouTube
• Cape Town Hotels: Twitter
• Garden Route Tours: Flickr

For yet more information about whl.travel and its local partners in Southern Africa, read the following articles:

• Swazi Trails turns 21 in tourism (from Travelwires.com)
• Swazi Trails and Dirty Boots circumnavigates Swaziland in 12 days (from Travelwires.com)
• whl.travel unveils Garden Route franchise (from Travelwires.com)

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