Best Game Reserves of South Africa

South Africa’s Top Safari Regions: A Straight-Talking Comparison

From leopard-rich Kruger to the open plains of Madikwe and the remote beauty of Tswalu, South Africa’s safari regions are as varied as they are spectacular. The challenge isn’t finding a great safari — it’s choosing which one is right for you

So here we summarize some of our favourite national parks and game reserves within South Africa.

Some of South Africa’s friendly African rivals for safari visitors like to suggest that the safari experience here is tame in comparison to their offerings. We’d like to disagree. The private game reserves in the Greater Kruger, for example, deliver fantastic wildlife sightings, with strict controls in terms of vehicles at wildlife sightings. In contras there is nothing wild or exclusive about a free-for-all with 50 to 100 game vehicles at the migration river crossings of East Africa.

And South Africa – in general – offers better out-of-season game-viewing than other safari areas in Southern Africa as its reserves are all fenced. (So the animals cannot disperse across vast tracts of land as in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.)

Plus, the varied terrain of a large country like South Africa means that the safari experience is remarkably diverse as well.

Note on Non-Safari Regions?

Most visitors to South Africa combine a safari with other destinations, the choice of which depends on your interests and time of year. For the full scoop on South Africa’s non-safari destinations, see our companion guide: Top Regions of South Africa

VISITOR TIP: If you are keen for a varied safari experience in South Africa, the ideal is to stay at two contrasting game reserves in South Africa, ideally for 3+ nights each. However, if you are wanting varied South Africa trip, combining other interests with game-viewing, then spending 3-4 nights in one top-notch game reserve will be perfect.

Top 4 Safari Regions

First, I’ll start with our most popular safari regions:

1) Kruger & Its Private Reserves

Imagine dawn game drives tracking lions in the golden light, or leopards melting into golden woodland shadows, The Greater Kruger offers some of the best game-viewing in Africa. It comprises not only the Kruger National Park but the adjacent private game reserves such as the famous Sabi Sands, Timbavati, and Thornybush, many of which have open borders with the Kruger for seamless animal migrations.

Our clients generally stay in either these Private Reserves or the Private concessions within the Kruger itself.

This gives a much more exclusive safari experience as

• Strict rules for how many vehicles at a sighting.
• Mainly operate with guides and trackers, so they are adept at finding the animals.
• Vehicles are allowed to go off road for special sightings so the game-viewing experience.

Why go there?

• Superb game-viewing – best in South Africa
• Superb predator sightings
• Direct flights to/from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Victoria Falls
• Best chance of seeing leopard given its wooded terrain

Things to Consider

• No major cons other than it is a seasonal malaria area so you do need to take anti-malaria meds.
• These safari lodges tend to be higher in price than elsewhere in South Africa (given their superb game-viewing), but not as much as in the dollar-based rest of Southern Africa
• Some reserves (Sabi Sands) are close to villages. This is the reality of Africa, but some people want a greater sense of wilderness.
• Less likely to see cheetah here than in some other reserves due to its terrain (and the high populations of alpha predators like lion and leopard)

Who would love it?

• Simple answer is – most of our visitors!

When it may NOT be the right option?

• If you want to tour around by road only – with no internal flights –  as it is best served by flights into the Kruger followed by a road transfer to your safari lodge
• If you absolutely cannot go to a malaria area (for medical reasons, or with very young children under 6). Though the Kruger is a seasonal malaria area compared to the rest of Southern Africa.

Further Reading:

Kruger Private Game Reserves versus Kruger Private Concession

2) Eastern Cape Private Game Reserves

After the Kruger, we don’t make a major distinction in the game-viewing between our other top game reserves. Whether they are right for YOU will depend on other factors such as their location, when you are travelling, and your other interests.

In the Eastern Cape, you can view elephants against a backdrop of idyllic river valleys, with the scent of the ocean on the breeze.

Here the original Addo Elephant National Park has been joined by many top-notch private game reserves such as Shamwari, Kwandwe, Lalibela, Kariega and others. These all offer Big Five game-viewing in exceptionally pretty terrain with dramatic gorges, beautiful rivers and open savanna and bushveld.

