Brian Jackman said, in `Close Encounters of the Rare and Violent Kind', that "Everything in Africa bites, but the safari bug is worst of all." He may have been wrong about the first part- everything doesn't bite in Africa- but he was right about the second bit. The safari bug is really, really hard to get rid of. And the best place to succumb to the bug is way down south- in South Africa, the land of the amazingly alive Kalahari desert, the spreading green veldt, high mountains and roaring rivers.

Here, within an area of just about 1,220,000 sq km, are more than eighteen national parks- huge expanses of land, protecting some of Africa's most interesting flora and fauna. From South Africa's best known (and oldest) wildlife reserve- Kruger National Park- to less touristy areas like the Knysna National Lake Area- this country offers the ultimate in wildlife watching. Hire a safari vehicle to take you through Kruger, and chances are you'll get a glimpse of each one of the `big five'- lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant. Addo National Park specialises in elephants which have a penchant for oranges, while Mountain Zebra National Park is- you guessed it- the abode of the rare mountain zebra. The Eastern Cape reserve of Tsitsikamma, with its cliffs, beaches, flowers and hundreds of birds, ranks as one of South Africa's most gorgeous parks- as is the Augrabies Falls National Park, named for the waterfall formed as the Orange River thunders over the cliffs to fall in a foaming white cascade.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park, shared by South Africa and Botswana, is the place to see the Kalahari desert in all its stark beauty; while the Cape Peninsula National Park offers a peek into the distinctive vegetation and fauna of the Cape of Good Hope.

Golden Gate Highlands, Marakele, Karoo, Namaqua, Richtersveld, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi: the names are as musical as the parks are stunning. Each offers opportunities galore to see South Africa's wildlife up close. The fact that they're easily accessible, offer extensive facilities for accommodation and hiking, and are an experience to cherish- makes them all the more attractive.