Top 10 Best Private Game Reserves in South Africa

By Ariadne van Zandbergen

South Africa has a varied collection of state-run parks and reserves, but the country’s list of private reserves is even more impressive. While national parks cater to everyone, including self-drive and day visitors, private game reserves in South Africa are more exclusive and therefore less crowded.

Packages usually include luxury accommodations, all meals and safari activities. Game drives are conducted in open vehicles, and off-road driving makes for excellent close-up encounters of the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) and other safari favorites. In need of some inspiration? Here are some of the best private game reserves in South Africa.

1,070 South Africa Safaris

1. Sabi Sand Nature Reserve

Leopard in Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, South Africa’s most popular private safari destination, shares an unfenced border with the much larger Kruger National Park. This makes the reserve part of a vast self-sustainable ecosystem. There are lots of different lodges to choose from, most of which are small and luxurious. This is Big Five territory at its best, and habituated leopards, which are used to seeing people and safari vehicles, are the top attraction.

Location: in Greater Kruger
Size: 650km²/251mi²

118 Sabi Sands Safaris

2. Madikwe Game Reserve

Wild dogs at sunset in Madikwe Game Reserve. Source: flickr.com/photos/flowcomm/8951813497

Perhaps the best alternative to the excellent private reserves in the Greater Kruger area is malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. Nestled against the Botswana border, Madikwe protects a vast untamed wilderness area. Although state-owned, it operates exactly like the private reserves farther south. The lodges are privately owned and they conduct all game drives. Aside from the Big Five and other safari heavyweights, you might be lucky and see a pack of African wild dogs. Their social interactions make for special sightings.

Location: in the North West Province
Size: 750km²/290mi²

42 Madikwe Safaris

3. Phinda Private Game Reserve

Cheetah family in Phinda Game Reserve. Source: flickr.com/photos/51329384@N06/5128135172

Phinda Private Game Reserve is on a par with the better-known Sabi Sands in terms of wildlife viewing. All the usual suspects are present, and while leopards are seldom seen by comparison to Sabi Sands, there is no better place to enjoy close-up encounters with cheetah, the world’s fastest land animal. Seeing this gracious big cat at full speed on a hunt is a phenomenal sight. Phinda prides itself on the quality of the guiding. Your safari experience will be about a lot more than chasing the Big Five.

Location: in the KwaZulu-Natal Province
Size: 230km²/89mi²

11 Phinda Safaris

4. Timbavati Nature Reserve

Lion guarding over a giraffe kill in Timbavati Nature Reserve. Source: flickr.com/photos/chrisparker2012/7482755972

With open borders to neighboring Kruger, Timbavati Nature Reserve is the closest competitor to Sabi Sands. Although superficially similar, the safari experience feels wilder in Timbavati. The lodges are spread out in the rugged landscape and vehicle traffic is minimal. Aside from 18 all-inclusive luxury lodges, there are four self-catering camps. Keep an eye out for white lions, the reserve’s claim to fame. Although births and sightings of these unusually colored individuals are rare, the recessive gene responsible is still present in the local lion population, so you never know your luck.

Location: in Greater Kruger
Size: 556km²/215mi²

53 Timbavati Safaris

5. Shamwari Private Game Reserve

White rhinos in Shamwari Game Reserve. Source: flickr.com/photos/jabberwock/8262704970

Shamwari Private Game Reserve is the most popular of the Eastern Cape’s private reserves. Wildlife viewing is almost on a level with what you can expect in the Greater Kruger area, except for leopard sightings, which are hit-and-miss here. You won’t miss out on seeing rhino in Shamwari; white rhino is common in the grassy areas and you’ve got a good chance of spotting the more elusive black rhino when traveling to the remote north of the reserve. If you are on a family holiday, book into one of the child-friendly lodges with a special ‘Kids on Safari’ program.

Location: in the Eastern Cape Province
Size: 280km²/108mi²

6. MalaMala Game Reserve

Male lion on the move at MalaMala Game Reserve

Sandwiched with open borders between Kruger and Sabi Sands, MalaMala Game Reserve is part of a massive ecosystem with animals roaming around freely. With very few properties on a large tract of wilderness, here you’ll experience first-rate wildlife viewing away from the crowds. Exclusivity is key and you’ll appreciate it when spending quality time with one of the reserve’s habituated leopards. This is where you can really witness the behavior of these normally skittish big cats. You might see a mother with cubs, a lone male patrolling its territory or perhaps a pair performing their mating rituals.

Location: in Greater Kruger
Size: 133km²/51mi²

MalaMala Safaris

7. Manyeleti Game Reserve

White rhino in Manyeleti Game Reserve

Manyeleti Game Reserve is the only part of Greater Kruger that’s owned by a local community and managed by a provincial wildlife authority. It is also the only one apart from Kruger National Park that allows self-drive game drives and has an affordable public rest camp and camp site in addition to upmarket private lodges. Manyeleti shares open borders with Kruger as well as with Timbavati Nature Reserve, but wildlife densities are lower due to the lack of permanent water. Visitor numbers are lower too. Come here for a truly off-the-beaten-track self-drive or guided wilderness experience with a chance to spot any of the Big Five and much more.

Location: in Greater Kruger
Size: 237km²/92mi²

25 Manyeleti Safaris

8. Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

Elephants in Kwandwe Game Reserve. Source: flickr.com/photos/christopheramy/36899825985

A safari doesn’t get more exclusive than this. Imagine just two small lodges in a 220km²/85mi² wilderness area. You might not see another vehicle on your game drive. Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is one of the Eastern Cape’s top wildlife destinations. You can see all of the Big Five, but rhino sightings are particularly rewarding here. And not just the placid white rhino. The usually timid black rhino is very conspicuous too. Don’t skip the night drive in Kwandwe; you’ve got a real chance of spotting one of the truly hard-to-find nighttime creatures, such as aardvark or porcupine.

Location: in the Eastern Cape Province
Size: 220km²/85mi²

Kwandwe Safaris

9. Balule Nature Reserve

Herd of elephants in Balule Nature Reserve

Balule Nature Reserve, a large protected area with open borders to Kruger, is made up of lots of smaller properties. The area can feel a bit cluttered and busy, but the quality of the wildlife viewing is as good as you would expect anywhere in Greater Kruger. The dominant feature is the magnificent Olifants (Elephants) River, which is a magnet for thirsty animals, especially big herds of elephants and buffalo in the Dry season.

Location: in Greater Kruger
Size: 500km²/193mi²

69 Balule Safaris

10. Amakhala Game Reserve

Buffalo in Amakhala Game Reserve. Source: flickr.com/photos/novecentino/31945764567

Although not the wildest destination, Amakhala Game Reserve has a lot going for it. It is reasonably affordable and quite easily combined with a holiday to Cape Town and the Garden Route. Wildlife viewing is great and four of the Big Five are frequently spotted. The exception is leopard; you might find tracks, but these shy animals don’t easily let themselves be seen here. There is a wide variety of accommodations catering to different budgets. Some are perfect for a romantic holiday, while others would be an ideal choice for a family safari.