Hi, I’m Patty Kim. Today we’re headed for Southern Africa, a place that holds something for every traveler, for every budget – cosmopolitan cities, world-class safaris, not to mention record-setting sights that will take your breath away. Here’s where you’ll find some of the world’s wildest places, as well as some of its rarest creatures.

Chances are, if you’re heading to this region, you’re heading for the most popular stop – South Africa. But there’s a whole slew of other places like Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi that also have plenty to offer travelers.

When’s the best time to go? Generally, during the drier, cooler months from around May to October6, though parts of South Africa are pleasant all year round.

With an abundance of national parks and game reserves in southern Africa, a safari should be at the top at any traveler’s to-do list. The wide variety of terrains – savannah, desert, forest, wetland and highland – provide an ever wider variety of animals…and places to encounter them.

The original safari hunters made a list of the toughest animals to hunt – the Big 5 – lions, leopards, rhino, elephants, and Cape buffalo. Today’s modern safari spotters might soon discover that while elephants and even lions are easy to catch sight of, many other animals, including the elusive leopard, are harder to find.

Sharpen your eyes…. and your odds with a few simple tips – go out at dawn and dusk, when animals are most active; head for water, where animals come to drink ….make sure to look near…and far…left…and right…on tree branches…and underfoot. With a bit of practice you’ll capture some amazing photographs.

Some of the best known parks and game reserves in the region include South Africa’s Kruger Park, Namibia’s Etosha, Zambia’s Luangwea National Parks, and Botswana’s Moremi Wildlife Reserve, in the heart of the Okavango Delta, stretching over 6,000 square miles, the largest inland delta in the world.

The Okavango River once fed into a large lake…now vanished under the Kalahari Desert.

When the seasonal floodwaters surge over the land, they create a labyrinth of channels and thickets brimming with wildlife.

For more record-setting attractions, head west into the Namib Desert. One of the oldest deserts in the world, this thin strip of sand along the Namibian coast is home to some of the world’s largest sand dunes. Undulating waves of sand stretch for up to 30 miles in length, reaching 1000 feet in height. The slopes hold animals uniquely evolved for this alien landscape.

Just east of the Namib is Fish River Canyon. It stretches for 100 miles, boasting scenic trails and breathtaking views.

On the Zambezi River, you can canoe or kayak along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Just be careful when you hear the rumbling of water. Its name is Mosi-oa-Tunya – the Smoke That Thunders – better known as Victoria Falls. At some 350 feet in height, and a mile wide, it’s considered by some as the largest waterfall in the world.

The Zambezi River flows eastward into Mozambique and out to sea.

Across the Mozambique Channel off the southern African coast are Africa’s Indian Ocean Islands, including Comoros, the Seychelles, Mauritius, the French island of Réunion, and Madagascar.

Each island competes for best tropical paradise, and it’s easy to see why.

When you’re ready to wind down, head for cosmopolitan Capetown and pamper yourself with some fine dining and sample some local wines.

Remember, Southern Africa is big – nearly the size of the continental United States. No matter where you plan to travel — city, plains, falls, or desert, you’re bound to have an unforgettable adventure.