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Top 20 Best South Africa Safaris - Compare 911 Tours
South Africa is a special place to go on safari. The choice of national parks, game reserves and private conservancies is second to none in southern Africa. And it’s all watched over by a highly professional safari industry with an extensive record in making your safari the most memorable experience it can be. The variety of wildlife and habitats or landscapes is similarly excellent, and South Africa has some of the most accessible wildlife destinations on the continent. And when your safari is over, exciting cities, wine regions and world-class beaches are never far away.
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Best Seller
4-Day Kruger Safari from Cape Town - Kruger Gate Hotel
$1,917 to $2,253 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Kruger Mpumalanga Airport (Mbombela / Nelspruit), Kruger NP, Cape Town (End)
Africa Moja Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 265 Reviews
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9-Day Luxury Cape Town, Kruger NP and Victoria Falls
$5,626 to $7,530 pp (USD)
South Africa & Zimbabwe: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Kruger NP, Victoria Falls (End)
Off2Africa Travel
5.0/5 – 242 Reviews
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3-Day All-Inclusive Ndzhaka Manyeleti Safari
$1,092 to $1,136 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Manyeleti GR (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Hoedspruit (End)
MoAfrika Tours
4.9/5 – 5,535 Reviews
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3-Day Mid Range Big-5 Private Game Reserve Experience
$1,669 to $1,802 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Karongwe GR (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg (End)
Elephant Herd Tours & Safaris
5.0/5 – 235 Reviews
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3-Day Luxury Ivory Moon Lodge - Fly in from Cape Town
$1,273 to $1,614 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Southern Kruger NP, Johannesburg Airport (End)
Safarilink SA
4.9/5 – 1,792 Reviews
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![4-Day Classic Kruger Park Safari]()
4-Day Classic Kruger Park Safari
$1,300 to $1,433 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Wildlife Safaris
5.0/5 – 337 Reviews
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7-Day Tremisana Lodge - Kruger Park Safari
$1,553 to $1,667 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Balule NR (Greater Kruger), Greater Kruger, Kruger NP, Moholoholo Wildlife Centre (Wildlife Sanctuary), 3 Rondavels (Panorama Route), Johannesburg (End)
Viva Safaris
5.0/5 – 367 Reviews
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![3-Day Private Kruger National Park Safari]()
3-Day Private Kruger National Park Safari
$1,215 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Wild Planet Safari
5.0/5 – 262 Reviews
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3-Day Affordable Sabi Sands All Inclusive Safari
$2,617 to $2,843 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), O.R. Tambo Airport (Johannesburg), Johannesburg (End)
Discover Africa Safaris
4.7/5 – 598 Reviews
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![5-Day Malamala Exclusive Fly in Safari]()
5-Day Malamala Exclusive Fly in Safari
$5,955 to $8,624 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), MalaMala GR (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg (End)
Ranger Buck Safaris
4.9/5 – 73 Reviews
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![3-Day Kruger Park and Manyeleti Reserve Bongan Lodge]()
3-Day Kruger Park and Manyeleti Reserve Bongan Lodge
$853 to $921 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Manyeleti GR (Greater Kruger), Central Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Bongan Safaris
5.0/5 – 44 Reviews
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Best Seller
![10-Day South Africa Wildlife Safari Tour]()
10-Day South Africa Wildlife Safari Tour
$3,014 to $3,315 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range Tented Camp & ResortYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Hazyview (Town), Kruger NP, Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Cape Town (End)
Africa Incoming
4.9/5 – 66 Reviews
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6-Day Exclusive Kruger/Private Luxury Lodge Safari
$4,349 to $5,072 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg (End)
Ukhozi Tours
5.0/5 – 23 Reviews
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5-Day Luxury Safari Big Five
$3,375 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, Johannesburg (End)
Go Touch Down Travel & Tours
5.0/5 – 197 Reviews
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9-Day Epic South African Adventure Tour & Safari
$3,662 pp (USD)
Eswatini & South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Self Catering AccommodationYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (KZN Parks), St Lucia (Lake St Lucia), uKhahlamba-Drakensberg (Mountain Range), Amphitheatre (Drakensberg Mountains), Johannesburg (End)
Endless Summer Tours
5.0/5 – 79 Reviews
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4-Day Kruger & Sabi Sand Rustic Safari Camp
$1,247 to $1,422 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Hazyview (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Hazyview (End)
