4 Best Sights in The Garden Route and the Little Karoo, South Africa

Sanbona Game Reserve couldn’t be more different than Kruger National Park and the Lowveld. The gorges and ridges of the towering Cape Fold mountains, the semi-arid terrain of the Karoo plains, and unique vegetation of the fynbos (scrubland) make this a must for visitors to the Cape. Expect to feel dwarfed by the vast landscape. Even elephants look tiny compared to their majestic surroundings. The roads are rough and the distances long, but the overall experience is breathtaking.

Roughly the size of Singapore, this enormous area supports a free-roaming population of animals that were indigenous to the Western Cape before European settlers arrived. Here you’ll find the Big Five (lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo, and leopard), although the area is so vast and desolate that you're certainly not guaranteed to spot them all. Guides make use of tracking devices to locate them. A unique experience is to spend time on foot with wild cheetahs that have grown accustomed to being approached by rangers.

Wildlife isn’t all you’ll find here. Be sure to climb up to some rare examples of San rock art, some reputed to be over 3,500 years old. Crystal-clear night skies deliver exceptional stargazing.

Conservation is the primary concern of the non-profit Caleo Foundation, and it shows in every detail from the building materials to the hand-carved furniture to your personal water bottle. Three luxury lodges cater to all types of guests. Historic Tilney Manor has an old-world feel, Gondwana Lodge is geared toward families, and the strikingly beautiful Dwyka Tented Camp is styled as a bush safari camp and is perfect for couples. If you want to get even more immersed in the wilderness, choose a two-day hike from Explorer Camp where you sleep in tents and dine under the stars around a crackling fire.

Built over a valley cutting through an old-growth forest, this magical sanctuary is a free-flight aviary spanning five dome-enclosed acres. More than 3,500 birds of 220 species fly, flutter, and perch here, some of which are quite tame. The main focus is African birds, and you'll see African grey parrots, Cape canaries, and greater flamingos. Take time to sit on one of the benches and listen to their calls—it's like being in the Amazon. You can grab a bite at the little restaurant overlooking the flamingo pond. Buy a memento or a gift at the well-stocked gift shop as you leave.

The name is a bit misleading, as this is really just a glorified zoo, crocodile farm, and cheetah-breeding center, but it is great fun, especially for kids. In addition to the crocodiles and cheetahs, you may see white Bengal tigers and lions. Other attractions include a snake park, a tropical house with giant fruit bats, and enclosure with pygmy hippos. In short, there are loads of different animals to keep the little ones amused for hours.

Don't be put off by the cutesy name. This award-winning refuge houses abused and abandoned primates, most of which were once pets or confined to zoos. They now roam in a huge enclosed area of the forest and are free to play, socialize, and do whatever it is that keeps primates happy. There are lemurs, gibbons, spider monkeys, vervet monkeys, howler monkeys, and many more. Guided walks are offered throughout the day, and the tamer residents often play with guests. Entrance to the viewing deck and restaurant is free, but you'll only get close up and personal if you take one of the guided walks. Prepare to be enchanted.