This Tour Is Offered By
Red Africa Safaris Team
Red Africa Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- SATSA, FGASA, SATIB & LEDET
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
-
ZA
Red Africa Safaris is a passionate environmentally conscious Tour/Safari operator. We promote Conservation of our National Parks through Eco-Tourism. Each tour we do, (which you book with us) directly contributes to conservation and the protection of our wonderful wild treasures of Southern African National Parks. Be a part of the African conservation effort and be rewarded with an unforgettable African Safari Adventure, led by our highly professional, experienced, and passionate guides.
Reviews121
DE
Very dedicated, convenient contacts, fast replies and very dedicated, neatly thought through trips.
I highly recommend Red Africa Safaris if it's your first time coming to South Africa. They make you feel like every penny you invested beforehand is well spend and truly deserved.
With the guides you will feel comfortable and welcome in all the unfamiliar places, because they are really focused on your best possible experience.
We had quite a tight schedule being in South Africa for just a week, but Jaco showed us places we surely wouldn't have found ourselves and told us so much about his beloved home country.
Kruger NP and the surrounding landscapes are one of a kind. We are definitely hooked on South Africa's Wildside and can't wait to go again!
Thanks so much to all of Red Africa Safaris making experiences like this possible with the deepest desire to conserve these beautiful places for generations ahead.
HK
Came for the animals, left with a new respect for nature. Thanks, Red Africa!
We spent two days on our own in Johannesburg before starting the 7-Day Ultimate Kruger Safari tour with Red Africa Safaris.
The pick-up from our hotel in Joburg was seamless. The drive was smooth and safe with a scenic route. We spent the first three nights at a lodge just outside Kruger Park. The accommodation was lovely, offering both continental and traditional African cuisine. On one evening, we had dinner under the stars around a bonfire, which was truly magical.
Over the first few days, we explored highlights of the Panorama Route, including the Glass Lift, Pinnacle Rock, etc. We also visited the Moholoholo Rehab Centre, which added a meaningful educational experience to our adventure.
The rest of our trip was spent inside Kruger National Park, where we stayed mainly at Skukuza Camp and one night at Berg-en-Dal Camp. Both camps were modern and comfortable. We had plenty of game drives, both at sunrise and sunset, and even a full-day one. We were incredibly lucky to spot all of the Big Five, as well as rare animals like wild dogs.
Our guide Jacob was exceptional. He is deeply knowledgeable about the local ecosystem. We learned so much about the plants, landscape, and animals from him. He was also a fantastic cook and we got to enjoy some proper South African braai (barbecue) inside the park.
We highly recommend Red Africa Safaris. Special thanks to Amelia, who went above and beyond to assist us when we encountered a payment issue due to a mistake I made when entering the account number. Her help was invaluable and deeply appreciated.
This safari delivered everything we hoped for: wildlife, adventure, and local culture!
The trip of a lifetime with red Africa safaris!
From the moment we sent our first enquiry, Red Africa Safaris impressed us with their professionalism and organisation. Amelia responded almost instantly, answering all of our questions thoroughly and providing all the essential information you want when booking a safari abroad—including company registration details and everything we needed to feel confident and secure. That level of transparency and efficiency was a great first impression—and it only got better from there.
We were picked up from our hotel in a private van and set off on a two-day journey along the Panorama Route. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and our guide, Patrick, was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also genuinely friendly. We got on so well—it felt like traveling with an old friend who happened to know everything about the land around us. One of the things we truly appreciated was how the guides didn’t just drop us off at attractions—they were with us every step of the way. That made for a much more personal, engaging, and informative experience throughout.
One small part of the tour that gave us pause was the visit to the Elephant Whispers centre. While it was fascinating to see the elephants up close, the opportunity to pet and stroke them felt misaligned with the rest of the trip, which placed a strong emphasis on animal welfare and protection. It’s something future travelers might want to consider, and perhaps something the company could review in terms of ethical consistency.
The rest of the trip, however, was nothing short of phenomenal. Blyde River Canyon left us speechless—the views are etched in our memories forever.
Then came Kruger… and wow—where to even begin? Jaco picked us up from the hotel and instantly set the tone for what would be the highlight of the trip. His professionalism, vast knowledge, and passion for wildlife (including a background in anti-poaching and conservation research) made every conversation fascinating. He’s the kind of guide you could chat with nonstop for days.
What really stood out was the personal touch. While other travelers returned from game drives to quiet lodgings, we came back to Jaco welcoming us with a freshly grilled braai and warm hospitality. He prepared both our breakfasts and dinners with care and a smile—starting and ending each day on such a high note.
We were incredibly lucky to see all of the Big Five—twice! A true testament to the skill and dedication of our guides and trackers. The bush walk was another standout—an unforgettable way to connect with the park on foot and gain a whole new perspective.