SafariLife
5.0/5 – 35 Reviews
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![13-Day Cape Town and Garden Route Big Five Safari]()
13-Day Cape Town and Garden Route Big Five Safari
$5,647 to $6,211 pp (USD)
South Africa: Self-driveLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Hermanus (Whales), Knysna (Garden Route), Plettenberg Bay (Garden Route), Lalibela WR, Cape Town Airport (End)
Viatu
4.9/5 – 187 Reviews
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![5-Day South Africa Garden Route & Addo Escape]()
5-Day South Africa Garden Route & Addo Escape
$1,617 to $1,649 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 3 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Guest House & HotelYou Visit: Cape Town (Start), Botlierskop GR, Tsitsikamma (Garden Route NP), Addo Elephant NP, Cango Caves (Garden Route), Route 62 (Highlight), Cape Town (End)
Knap Tours
4.8/5 – 55 Reviews
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5-Day Kruger National Park Bush and Zebra Safari
$1,980 to $2,186 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Balule NR (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
5.0/5 – 23 Reviews
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3-Day Kruger - Tangala Safari Camp
$795 to $873 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Hoedspruit (Start), Thornybush GR (Greater Kruger), Hoedspruit (End)
Traipsing Africa's Safaris and Tours
5.0/5 – 131 Reviews
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6 Questions About Best South Africa Safaris
Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony has written numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including ‘Botswana & Namibia’, ‘South Africa’ and ‘Southern Africa’. He also writes about the region for magazines and newspapers around the world, including the ‘New York Times’. He is the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’.› More about Anthony
6 Questions About Best South Africa Safaris
Anthony Ham
Why should I go on a safari to South Africa rather than to another country?
“South Africa has everything you could want from a safari: amazing wildlife, stirring landscapes and some of the best guides and safari operators in Africa. For a start, South Africa is much easier to explore than most other safari countries. With very few exceptions, you don’t need a 4WD vehicle to visit South African national parks, which makes it ideal for those going on their first self-drive safari (an unguided safari where you drive yourself). If you’re visiting as part of a tour, South Africa’s safari industry is also extremely professional, meaning tours are often outstanding, and the parks and reserves are run to the highest standards. Although many of its parks and reserves are popular with safari travelers, there are also numerous opportunities to escape the crowds, especially in the country’s many private game reserves. South Africa’s weather is another positive factor. Thanks to its milder weather conditions compared to other safari countries, safaris are possible here throughout the year. And fantastic safaris are possible across all budget categories. Perhaps most importantly of all, South Africa’s wildlife is among the best and most varied on the continent. There are opportunities to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo), all of Africa’s big cats (cheetah, lion and leopard), extraordinary birdlife and all manner of other species, from meerkats to giraffe and zebra.”
1What are the best safari parks and reserves in South Africa?
“Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s best national parks and is an excellent place to see wildlife. One of the largest parks in southern Africa, Kruger has a vast network of paved trails, excellent accommodations to suit most trip budgets, and fabulous wildlife that includes the Big Five. Surrounding the national park, particularly along the western perimeter, are some of Africa’s best private reserves, including Sabi Sands, Manyeleti, MalaMala and Timbavati. These reserves have more exclusive accommodations, far fewer visitors and much quieter safari trails, and with no fences between them and Kruger, they share much the same wildlife as the park itself. Timbavati is the only place where I’ve seen the Big Five on a single afternoon’s game drive. Other South African parks and reserves where you’re almost guaranteed a fantastic safari experience include Madikwe Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Phinda Game Reserve.”
2Where can I see the Big Five in South Africa?
“There are numerous parks and reserves in South Africa where you can see the Big Five. Kruger NP and the surrounding private reserves (including Sabi Sands and Timbavati) are the country’s most famous Big Five destinations, but they’re not the only places where this is possible. Addo Elephant National Park and Pilanesberg Game Reserve are also home to the Big Five. While a drawback of Pilanesberg is that it can get busy, seeing all five there is not unusual, even on a short safari. Among the private reserves where sighting the Big Five is possible are Madikwe, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, Phinda, Thanda, Kariega, Karongwe and Welgevonden. Not many travelers know that the ‘Big Five’ was a term coined by hunters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It refers to the animals that were considered to be the most dangerous animals to hunt.”
