Red Africa Safaris Team
Red Africa Safaris
- Located 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:
- Price Range:
- $148 to $585 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
HK
Email LT Yip | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
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!
Email Hannah & Alex | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
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
Email Dolphin Overton | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
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
Email Barbara Ribeiro | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing experience
Very well organized and amazing guides! I highly recommend this company! Jaco and Bekhifa were the best ones!! Many amazing animals
US
Email Phillip | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Red Africa Excelled in Providing a High Quality Safari, Filled with Wonderful Adventure
Our safari to Kruger NP with Red Africa was exceptionally wonderful! Everything went very smoothly and we were very professionally taken care of in every detail, from our initial pickup in Johannesburg, to our drop-off again. Jaco, our driver and top-notch expert on "all things Kruger and Big 5 + Wildlife", was a wonderful fellow to spend much time with as we traveled around. He is a veritable "fount of information" that makes everything so much more meaningful. The tour provided a wide variety of experiences, locations, and perspectives. We loved every minute of it.
The eco-lodge that was our accommodation in Hazyview was terrific, a luxury resort itself, and they accommodate crazy safari daily schedules very well, especially the pre-dawn starts to the day.
Keegan, our main game-drive driver and guide, was also excellent. He knows the park and the animals down to the smallest detail and has such an infectious enthusiasm for showing visitors as much as he can, with good instincts on where to look for the game. Both Jaco and Keegan truly love their jobs, which makes travel with them such a joy.
Red Africa was a great company to work with. All communications were well-handled, all schedules were promptly kept, and because of all we saw and experienced, the whole experience felt "priceless". We are blessed to be able to have this opportunity, and to see so many wonderful animals in the wild (all Big 5, plus dozens more!) behaving the way they were created to be. We also had a great time at the elephant reserve, interacting in neat ways with elephants in ways you cannot in the bush. Our tour of the Panorama Route and a boat ride was another way to see certain animals and just soak in and enjoy the scenery of Drakensberg Mountains and a piece of South Africa.
It is important to consider carefully a tour company for a safari in South Africa. You'll be together for several days and want just the perfect experience. We highly recommend Red Africa to be that company. The memories are going to last forever for us.
CL
Email Cesar Besio | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
excellent
From the booking de to the farewell, everything was first class. I would do another safari with RedAfrica
Email Trevor & Vida Edwards | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Red Africa Safaris excelled all our dreams of a Kruger Park African Safari, absolutely fantastic !!
We experienced a fantastic holiday with Red Africa Safaris. Amelia was totally flexible and planned our 4 night trip to include everything that we required.
We stayed in a fantastic house in Hazyview, as well as a night in the Kruger Park, in addition to our days in the park we also spent a day travelling the Panoramic View, which included the breath taking Blyde River Canyon.
Jaco went way and beyond to ensure that our trip was to perfection, he is an extremely professional host / tour guide and excellent cook, he catered for all our needs.
Keegan was an exceptional game guide with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game and birds; in addition to the Big Five he also found us some wild dogs.
One Day when we return, we will definitely be using Red Africa Safari again.
Totally worth it
We went on a 3-week trip to 4 different countries in Africa and this was by far the best part of our trip. Our tour guide, Jaco, was amazing. He was obviously so passionate about the animals and the environment and he made everything so exciting for us and was full of information.
We did the Panorama Route, which was gorgeous, I'm so glad we did it, but we did get really lucky with weather the entire time. We also got crazy lucky with animal viewings so I'm very grateful for that (not that the companies can control that), but Jaco was determined to get us some good views on our way out of the park and we got a truly spectacular experience surrounded by elephants.
I would 1000% recommend this, I would do it again, I've told all my friends and family to go, it was so worth it and then some.
Email Jan Zimmermann | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was really the best Trip ever. Please do it!!!
It was really the best Trip ever. Please do it!!! Nice Chats and good Food.
DE
Email Julia R. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip with excellent guides
Having booked a guided tour with Red African Safari was the best decision for us as a family (Blyde River Panorama Tour and Kruger). It was well-organised in advance and everything turned out just as planned. We had excellent guides who knew so much about the country's history, politics and especially the wild life. We always felt safe and were taken care of so well. It almost felt like family :-) We are so thankful for this amazing time and will treasure every single moment!
Thanks to Jaco and Trevor!! You are the best!