Another big drawcard for the Eastern Cape is its location with three advantages:

• Lies adjacent to the Garden Route and so you can combine a road trip through the Garden Route to end with an Eastern Cape safari.
• Game reserves lie close to the coast, so in the summer (and shoulder months), it’s a great option for bush and beach combinations.
• There’s also a fascinating interior to explore with lots of Settler history, amazing Karoo landscapes and even smaller game reserves for bush walks such as Mount Camdeboo Park and the Mountain Zebra National Park (give links)

Why go there?

• In transitional climate so less impacted by the summer rains than other top reserves, so particularly good for Green Season safaris (November to March)
• Bush and Beach option
• Safe for families with young kids – as non-malaria area
• Many family-orientated lodges with kids activities. (But plenty of more romantic/couple orientated lodges as well.

Things to Consider

• Doesn’t have that classic savanna plains with flat-topped acacia tree vibe – if that’s what you are looking for
• Some reserves may feel too accessible being close to (Port Elizabeth/Gqberaha), but not all
• Some reserves can feel too close to civilization
• Winter months, especially mid-May to mid-August can be very cold

Who would love it?

• Again, most people would enjoy it
• Especially Families (with young children)
• People wanting an easy self-drive from Cape to Safari without the need for a flight
• Great for Multi-generational Family trips as several exclusive use safari villas

When it may NOT be the right option:

• People with a fixed idea that safaris mean flat-topped acacia trees and sub-tropical temperatures.

3) Northern KZN Game Reserves

In the northern reaches of Kwa Zulu Natal, you may spot cheetahs on the hunt, or rhinos at the water’s edge, with the warm coastal breezes just an hour away.

Here is a collection of excellent private game reserves such as Phinda and Manyoni as well as Hluhluwe-Umnfolozi Park with its private game lodge concessions.

These parks offer excellent Big Five game-viewing as well as a higher likelihood of seeing cheetah and also white and black rhino.

Why go there?

• Excellent game-viewing
• The easiest Bush & Beach destination for South Africa’s winter months of June to September
• Choice of game lodges to suit all budgets
• Can combine with other scenic delights of KwaZulu to make a varied itinerary with flights needed.
• Better chance of seeing cheetah here than in the Kruger
• Classified Low-risk malaria area (i.e. the WHO indicates that anti-malaria medication is NOT required to visit, though caution should be taken.)

Things to Consider

• Flight access is not as good as into the Kruger so longer road transfers from Durban.
• Lower chance of seeing leopard here than in the Kruger.

Who would love it?

• Bush and Beach trips in peak safari season: great for honeymooners & families
• Winter travellers as the best weather in South Africa between May and August

When it may NOT be the right option:

• Can we steamy and humid in the high summer months

4) Madikwe Game Reserve

Think wide skies, red earth, and he thrill of wild dogs in full chase. The malaria-free Madikwe is another of the prime game reserves of South Africa, particularly known for its wild dog sightings & family safaris. It feels vastly different to the Kruger so great to combine.

Why go there?

• One of the best wildlife-viewing areas after the Kruger
• Known for its wild dog and elephant sightings
• Safe for families with young children – no malaria risk
• Range of lodges to suit all tastes and budgets
• Profound sense of wilderness

Things to Consider

• Perhaps too remote for some? The easiest option is a scheduled charter flight. But road access is 4-5 hours from Johannesburg depending on which lodge.
• Due to park restrictions on vehicle numbers, most private game lodges must have a maximum of eight people in a game vehicle.
• Being on the Highveld it is noticeably colder in the winter months of May to July

Who would love it?

• Most people would enjoy it, especially Families (with young children)
• Great for Multi-generational Family trips as several exclusive use safari villas
• If you want to contrast Kruger with a second safari region

When it may NOT be the right option

• People short on time and/or budget as its far from most places

Lesser-Known Tip: If you want to combine South Africa with Botswana, Madikwe is easy to connect to Gaborone (1.5 hours by road) with daily flights to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. So, you can safari in Madikwe and then connect to the Delta without needing to go back to Johannesburg.

5) Welgevonden Game Reserve

The malaria-free Waterberg is a stunning area of natural beauty. Here the ravines and waterfalls are framed by forested plateaus, where the Big Five roam under vast Highveld skies.

It lies only 2-3 hours north of Johannesburg or Pretoria and is easily reached by road transfer, or even self-drive.

Given its relative proximity to Johannesburg, the Welgevonden is ideal to combine with the Kruger – perhaps with an overnight at a country lodge in the Drakensberg Escarpment en route.

