South Africa Safaris
Diverse game reserves from Kruger to the Kgalagadi offer huge concentrations of game with close encounters with large predators often on offer.
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Diverse game reserves from Kruger to the Kgalagadi offer huge concentrations of game with close encounters with large predators often on offer.
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A South Africa safari offers some of Africa’s most successful and best loved game reserves and lodges. Superb wildlife viewing, excellent conservation, outstanding lodges and easy access make it an ideal choice for both first-time safari travellers and seasoned Africa enthusiasts.
Unlike other destinations where safari may be the entire holiday, most visitors weave three to six nights in the bush into a broader journey. Imagine starting your strip in Cape Town, exploring the Winelands or Garden Route before heading into the wilderness in search of lions, elephants and leopards. Or take some time to relax and finish your safari with a few days beside the warm, Indian Ocean.
The beauty of South Africa safari lies in its diversity. Whether you are looking for exceptional Big Five sightings, a malaria-free family holiday, a romantic wilderness escape or a combination of bush and beach, there is a safari region to match your style of travel!
Greater Kruger is widely regarded as South Africa's finest safari destination. It combines the vast wilderness of Kruger National Park with renowned private reserves including Sabi Sands, Timbavati Wildlife Reserve and Thornybush. These private reserves share unfenced borders with Kruger, allowing wildlife to roam freely whilst offering a more flexible safari experience. Night drives, guided bush walks and off-road tracking often lead to unforgettable close-up encounters, particularly with elusive predators such as leopard.
Alternatively, you can stay in one of the private concessions inside Kruger National Park itself, combining exceptional wildlife with a true wilderness setting. This greater Kruger park gives you the best all-round safari in South Africa in our opinion.
See our blog on comparing two game experiences: Private Game Reserves or Private concessions for your Kruger safari
If you're travelling with young children, during pregnancy or simply prefer not to take anti-malaria medication, South Africa offers several excellent alternatives. Madikwe Game Reserve, the Eastern Cape reserves and the Waterberg all provide rewarding Big Five safaris in malaria-free environments.
For travellers looking beyond the obvious, destinations such as Tswalu Kalahari, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and parts of the Great Karoo deliver spectacular scenery, distinctive wildlife and a real sense of space, all without malaria risk.
Finally don't forget the Northern KwaZulu Natal reserves such as Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, Phinda, Thanda and Manyoni Rhino Reserve. These also offer excellent Big Five game-viewing. Plus this is a good area to see cheetah, and of course white rhino.
They have the added attraction of being close to some stunning Indian Ocean beaches so that you can combine 'bush and beach' with only a short road transfer in between. Well worth considering especially in our winter months when other parts of South Africa can be cool.
In an ideal world, you would aim to have two contrasting safari experiences in South Africa within one trip.
Head to South Africa safari pages:
In an ideal world, you would aim to have two contrasting safari experiences in South Africa within one trip. For first timers we generally recommend combining Greater Kruger with a contrasting safari region. If you have specific interests such as photography, walking or
Whether you're dreaming of Kruger, Madikwe or a bush-and-beach escape, we'll help you design a South Africa safari that's a perfect fit. Chat to us!
Several articles to read at the end. Here are a few more:
Greater Kruger is generally considered South Africa’s premier safari destination thanks to its exceptional wildlife, private reserves and excellent safari lodges.
Yes. Madikwe, several Eastern Cape reserves and the Waterberg all offer excellent malaria-free safari experiences.
Absolutely. South Africa is one of the easiest safari destinations to combine with Cape Town, the Winelands, the Garden Route or the Indian Ocean coast.
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