Knowing that a significant portion of the trip cost goes directly into conservation work made us feel even better about choosing Red Africa Safaris.
Top Tip
One thing we didn’t realise until chatting with Jaco is that Red Africa Safaris can tailor each trip to suit your interests, time, and budget. It’s worth knowing that there’s a lot of flexibility—whether you’re looking for something more luxurious, off-the-beaten-path, or simply want to focus on specific regions or experiences.
We will be recommending to friends or family planning their own trip, to consider combining Kruger with a few other places if they have time. Jaco explained that any package can be personalised to include e.g
• Botswana or Namibia (These are great options if you have around two weeks and want to explore more remote, scenic areas with a focus on high-end lodges and unique landscapes.
• Mozambique & the East Coast – It gives you a broader picture of Southern Africa and a more tropical experience.
• Victoria Falls – Can easily be added on by flight.
• Cape Town
• Swaziland (Eswatini) – Offers something a little different: traditional cultural dances, closer wildlife encounters in parks like Mlilwane, and beautiful scenery. A really interesting addition that we will consider for future trips.
Also, if you’d prefer to avoid the long drive from Johannesburg to Kruger, it’s good to know you can fly directly into Kruger Mpumalanga (KMIA) or Hoedspruit Airport—definitely something to think about for convenience.
North Kruger also has more luxury lodges like KwaMbili. Just something to keep in mind when chatting with Amelia—there’s a lot they can help you customise.
To Amelia, Patrick, Jaco, and Remember—thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You didn’t just plan a holiday, you delivered the trip of a lifetime.
US
Perfectly planned and executed with the best people.
I'll admit, it seemed a bit strange booking this trip having never spoken to anyone over the phone and hearing a human voice, but I did not need to worry. Amelia from Red Africa was quick to respond with any questions and was very helpful. We received our itinerary about a week before we left home(Colorado, USA) and everything looked planned out in a way that put me at ease.
Jaco picked my wife and I up on time in a clean, well kept VW Transporter that was very comfortable over the next five days. Jaco was exactly person I wanted guiding us on this trip. He's genuinely interested in the natural world, extremely knowledgeable, very friendly, and a good cook a well. Within an hour of leaving Johannesburg we had already seen white rhino, buffalo, and ostrich in the wild.(outside of a fuel station no less haha) That set the tone for an experience that is once in a lifetime... but we'll be back.
We opted for a five day trip with the first two days on the Panorama Route. I would highly recommend this as Graskop Gorge and Moholoholo are something very special. Moses at Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre is a wonderful personality, and the work they do is incredible. The Blyde River Canyon and surrounding area is also a breathtaking place that I would not want to miss now that I've seen it. The accommodations were extremely nice as well. Dinner was prepared outside by the hotel the first night, and Jaco cooked a great meal for us outside our condo at Moholoholo the next night.
At the end of the third day, we made it to Skukuza rest camp at Kruger National Park. On the very first guided tour that night, we saw wild dogs, leopards, elephant, giraffe, and many other amazing creatures. That trend continued for the next two days. All of the big five were spotted, but don't get caught up in that. There is so much to see and you are almost always left in awe, even just walking back to camp from the safari van or outside the restaurant at camp.(the restaurant is also better than it has any right to be inside a national park) The accommodations at Skukuza were exactly what I needed as well. I don't really care for sleeping on the ground, but I also don't need a five star hotel necessarily. This was perfect.
All of the drives through the park & the bush walk were excellent, but if Jaco asks if you want to go on a drive through the park with him, absolutely go. That was my favorite part of the trip. He is an endless source of knowledge for the area and still seems genuinely excited about it even after doing it for so long. We were able to stop and see some of the things sometimes passed by on the other tours. This is not a mark against them either as they have to be efficient for everyone on board.
After a tour of a lifetime, Jaco dropped us with Trevor who took us back to Johannesburg. We were exhausted, but Trevor had us laughing the entire trip back. It was a great way to end the trip.
Some other notes:
If you are the type of person that needs a day to relax by the pool, you should book more than three days in Kruger itself. There is not much down time especially if you want to see as many things as possible. My only regret is not booking a seven day trip with five days in Kruger. The second part of our trip was out of Cape Town, so we had to sacrifice a couple days of Kruger. With that said, everything went like clockwork. It was very impressive.
Get cash so you can tip. We should have done more research, but tipping normal in South Africa. In a lot of situations, you won't just be able to tip on a credit card.
If you can bring binoculars, definitely do so. I had a bag of camera gear, but my wife use the binoculars the entire time. She was really happy we brought them.
I highly recommend Red Africa and will be sending many friends their way.
SA
Amazing experience
Very well organized and amazing guides! I highly recommend this company! Jaco and Bekhifa were the best ones!! Many amazing animals