Marakele National Park

This beautiful reserve nearby offers towering cliffs and green valleys where vultures wheel above Big Five plains. However the game-viewing is not as plentiful as in the Welgevonden.

But with a direct flight to the Madikwe, it makes for a a relaxing combo safari.

Why go there?

• Stunningly beautiful terrain, especially the Welgevonden (and also Entabeni Game Reserve)
• Excellent Big Five game-viewing, with some ‘specials’ such as brown hyena
• Fairly easy drive (3 hours) from Johannesburg or Pretoria
• Non-malaria area with several family-friendly game lodges
• Great scenic contrast with the Kruger area, as a second safari destination
• Excellent choice of lodges to suit all budgets and interests from honeymoon couples to family-friendly lodges.

Things to Consider

• Less likely to see leopard
• It is thickly vegetated so generally game-viewing is not as good as in the Kruger, though with a marked improvement in recent years

Who would love it?

• People not wanting to fly too much as you can easily drive from Johannesburg (3 hours) or Pretoria (2.5 hours).
• Multi-generational Family trips as several exclusive use safari villas
• People wanting to combine an easy Safari Getaway with Mauritius or Mozambique beaches

When it may NOT be the right option

• If you are looking for wide open African savanna

Other Great Game Reserves in South Africa – for Specific Needs

• Sanbona & Western Cape options
• Nambiti Hills
• Greater Waterberg biosphere

6) Sanbona Game Reserve

There are no ”proper’ game reserves really close to Cape Town. There are some in name, but they cater for the cruise ships with big volume day visits. This is not our scene at all.

However, there are a couple of good options if you don’t have time (or inclination) to fly to some of the areas already mentioned. They also make for a great contrasting second safari experience as these are more easily incorporated with other holiday activities.

Sanbona offers Karoo silence, wide horizons, and the slow pace of safari without leaving the Cape. Sanbona is 3 hours’ drive from Cape Town, en route to the Garden Route.

Note on Gondwana Game Reserve, near Garden Route

For Gondwana, think fynbos-covered hills rolling to the ocean, where Big Five game drives meet sea breezes. It lies on the western side of the Garden Route close to Mossel Bay.

 Why go there?

• Good game-viewing (but don’t expect as much as our primary Big Five reserves
• No need to fly to a distant game region
• Easy to mix with other activities (due to their location in the Western Cape)
• Perfect for families as Malaria-free
• Mediterranean climate so good to visit in South Africa’s summer months (unlike most of the northern (Summer rainfall) reserves)

Things to Consider

• Game-viewing is not as rewarding or plentiful
• Cold at night (and possible rain) in our winter months. Hence the lower prices!
• Sanbona feels suitably remote, but Gondwana is more accessible; both a blessing or a curse depending on your expectations.

7) Nambiti Private Game Reserve

Here golden grasslands are backed by battle-scarred hills, where history and wildlife share the stage. The Nambiti Game Reserve lies in the interior of KwaZulu Natal, close to both the Drakensberg Mountains and the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer battlefields.

Why go there?

• Remarkably good game-viewing
• Choice of Game Lodges to suit a variety of budgets
• Can combine with northern KwaZulu Natal Game Lodges and Drakensberg & Battlefields to make a varied holiday with no need to fly in between.
• Non-malaria area

Things to Consider

• Access is not so seamless. There are no nearby Airports for scheduled flights, only long-ish road transfers from Durban or Johannesburg. So, its best combined in a road trip with other attractions of KZN.

Best Game Reserves of South Africa: Special Treats & Off- the- Beaten Track

And then there are some superb wildlife reserves which are much less accessible in terms of how to get there. And sometimes also in terms of how much moolah you will need to drop.

• Tswalu Game Reserve
• Mapungubwe & Tuli Block (Mashatu)
• Trans Kalagadi National Park

8) Tswalu Game Reserve

Tswalu is one of the top wildlife experiences in South Africa. Here the Kalahari silence is broken by the call of a black-maned lion, with nothing between you and the horizon

This is largest private game reserve in Africa, and one of the most exclusive. You can ONLY fly in, from either Cape Town or Johannesburg so we recommend at least 3 nights at one of their three lodges. However you can seamlessly connect with Sabi Sands game lodges using charter flights

Why go there?

