Many people are unaware that Cape Town has anything to offer in the way of ‘real’ safari.

But a visit to the Southern Cape need not exclude a genuine safari experience.

A pleasant 90 minute drive from the centre of Cape Town will bring you to the Highlands of the Southern Karoo. Here is a luxury private Game Reserve set on 4, 500 hectares of wild and diverse land, which incorporates African bush and wetland.

Here you will be able to view a wide selection of flora and fauna, including bird life.

And if it’s the ‘Big Five’ you have your heart set on, the region offers them all in their natural habitat. That’s right; you could view lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant.

Other animals to view include zebra and giraffe herds, eland, hartebeest, crocodiles and leopards.

If birds are your special interest you’ll be pleased to discover that the region is home to 172 species of birds including black eagles and flamboyant flamingos.

The Karoo flowers which come into bloom during the rainy winter months are also a sight to behold!

The accommodation on offer includes standard and luxury cottages.

Safari game drives, (self-drive or guided), are available night and day, and many visitors also enjoy the early morning or evening horse-back safari options, which make you feel even more at one with nature.

Alternately you could opt for a fly-in safari, which incorporates the added excitement of a light aircraft or helicopter flight over some of the most exquisite mountainous landscapes.

Apart from game, other options to view include viewing ancient bushman paintings, and for the more adventurous consider quad biking, hiking and 4x4 and mountain bike trails.

So don’t write Cape Town off as a no-safari area. A little research reveals that the region really does have it all and more!