Top 10 Best African Safari Tours in South Africa

Top 10 Best African Safari Tours in South Africa

The excitement of an African safari is something beyond words. There is no exaggeration in saying there is no better way to experience Africa than exploring the best African safari tours in South Africa. Expect the South Africa safari to be an odyssey through mysterious jungles watching hitherto unseen animal kingdoms.

No matter you chase the Big Five in speedy jeeps, track wild animals through thick jungles on foot, ride majestic elephants, or enjoy a hot air balloon ride over herds of animals, nothing beats the thrilling joy of watching the wild in natural habitat.

The investment in a safari is worth the money if you tie up with the right safari providers who have the best packages to provide authentic experiences covering accommodation, transfers, and wild life experiences aligned to the unique offerings of each region.

Why is South Africa so special for African Safari?

South Africa has a number of iconic safari destinations besides hidden gems, such as KwaZulu Natal and the Garden Route. With too many providers in the market, making a choice on the right safari tour can be a bit challenging.

A set of diverse experiences is the core of safari expeditions in terms of intoxicating game drives, seeing freely roaming wild beasts upfront, witnessing unique terrain, landforms, and camaraderie of bush journeys and camping.

A set of diverse experiences is the core of safari expeditions in terms of intoxicating game drives, seeing freely roaming wild beasts upfront, witnessing unique terrain, landforms, and camaraderie of bush journeys and camping.

Get Ready for the South Africa Tour

Once you have made up the mind to visit South Africa to enjoy an African safari and other activities, it is time to start the process of procuring a visa with the prescribed steps in consultation with a reputed travel company. Find out visa on arrival applicability to various passport holders in the UAE in relation to South Africa visas from Dubai.

01 Top 10 Safaris in South Africa

1. Pilanesberg National Park:

25 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

Pilanesberg, located in Bojanala, North West of South Africa, is a very prominent family-friendly South Africa safari hub. The park is some 2-hours’ drive from Johannesburg and offers a unique thrill of the jungle ride and also options for soaring high in the skies. The Pilanesberg Hot Air Balloon Safari is a sought-after activity. You will enjoy elevated views, including the mesmerizing sights of the Pilanesberg Alkaline Ring Complex and a perspective of herds of antelopes, buffaloes, and elephants.

2. Lion Sands Sabi Sand Safari:

25 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

Renowned for the ‘Big 5’ and phenomenal sightings of lion, leopard, and cheetah, Lion Sands Game Reserve offers up-close animal encounters, fantastic photographic opportunities from open game vehicles, and exhilarating bush to discover the reserve. Lion Sands River Lodge promises a unique treehouse experience in the African bush and is a favorite of wildlife enthusiasts and honeymooners.

3. Addo Elephant National Park:

25 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

Located in Paterson Road, Addo, the elephant national park is famous for Sylvester Addo’s celebrity lion and a big herd of mighty elephants spotted often near the Hapoor Dam of the park. It is some 30 minutes’ drive from Port Elizabeth, housing many natural wonders for visitors. There are small, flightless dung beetles and hundreds of mammals. Activities can include self-drive game viewing, guided game drives, short walks, longer overnight hikes, bird watching, or a relaxing spa treatment. The safari can take you on a game hunt in search of the elusive leopard. Rhinos and buffaloes will be seen in the open. The park has a good mechanism for monitoring the behavior patterns of the Big 5 to spot them on the tour, making it the best safari in South Africa. The Marine Eco Tour enables spotting whales and sharks.

4. Walking Safari Trails:

25 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

South Africa also offers so many exciting safaris, including the renowned Kruger National Park, blending ‘lodge’ and ‘tented’ accommodation with game drives and guided bush walks. The experience of a night in a treehouse is a big highlight, experiencing stunning sunsets, dinner under the stars, and the profound sounds of the African bush.

5. Marakele National Park:

25 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

Located in Nylstroom, Limpopo, South Africa Marakele is a delightful sanctuary housing impressive wildlife. The name means—a place of sanctuary. The park is part of the Waterberg Mountains and a must-visit for all who wish to spot the Big 5 of Africa. The charming cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria are close by. You will also spot the Tuli elephants introduced into the park, plus game drives in open safari vehicles across the park and bush walks with trained field guides. The moderate climate allows a pleasant stay, and perfect summer rainfalls allays the worst heat. The sight of yellowwood and cedar trees, grand mountains in the background, cape vultures soaring through the royal blue skies, and exciting wildlife roaming in the plains gives a rare bush experience.

6. Kruger National Park:

25 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

Kruger National Park, spanning nearly 20,000 square kilometers, is a sanctuary for incredible wildlife sightings and stunning landscapes and a must-visit for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Capture the essence of Kruger, the premier safari destination, blending diverse wildlife, rich history, and amazing landscape. Kruger is the best place in the world to see the Big Five in their natural habitat. They are lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalos. The stunning landscapes include open savannahs, dense woodlands, dramatic mountains, and riverine forests with breathtaking vistas. Experience exotic game drives assisted by expert guides who track and spot wildlife.

7. Kwandwe, Cape Town Safari:

25 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

Try the South African Big 5 safari experience at Kwandwe Ecca Lodge under a guided tour of the best game drives in the malaria-free Kwandwe Game Reserve. Assured views of fauna and flora on the Garden Route and unique ostrich and meerkat interactions will be part of the amazing safari.

