Off the beaten track in Lesotho & South Africa

Just before South Africa merges with Mozambique, there is a little-visited and rather fabulous stretch called the Elephant Coast. Much of it is dominated by the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, where nature trails lead between forests, mangroves and estuaries, and the beaches are ideal for snorkelling and boat rides to see whales, dolphins, manta rays, sharks and sea turtles. Two such idyllic spots are Sodwana Bay and Cape Vidal, a hub for scuba diving, turtle watching and watersports.

Inland, you’ll find some of the oldest game reserves in Africa, where rhino, elephant and countless plains game roam the land. Depending on the lodge, there are bush walks, canoeing, and day and night drives on offer.