Kgalagadi (Kalahari) Transfrontier Park (Northern Cape): This is one of the largest conservation areas in Africa -- twice the size of Kruger -- yet because of the long distances you need to travel to reach it, this desert reserve is seldom included in the first visitor's itinerary. It is starkly beautiful, with red dunes, blonde grasses, and sculptural camelthorn trees contrasting with cobalt-blue skies. Despite its aridity, the reserve supports a number of predators, including the famed black-maned "Kalahari" lion, hyena, wild dog, and cheetah.

Pilanesberg National Park (North-West): This reserve is southern Africa's most accessible (it's just 2 hr. from Johannesburg), which is both a blessing and a drawback, depending on whether you have serious time constraints or a need for solitude. Lying on the eroded remains of a 1.4-billion-year-old extinct volcanic crater -- one of only three in the world -- the 58,000-hectare (143,260-acre) reserve supports more than 35 large mammal species.

Madikwe Game Reserve (North-West): A relative newcomer, this 75,000-hectare (185,250-acre) reserve has been transformed by Operation Phoenix, the largest game-translocation exercise ever undertaken. Its highly diverse eco-zones (including Kalahari sandveld) allow it to support an unusual range of species -- which is why it's been dubbed the "Magnificent 7" reserve (cheetah and wild dog being added to the lineup). Best of all, it's malaria-free.

Kruger National Park (Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province): One of Africa's greatest game parks, with probably the best developed infrastructure, Kruger is the most cost-effective, do-it-yourself way to go on safari. Accommodations are pretty basic, but clean, functional, and affordable; and the park teems with wildlife. It has more than 147 mammals, 114 reptiles, and 500 bird species to spot.

De Hoop Nature Reserve (Whale Coast, Western Cape): A magnificent coastal reserve featuring deserted beaches, interesting rock pools, beautiful fynbos (uniquely diverse shrublands), a wetland with more than 200 bird species, and a number of small game. Limited accommodations ensure that the reserve is never crowded.

Tsitsikamma National Park (Garden Route, Western Cape): Stretching from Storms River Mouth to Nature's Valley, this coastline is best explored on foot, via the 5-day Otter Trail. If you're pressed for time, or if the trail is full, take the 1km (just over a half-mile) walk to the mouth, or complete the first day of the Otter Trail, which terminates at a beautiful waterfall.

Goegap Nature Reserve (Namaqualand, Northern Cape): This is one of the best places in Namaqualand to witness the floral transformation after the first spring rains. A recommended way to explore the reserve is to hire a bike and complete the two trails that traverse the reserve. Grazing among the flowers are zebra, springbok, and the stately gemsbok, or oryx.

Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal): This World Heritage Site encompasses five distinct ecosystems, including the croc-rich estuary, the Mkhuze savanna, and offshore coral reefs. It is also close to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, the province's largest Big 5 reserve, which supports the densest rhino population in Africa.

The Kosi Bay Nature Reserve (Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal): This chain of four lakes fringed by lush and varied vegetation (marsh forests, mangroves, giant swamp figs, dune forests, raffia palm forest) is home to rare birds (Pels fishing owl and the palm nut vulture) and tropical fish. Kosi Bay is a delight for hikers, birders, and canoeists alike, though it takes some commitment to get to this northeastern corner of South Africa.

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park (KwaZulu-Natal): The Drakensberg in its entirety is spectacular, but if you have time to visit only one region, head north for the Amphitheatre. One of the most magnificent rock formations in Africa, it is also the source of South Africa's major rivers, the Vaal, the Orange, and the Tugela. Rolling grasslands, breathtaking views, and crystal-clear streams can only be explored on foot or horseback.

The Victoria Falls National Park (Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe): This World Heritage Site offers the most stupendous views of the 1,000m (3,280-foot) wide falls, and the constant spray, crowned by a permanent rainbow, sustains a lush and verdant rain forest.

Moremi Game Reserve (Botswana): No visit to Botswana would be complete without a trip to Moremi, which makes up much of the eastern shores of the delta and offers arguably the best game viewing in southern Africa. Covering an area of 487,200 hectares (1,203,384 acres), including woodlands, wetlands, waterways, islands, and pans, this reserve is home to lion, elephant, cheetah, wild dog, leopard, buffalo, and more than 500 species of birds.

Chobe National Park (Botswana): This park includes the fabulous game areas of Savuti and Linyanti -- river systems that provide life for abundant game including lion, leopard, wild dog, and elephant; the Chobe River is in fact the best place to see elephants in Africa, and from the boats that operate along its shores it's possible to see dozens of them swimming across the rivers between Botswana and Namibia.