8. Camdeboo National Park:

25 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

Apart from diverse wildlife, Camdeboo Park offers eclectic landscapes of tremendous scenic beauty. Located in the Karoo, the national park surrounds the Eastern Cape town of Graaff-Reinet. It is on the southern foothills of the Sneeuberg Mountain ranges and covers an area of 194 square kilometers. The park’s surreal rock formations are amazing natural wonders believed to have been formed millions of years ago. Night safaris and camping with a bonfire are other highlights. The joy of camping in the fierce jungles is truly unmatched. The infrastructure for camping extended by Lakeview Tented Camp has rustic yet furnished tents for a relaxed experience.

9. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park:

25 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

The name translates to “place of thirst.” You will see enormous black-maned lions, swift leopards, and sneaky raptors at Kgalagadi Transfontier Park in Upington. The red dunes of the park with rare animal species like gemsbok, springbok, eland, and blue wildebeest in herds are a haven for wildlife lovers. Other than spotting wild beasts and witnessing the marvels of nature, enjoy the overnight safari tour and camping. The Kalahari Tented Camp’s night camping experience is thrilling, overlooking the dry bed of the Auob River. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park straddles the border between South Africa and Botswana. It has two adjoining national parks: Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa and Gemsbok National Park in Botswana. As the park lies within the southern Kalahari Desert, the proliferation of red dunes, sparse vegetation, occasional trees, and dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob Rivers are easy to spot.

10. Sabi Sands Game Reserve:

25 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

Located north-west of the Kruger National Park, near Mpumalanga, this enormous 65,000-hectare game reserve houses the best flora and fauna with perfect wildlife safari avenues. The lodges also facilitate walking safaris along with bush dinners and bush breakfasts under favorable weather. Leopards are the highlight, and they are accustomed to safari vehicles. Thus, there is a better chance to not just watch them but observe closely for their actions. Sabi Sands is a haven for photo opportunities, and the safari will be vivid with stunning pictures and thrilling memories. Besides the Big 5, you can explore over 300 bird species. Sabi Sands is home to many lodges offering unique packages. There are highly trained guides telling everything about the reserve and the animals. When on safari with rangers, they may drive off-road that is prohibited in Kruger National Park. So, when chasing a leopard, the ranger will be determined to follow it in the bush, offering an adrenaline-pumping experience.

02 Optimize the thrills of a South Africa safari

To have an idea how a Safari package works out in the ground, consider a 5-day Kruger Safari package covering four nights with one night stay in Hazy View and three nights inside the National Park.

The components of the tour also include a morning bush walk and a night safari drive. The trip will start with a drive from Johannesburg, proceeding to the Wild Life Park Route via the Panorama Route with Hazy View as the first night halt. It will cross many scenic places, including Three Rondavels and Bourkes Luck Potholes, and settle for the night at Hazy View.

During the day, the safari provides ample time to drive around, visit waterholes, and do activities in the park. Expect nice accommodation in line with your budget, including en-suite chalets with air conditioning and tents.

The safari provides the best options to view wildlife and have moments of solitude in the middle of nowhere. If you choose the southern Kruger National Park, the delights from the Sabie River basin and the central grasslands will further amplify the safari experience. This is because you will see lions up close and herds of elephants in the mixed woodlands and watering holes.

Now a wide platter of options for the best Africa safari experience is open before you, and you can customize it according to your time and budget for taking beautiful memories and albums from South Africa after enjoying the best safaris.

One more advantage is clubbing a South Africa safari with exploration of its famous cities in depth, including its culinary hot spots. Cape Town, also called Mother City, has some sterling attractions to explore, including the Cape Point, Robben Island Museum, Table Mountain Cableway, Groot Constantia, and V&A Waterfront. These iconic destinations will definitely supplement your South African safari tour experience.

03 FAQ’s

1. What is the best time to visit South Africa for safari?

The best time to go on safari is between May and October, and the winter months bring dry, clear days ideal for animal tracking, and the extra caution is to pack some warm clothes for cooler nights. The wildlife tends to concentrate near reliable water sources during these months, making game viewing more predictable.

2. How much does it cost to go on safari in South Africa?

The costs of a safari trip depend on many factors, including location, time of the year, and level of comfort. However, the bulk of the package deals carry a flat price, so do not expect any price cushion. They are tailor-made safaris crafted to specific budgets bound by a specific itinerary, and the price will be non-flexible. One way to make a rational safari budget is to rope in an expert agent. As far as South Africa is concerned, it is known to be an affordable safari destination and best for first-timers to get introduced to safari.

3. What all animals do you see on a safari?

Africa has a vast and diverse wildlife, including the so-called Big Five covering lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino. Other significant wildlife are giraffes, zebras, predators, antelope, primates, birds, and reptiles. Kruger National Park is an example of a savanna where the wildlife also includes warthogs, cheetahs, baboons, hyenas, wild dogs, wildebeest, jackals, monkeys, hippos, and antelopes like impala, kudu, eland, and bushbuck. The thumb rule is that the nature of the animal population depends on the type of forest, such as savanna, rain forest, wetlands, desert forests, etc.