Leo and Elaine in South Africa

Several years ago, Elaine and I began taking do-it-yourself trips around Southern Africa. Mostly, our focus has been on visiting national and provincial parks.

We recently returned from our latest “expedition” - this time to four South African national parks we had not previously been to. They are the Addo Elephant National Park, the Mountain Zebra National Park, the Camdeboo National Park and the Karoo National Park.

In years gone by we have managed to spend time in nine other South African national parks – the Agulhas National Park, Augrabies Falls National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park (twice), Kruger National Park (three times), Mapungubwe National Park, Marakele National Park, Table Mountain National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park and Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.

Left: A montage of South Africa's national parks

There are eight other South African national parks we have not yet stepped foot in.

Then there are the many Southern Africa parks we would like to re-visit - Madikwe, Hluhluwe, Imfolozi, Mkhuze, Royal Natal, Itala, Giant’s Castle, Etosha, Namib – Naukluft, Phophonyane, Malolotja, Mlilwane, Mkhaya, Hlane, Hwange, Mana Pools, Chobe, Okavango Delta and Moremi.

We shall return!

• Photos courtesy of Leo Murray