3How much time do I need in order to have the best South Africa safari?
“You should plan to spend as much time on safari as you can, but 10 days to 2 weeks is an ideal amount of time. You could easily spend a week in the Greater Kruger area alone, especially if you decide to spend a few days in the park and then a few more in the surrounding private reserves. That said, if you only have a week available for the entire South African leg of your holiday, spending it in and around Kruger would be one of the best weeks you could have on safari. Which other areas you visit depends on which type of landscapes you wish to experience and which animals you wish to see. You could easily fill the extra day or week by focusing on the parks in one of the country’s main wildlife areas. These include KwaZulu-Natal, the Kalahari and Karoo, or the Eastern and Western Capes. And, of course, if you can stay longer than 2 weeks, you could get to see more of these remarkable areas. One final thing to remember is that you’re more likely to make the best use of your time, and see the maximum amount of wildlife in the time you have available, if you visit on one of the many safari tours available in South Africa.”
4What is the best choice for accommodations on a South Africa safari?
“South Africa has some of the best safari accommodations you’ll find anywhere, though which you choose will depend to a large extent on your budget. At the budget end of the price spectrum, most national parks have excellent and well-priced camping and cabin accommodations. The same applies in the mid-range category, and you may even find some simple tented camps in the private reserves alongside Kruger, including in Timbavati Nature Reserve. You will find high-end accommodations in some national parks, but luxury safari lodges and tented camps are a real specialty of the private reserves. Most lodges and tented camps have on-site dining and bar areas. Some also have swimming pools. The main difference between lodges and tented camps is that the camps have large and often luxurious safari tents with canvas walls – so you can lie in bed at night and listen to the night sounds of Africa. Most high-end lodges and tented camps offer all-inclusive packages that include meals, game drives and other highlights.”
5What is the typical cost of a South Africa safari?
“There is a great range in possible prices for South African safaris. A budget camping safari will cost from US$100 to US$200 per person per day, while luxury, high-end options start at US$500 per person per day, but can go much higher. There are, of course, lots of possibilities in between. How much you pay will depend on a handful of variables that include: the type of accommodations you choose; whether you travel in low, shoulder or high season; whether you choose a private, group or self-drive safari; how many people in your traveling party (single travelers may pay a supplement); and whether you travel by road or by air around South Africa. Whatever your choice, make sure you understand what the cost of your safari includes. In most cases, it should cover transfers, accommodations, driver, vehicle, guide, game drives, park or reserve entry fees, meals and some drinks. There may be some differences for self-drive safaris (no guide or driver, for example), and some activities may cost extra. Always ask your tour operator for a list of inclusions and exclusions.”
6South Africa Safari Reviews
Emma is an award-winning travel writer for Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller, Travel Africa magazine and The Independent.
Where Big Five Safaris Are Big Business, There’s a Wealth of Choice
Glorious images of elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards and buffalo parading through pristine bush are central to South Africa’s popular image. So it comes as a surprise to some first-time visitors that, in reality, the proportion of this...
Mike is an award-winning wildlife writer, former editor of Travel Zambia magazine and author of the Bradt Guide to Southern African Wildlife.
A World in One Country
South Africa’s astounding array of landscapes – from semi-desert to savannah and snow-capped mountain to coral reef – means it offers a greater variety of wildlife experience than any other African country. There are surely few other...
CA
An impressive country
We loved our trip, 6 days in Jo’burg and 8 in safari. We developed a connection with the city that will stay with us forever, the feeling from the inside of a giant country that is building its way towards the hopes of Mandela and a whole...
NZ
Short safari left us keen for more
We were off to birdwatch Madagascar, and we had to go through Johannesburg. So we thought, why not have a short safari to Kruger on the way? We used Safari Bookings to help us get quotes and chose a two-night three-day package. It was...
South Africa offers one of the most extraordinary safari experiences imaginable. During my stay at Kruger Shalati, the Train on the Bridge, I experienced the very best of Kruger National Park. From exceptional game drives with my guide,...
NZ
Outstanding Experience in South Africa
Our whole trip to South Africa was nothing short of sensational. It was the trip of a lifetime! The advice and recommendations from our travel expert Liezel Knott at Safari-online.com were outstanding. Liezel Knotts recommendations for...