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KIDS OF NATURE DIRECTORY OF USEFUL CONTACTS   

The idea behind the directory is to list places where children can connect with nature.  Campings, cottages or guesthouses must be located in settings with a good degree of wilderness, where immediate interaction with nature happens as you step out of your tent or room.

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LEISURE & TRAVEL

NATURE PLACES

NATIONAL PARKS

BOTSWANA

• Chobe National Park, Chobe
  From the border at the Chobe River, to the now dry Savute Channel, and beyond to the borders of the Moremi Wildlife Reserve/ Okavango Delta. The Park is best known for its concentrations of elephant – some 120 000 individuals, along with good numbers of buffalo, antelope and predators. Birding is also excellent, with many migrants visiting from November to March
  


• Island Safari, Okavango
  The waters of the Okavango Delta are subject to seasonal flooding, which begins about mid-summer in the north and six months later in the south (May/June).
  


• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
  Mabuasehube, Bosobogolo, Polentswa and Kaa camping sites in very remote desert scenery, Botswana side of the park.
  

MOZAMBIQUE

• Gorongosa National Park, Beira (Gorongosa)
  Self-catering chalets also available. Take extra fuel as their is none in or near the park.
  


• Limpopo National Park - Campismo Aguia Pesqueira
  Enjoy the park's spacious camping spots with ablution and kitchen amenities.
  

SWAZILAND

• Chubeka Trails and Rhino tracking, Hlane Royal National Park
  Rhino tracking in National Park with skilled Swazi guides provide photographic opportunities, fascinating interpretation of rhino behaviour and a unique Swazi perspective.
  

SOUTH AFRICA

• Addo Elephant National Park, Addo (Eastern Cape)
  The park conserves no less than five of South Africa's seven biomes. Home to one of the densest African elephant populations on earth. Home to the unique flightless dung beetle. Addo incorporates the largest coastal dune field in the southern hemisphere. The park boasts the Big Seven, (elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, southern right whale and great white shark)? It also protects the world's largest Cape gannet breeding population on Bird Island?
  


• Agulhas National Park, Struisbaai (Western Cape)
  Several nature trails and a unique trail to traverse the southern-most tip of Africa. An environmental education centre. A world class museum and interpretative centre.
  


• |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (Northern Cape)
  Basic camping in remote desert scenery.
  


• Augrabies National Park (Northern Cape)
  Campsites with swimming pools near waterfalls.
  


• Bontebok National Park, Swellendam (Western Cape)
  Excellent home base to experience : The wine routes and historic buildings of Swellendam, Robertson, Montagu, Ashton and Bonnievale. The hot springs in Montagu. A six-day hiking trail that winds through the Langeberg Mountains in Marloth Nature Reserve and is rated amongst the top hiking trails in Southern Africa. The Drostdy Museum that will transport you back through the history of the Swellendam area.
  


• Camdedoo National Park, Graaf-Reinet (Eastern Cape)
  Valley of Desolation is a premier tourist attraction. The viewpoints at the valley itself provide a breathtaking view of piled dolerites columns. Provides for many visitors an experience ranging from 'spiritual contact' to one of profound awareness of the environment.Game Viewing.Impunzi picnic area has four sites suitable for family outings. Camdeboo Environmental Education Centre.Gannalapa an outdoor recreation facility development for use by the local community as well as groups.Trails and walks.The Eerstefontein Day Walk starts and ends at the Spandaukop gate. Driekoppe Trail is an overnight trail in the mountains of the Eastern section of the park.
  


• Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Harrysmith (Free State)
  The Impressive Brandwag buttress rock formation. Vulture Restaurant. Cathedral Cave (Guided Walk) Interesting lookout points and viewpoints - Zuluhoek lookout point, Generaalskop viewpoint, the third highest point in the park; Oribi basin and Drakensberg view
  


• Karoo National Park, Beaufort-West (Karoo)
  The Great Karoo is a vast and unforgiving landscape. Being the largest ecosystem in South Africa, the Karoo is home to a fascinating diversity of life, all having adapted to survive in these harsh conditions. Dominated by the lofty Nuweveld Mountains and rolling plains, where many species that originally occurred here now occupy their former ranges.
  


• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Northern Cape)
  Camping and cottages in very remote desert scenery, South African side of the park.
  


• Knysna National Lake Area, Knysna (Garden Route)
  Home to the endangered Knysna seahorse and a large diversity of marine life. Sandbanks and salt marshes teem with life and in turn provide food to an immeasurable number of organisms. Dominated by the craggy bastions of the twin Knysna Heads, the lagoon has borne witness to centuries of trade in timber, ivory and gold.
  


• Kruger National Park
  Enjoy the park by hiking, cycling or 4x4 routes while camping in the park.
  


• Mapungubwe - Limpopo Forest Camp
  The show piece of the new transfrontier park. Archeological site.
  


• Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site, Musina (Limpopo)
  Wildlife and Mystic Scenery: Sandstone formations, mopane woodlands and unique riverine forest and baobab trees form the scenic backdrop for a rich variety of animal life. Elephant, giraffe, white rhino, eland, gemsbok and numerous other antelope. Spot predators like lions, leopards and hyenas. Birders - species, including kori bustard, tropical boubou and pel’s fishing owl.
  


• Marakele National Park, Thabazimbi - Waterberg (Limpopo)
  'place of sanctuary' for an impressive variety of wildlife due to its location. Contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass-clad hills and deep valleys characterize the park. Rare finds of yellowwood and cedar trees, five metre high cycads and tree ferns. All the large game species from elephant and rhino to the big cats as well as variety of birds including what’s probably the largest colony of endangered Cape vultures (more than 800 breeding pairs) in the world, have settled here.
  


• Mokala National Park, Kimberley (Northern Cape)
  Newest park, situated approx. 80km south-southwest of Kimberley.Nestled in the hills, Mokala's landscape boasts a variety of koppieveld (hills) and large open plains. Black Rhino, White Rhino, Disease-free Buffalo, Tsessebe, Roan Antelope, Mountain Reedbuck, Giraffe, Gemsbok, Eland, Zebra, Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Black Wildebeest, Kudu, Ostrich, Steenbok, Duiker and Springbok.
  


• Mountain Zebra National Park, Cradock (Eastern Cape)
  The Mountain Zebra National Park's Bankberg embrace rolling plains and deep valleys, and have become a preserve for the Cape mountain zebra. Park saved these animals from extinction. Other mammals found here include Cape buffalo, black rhino, eland, black wildebeest, red hartebeest and gemsbok, while mountain reedbuck and grey rhebok frequent the higher areas. Caracal occupies the niche of primary predator.
  


• Namaqua National Park, Springbok (Northern Cape)
  As if by magic a tapestry of brilliant colours unfold enticingly along the winding roads.Butterflies, birds and long-tongued flies dart around among the flowers. Richest bulb flora of any arid region in the world and more than a 1 000 of its estimated 3 500 plant species are found nowhere else on earth.
  


• Namibia Wild Life Resorts, Windhoek
  Experience Namibia with your heart and soul. Namib Naukluft Park, Etosha National Park, Waterberg Plato Park, Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutoni
  


• National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria (Gauteng)
  Educational courses featuring ecosystems, oceans, Big Five and endangered species. Scenic Cable Rides. Night tours. Aquarium & Reptile Park
  


• Rhino Walking Safaris, Kruger National Park (Mpumalanga)
  A combination of Big Five game drives and multi-day walking safaris in the Park. Exclusive access to 12000 hectare of pristine wilderness. Sleep-out available.
  


• SANParks, Tsitsikamma National Park - Stormsriver (Garden Route)
  Enjoy a boat trip up the Storms River and experience the gorge with it's cave and natural beauty. Half an hour walk through the indigenous forest to reach the jetty and suspension bridge crossing the river.
  


• SANParks Kruger National Park, Kruger National Park (Mpumalanga)
  Wilderness Trails - discover unspoilt nature on foot. Astronomy Drive - the southern hemisphere skies and African star lore revealed. Mountain bike trails. Game drives and much more!
  


• South African National Parks
  SANPARKS runs a project called "Kids in Parks" and an environmental competition for kids called "Marula Kids. They also run the Imbewu wilderness camping program for young people, and train Junior Hononary Rangers
  


• Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town (Western Cape)
  Encompasses the incredibly scenic Table Mountain Chain stretching from Signal Hill in the north to Cape Point in the south and the seas and coastline of the peninsula. Cottages in garden and mountain setting.
  


• Tankwa Karoo National Park, Ceres (Western Cape)
  This bare landscape turns into a flower paradise from August
  


• Transfrontiers Wildlife Walking Safaris, Hoedspruit (Mpumalanga)
  Greater Kruger National Park. Unique and affordable walking safaris - including transfers to and from Johannesburg. The safaris are basic yet comfortable with the emphasis on walking.
  


• West Coast National Park, Langebaan (Western Cape)
  Thousands of seabirds roost on sheltered islands, pristine golden beaches stretch endlessly into the early morning mist and brooding salt marshes are home to vast concentrations of migrant waders from the northern hemisphere. During the spring the strandveld is embroidered with a tapestry of multi-hued flowers, while in the Postberg section many antelope are to be seen in a setting that is as unique as it is idyllic.
  


• Wilderness National Park, Wilderness (Garden Route)
  A captivating world of lakes, rivers, estuaries and beaches gently unfolds against a backdrop of lush forest and lofty mountains. Experience whales & dolphins from Dolphin Point. Hire a canoe or bicycle, go abseiling, kloofing, paragliding or hang-gliding. Go boating, fishing at Island Lake or hike to the waterfall above Ebb & Flow Restcamp.
  

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