• Pristine Kalahari wildlife environment with good game-viewing
• Fantastic contrast with the Kruger Private Game Reserves such as Sabi Sands

9) Mapungubwe & Mashatu Game Reserve (far southern part of Botswana)

Another interesting area to explore for wildlife is the northern Limpopo area around Mapungubwe National Park and up to the Tuli Block which includes Mashatu Game Reserve.

Though the Tuli Block is in Botswana, as it is accessed via South Africa – we treat it as an adjunct. Here ancient baobabs and sandstone cliffs sheltering elephants in one of Africa’s most storied landscapes.

Further south, Mapungubwe has many species of wildlife, but it fluctuates through the seasons. The real drawcard is the ancient Mapungubwe monument.

Why go there?

• Pristine wildlife environment with great predator sightings
• Off the beaten track
• Soft adventure safaris with both cycling and walking safaris

More Info

Mapungubwe National Park

10) Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park

Finally the Kalagadi Transfrontier park offers red dunes and black-maned lions under a sky so wide it swallows you whole

This is one of the last true wilderness areas of Southern Africa, a secret land far to the north of the more cultivated Cape

We recommend combining it with a visit to Augrabies National Park with its awe-inspiring waterfall, desert-adapted plains game (antelope, giraffe and nocturnal species such as African wild cat, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, and the small spotted genet.

Why go there?

• Pristine wildlife environment with great predator sightings
• Off the beaten track
• Affordable safari options
• Can combine with Augrabies Falls & Namaqualand (especially during the flower season)

More Info

Kalagadi Transfrontier Park

Augrabies National Park

Other Articles to Check Out:

• For the full scoop on South Africa’s non-safari destinations, see our companion guide: Where to Visit in South Africa (Top regions to visit)

• Malaria free Game Reserves of South Africa – focuses on Eastern Cape, Waterberg, Madikwe & Northern Cape in detail

• When is the best time to visit South Africa? – this focuses on climate across South Africa, not just safaris

Great Safari Combinations:

Maximum Contrast

• 3 nights in Sabi Sands + 3 nights in Tswalu’s desert wilderness.
• 3 nights in Timbavati or Klaserie, panorama route through Drakensberg escarpment with overnight, then add on 3 nights in Welgevonden or Madikwe

Top Game-Viewing

• 3 nights in the Sabi Sands with a flight to KwaZulu Natal for 3 nights at Phinda Game Reserve
• Combine 2 nights Eastern Cape at the end of a Garden Route road trip with the 3 nights in Welgevonden or Kruger.

Easy Combinations

• The Cape: 2-3 nights at Sanbona’s arid Karoo terrain with 3 nights in the Eastern Cape’s rugged river valleys
• The Kruger: 2-3 nights in Timbavati or Thornybush with 3 nights in the Sabi Sands
• 3 nights in the Northern KZN Reserves with 2-3 nights in the Nambiti Reserve close to the Drakensberg.

Which South Africa Game Reserve is Right for You?

Every South African safari region offers something different — from the luxury and leopard sightings of the Kruger to the raw beauty of the Kalahari. can feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in. With decades of experience, we know exactly where to recommend for the experience you’re dreaming of.

3 Easy Steps:

1. Tell Us Your Priorities – Wildlife sightings, landscapes, activities, or family needs.
2. We’ll recommend the best lodge for your travel dates, budget and wishlist.
3. Arrive Safari-Ready – All you need to do is pack your binoculars.

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The Best Game Reserves of South Africa was written by Kate of Cedarberg Africa

For over 30 years, Cederberg Africa has crafted tailor-made journeys across Southern and East Africa for discerning travellers. We’re not just experts on the map — we’ve slept in the safari lodges, walked in the bush, and even tasted the wines. (Such a hard life) Our role is to match you to the right safari regions and experiences that fit you perfectly, while taking care of every detail so you can simply enjoy the adventure.

Kate Bergh co-founded Cedarberg Africa in 1995 after Africa won her heart on an overland adventure that mixed wildlife, epic scenery and hiking. Now based in South Africa for over 30 years, she continues to explore the continent first-hand and loves sharing practical, experience-led advice to help travellers plan exceptional safaris. When not working, she enjoys hiking in the mountains, mountain biking and playing elaborate strategy games with her now grown-up kids.