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Safaris From Cape Town - Compare 173 Tours

4.6/5  –  1,315 South Africa Safari Reviews

With its unforgettable seaside setting at the base of Table Mountain, Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful and likable cities. It is also, justifiably, the most popular tourist attraction in South Africa. The city center is renowned for its compelling array of museums, galleries, historic landmarks, markets and restaurants, while out-of-town attractions include beautiful beaches, scenic walking trails, sophisticated wine estates, clifftop lighthouses and breeding colonies of penguins and seals. For many visitors, however, a perfect South African itinerary would combine a few days in Cape Town with a safari to see lions, elephants, giraffes and other wildlife in their natural habitat, and here we explore how to do that.

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5 Questions About Safaris From Cape Town

1. What is the closest Big Five safari destination to Cape Town?
2. Can you do a self-drive safari from Cape Town?
3. Can you visit Kruger National Park from Cape Town?
4. What other safari destinations can you fly to from Cape Town?
5. Can you do a malaria-free safari out of Cape Town?
 
 

5 Questions About Safaris From Cape Town

Answered by Philip Briggs

What is the closest Big Five safari destination to Cape Town?

“Many first-time visitors to Africa hope to see all of the Big Five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard). The closest Big Five destination to Cape Town is Aquila Private Game Reserve, which lies off the N1 highway 175km/110mi northeast of the city. This affordable quick-fix reserve is aimed at those who want to tick off as many iconic large mammals as possible in a short time. On any given game drive, you should see elephant, white rhino, buffalo, lion, giraffe, zebra, hippo and a variety of antelope (black rhino and leopard are present but harder to find). Aquila is very packaged and in many ways like a glorified zoo, so don’t come here expecting a wilderness experience. The only other Big Five safari destination within a three-hour driving radius of Cape Town is the private Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Extending across 580km²/224mi² of the semi-desert Karoo, this exclusive reserve is notable for its ruggedly mountainous scenery. It offers a slow, holistic safari experience that’s best enjoyed over a 3- or 4-day stay. A highlight of Sanbona is its white lions (whose striking color is due to a rare recessive gene), but visitors also stand a good chance of seeing elephant, white rhino, buffalo, giraffe and various antelope. Other Big Five safari options within reasonable driving distance of Cape Town include Garden Route Private Game Reserve and Gondwana Game Reserve, both of which lie about four hours east of Cape Town at the base of the Langeberg Mountains. These reserves are especially convenient to those visiting the Garden Route as well as Cape Town.”

1

Can you do a self-drive safari from Cape Town?

“It is perfectly possible to drive yourself from Cape Town to any of the above reserves. However, none of them actually caters to self-drivers, so you’ll end up leaving your car parked for the duration of your stay while you do guided game drives. Probably the best self-drive safari destination that’s reasonably accessible from Cape Town is Karoo National Park, which is a five- to six-hour drive inland on the N1 toward Johannesburg. This wonderfully cheap, scenic and tranquil park is a great place to see dry-country wildlife such as Cape mountain zebra, gemsbok and red hartebeest. It also hosts small populations of lion, leopard and black rhino, but you’d be lucky to see any of them. Cape Town is also a potential starting point for self-drive safaris to the more distant likes of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Addo Elephant National Park. However, these would need to be combined into a longer road trip rather than visited as self-standing destinations.”

2

Can you visit Kruger National Park from Cape Town?

“Cape Town and Kruger National Park are South Africa’s two most iconic tourist destinations, but they lie at opposite ends of the country, in the extreme southwest and far northeast respectively. Given that the shortest driving route between them is 1,860km/1,155mi, it is not realistic to visit Kruger by road from Cape Town, unless you’re including both on a longer grand tour of South Africa. However, it is very easy to visit Kruger on a fly-in safari from Cape Town. A domestic carrier called Airlink operates direct daily flights between the two, and many other airlines offer same-day flights that involve a quick change of plane at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport.”

3

What other safari destinations can you fly to from Cape Town?

“Cape Town International Airport is a well-connected travel hub, which means that Cape Town could be used as a starting point for safari packages to many different places in South Africa and neighbouring countries. Within South Africa, flights from Cape Town to Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) bring you within easy striking distance of several Big Five destinations including Addo Elephant National Park and the private Amakhala, Kwandwe and Shamwari Game Reserves. Likewise, there are numerous flights from Cape Town to Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport, from where you can drive to the likes of Madikwe and Pilanesberg Game Reserves. Farther afield, it is possible to fly directly from Cape Town to Maun (Botswana), the main springboard for safaris into the Okavango Delta. Flights to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) or Livingstone (Zambia) provide access not only to the iconic Victoria Falls but also to world-class national parks such as Chobe (Botswana), Kafue (Zambia) and Hwange (Zimbabwe).”

4

Can you do a malaria-free safari out of Cape Town?

“Most of South Africa is free of malaria, as are all safari destinations near Cape Town. This includes all reserves/parks in the Western Cape (Aquila, Sanbona, Garden Route, Gondwana, Karoo), Eastern Cape (Addo Elephant, Amakhala, Kwandwe and Shamwari) and North West Province (Madikwe, Pilanesberg). If you want to totally avoid exposure to malaria, be aware that there is a slight risk in Kruger and a greater one in neighboring countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia.”

5

South Africa Safari Reviews

4.6/5 1,315 Reviews
Expert
Lucy Corne  –  
United Kingdom UK

Lucy is travel writer for a range of publications, including Lonely Planet's guides to Africa, Southern Africa and South Africa.

An Array of Animals
5/5

Of all the African countries people visit on safari trips, South Africa is probably the easiest to travel around. Infrastructure is excellent, accommodation for every budget is abundant and wildlife-viewing opportunities stretch far beyond...

Full Review

Expert
Anthony Ham  –  
Australia AU

Anthony is a photographer and writer for travel magazines and Lonely Planet, including the guides to Kenya and Botswana & Namibia.

South Africa: World-class Safaris
5/5

South Africa is one of my favourite places to go on safari, with all the necessary ingredients for a wildlife experience that will begin your enduring love affair with the continent. Primary among these ingredients is the wildlife. Nowhere...

Full Review

Liz  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Jul 23, 2026
Amazing experience
5/5

Our recent trip to Kruger & Sabi Sands was the best thing we have ever done. It was such an incredible experience. We saw all of the big five as well as so many more animals. The sunsets are incredible, our accommodation was great and the...

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Chintan Patel  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Jul 19, 2026
South Africa is a breathtaking destination where spectacular wildlife, stunning landscapes.
5/5

Our South African safari was truly one of the most unforgettable experiences of our lives. From the moment we entered the reserve, we were surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, endless plains, and incredible wildlife. Every game drive felt...

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Alexander (Lex) Taylor  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Jul 16, 2026
The best alternative - Safari on foot.
5/5

A 3 day walking safari with Africa-on Foot in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, a Big 5 game reserve in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. It sits within the Greater Kruger…. Walking up to 15km a day, with 2 guides, carrying .404...

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Ernest Oyler  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Jul 10, 2026
Better in life than on tv
5/5

We should have extended our three day to a four day Safari. We visited multiple reserves, we did a sunset safari, a sunrise safari and an all day at Krueger national Park. It’s just amazing to see these animals in the wild. I think the...

Full Review

All 1315 South Africa Safari Reviews