South Africa's ultimate bucket list: 30-26

30. View the green side of Johannesburg
A proud Jo'burger will tell you that their city is the largest man-made forest in the world. While that title is contentious (New York has 5.2 million trees but intends to have another million by 2017), the city has made a concerted effort to plant more vegetation. Johannesburg's City Parks estimates that there are six million trees in the city, designed to cool and beautify the landscape. South African Airways has return flights from Sydney to Johannesburg starting from $2130

29. Ride an ostrich
These leggy flightless birds have been conscripted as unlikely beasts of burden in South Africa and visitors have the opportunity to cling onto their feathers for dear life. It's bull riding on a smaller scale as the mighty ostrich is a cantankerous creature – while you may not be bucked off, there's a distinct possibility you'll fly off. They are tethered as you mount them and then it's game on, although you have to be a certain size to ride them. If taming an ostrich isn't your cup of tea (or you are a touch too heavy to jump aboard), you can always feed the ostriches and see baby chicks.

28. Sleep among the animals
Honeyguide Camp is Africa as Ernest Hemingway would have experienced it – raw and uncensored. You will be sleeping in a tent on an unfenced property so local wildlife wander through as they please. While the experience is wild, the facilities are thoroughly modern. The best example of this is the open air bathrooms – just enough exposure to remind you where you are. One of the stand-out features of this camp is the view from the swimming pool deck which overlooks a waterhole that is well frequented by game – thirsty elephants even stop by for a drink from the pool on occasion.

27. Zip line through jungle
Make like a monkey with this heart-stopping activity that takes you through a rainforest canopy at high speed. At Induna Adventures, the 77-metre drop along a 450-metre cable reaches speeds of 100 kilometres per hour. Despite being strapped into a safety harness, the jolt into mid-air feels like a leap of faith. You may be going too fast to appreciate the bird life and tree tops, so do it a second time to have a proper gander.

26. Camp under the stars
Cederberg's star-gazing credentials are such that it has its own dedicated observatory. This region, located some 300km north of Cape Town is typified by mountains and sandstone rock in patterns that reveal centuries of erosion. Serene pools and rivers are ideal spots for those who hike and camp in this nature reserve, administered by CapeNature. There's bird watching on offer plus ancient cave art that includes rock drawings of elephants. And if you can take your eyes off the stellar-scape, keep an eye out for the rare Cape Leopard that is found here.

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