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South Africa Day Trips
South Africa is one of Africa’s most popular holiday destinations. The country’s wildlife, history, vibrant cities and varied landscapes make this nation fascinating to explore. You need at least a couple of weeks to see a fraction of what the country has to offer. Sometimes, however, there is the need for a day trip. You might be a business traveler looking for the best way to spend a free day. Or maybe you’re planning a self-drive holiday and you want to book a 1-day safari in Kruger National Park or a township tour. Even if you like to travel independently, there are situations where it makes sense to let the professionals take over. The good news is there are plenty of day trips available to just about every attraction in the country.
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1-Day Ultimate Pilanesberg Open Vehicle Safari
$157 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourShared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
MoAfrika Tours
5.0/5 – 74 Reviews
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½-Day Kruger National Park Morning Safari
$84 to $90 pp (USD)
South Africa: ½ Day tourShared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)
You Visit: Hazyview (Start), Kruger NP, Hazyview (End)
Elephant Herd Tours & Safaris
5.0/5 – 13 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
1-Day Pilanesberg Wildlife Safari
$188 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourShared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Safari With Us
5.0/5 – 164 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
1-Day Pilanesberg Game Reserve 6 Hour Sunrise Safari
$250 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourPrivate tour
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Mmilo Tours
5.0/5 – 104 Reviews
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![1-Day Big 5 Safari Tour]()
1-Day Big 5 Safari Tour
$249 to $295 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourPrivate tour
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Aquila GR, Cape Town (End)
Delight Tourism
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
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![1-Day Great White Shark Diving Experience-Transport Incl]()
1-Day Great White Shark Diving Experience-Transport Incl
$215 to $229 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourShared tour (max 10 people per group)
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Gansbaai (Town), Cape Town (End)
Southern African Tours (Pty) Ltd
4.9/5 – 53 Reviews
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![1-Day Pilanesberg Safari Tour – Lunch Excluded]()
1-Day Pilanesberg Safari Tour – Lunch Excluded
$144 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourShared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
MoAfrika Tours
5.0/5 – 74 Reviews
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![1-Day Kruger Safari Adventure]()
1-Day Kruger Safari Adventure
$103 to $110 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourShared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)
You Visit: Hazyview (Start), Kruger NP, Hazyview (End)
Elephant Herd Tours & Safaris
5.0/5 – 13 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
![1-Day Dinokeng Wildlife Safari]()
1-Day Dinokeng Wildlife Safari
$131 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourShared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Dinokeng GR, Johannesburg (End)
Safari With Us
5.0/5 – 164 Reviews
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![1-Day Cape of Good Hope & Beyond - Private Journey]()
1-Day Cape of Good Hope & Beyond - Private Journey
$299 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourPrivate tour
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Cape of Good Hope (Cape Peninsula), Cape Town (End)
Southern African Tours (Pty) Ltd
4.9/5 – 53 Reviews
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![1-Day Cape Town City Tour]()
1-Day Cape Town City Tour
$146 to $158 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourPrivate tour
You Visit: Cape Town
Delight Tourism
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
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![1-Day Cape Peninsula, Cape of Good Hope & Surroundings]()
1-Day Cape Peninsula, Cape of Good Hope & Surroundings
$127 to $139 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourPrivate tour
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Cape of Good Hope (Cape Peninsula), Cape Town (End)
Delight Tourism
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
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![1-Day Cape Winelands Tour]()
1-Day Cape Winelands Tour
$139 to $158 pp (USD)
South Africa: Day tourPrivate tour
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Cape Winelands, Cape Town (End)
Delight Tourism
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
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Tour Operators Offering Custom Tours
Didn't find the tour you were looking for? Get a free quote for a custom tour from the tour operators below. They can arrange private tours to any destination in South Africa.
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6 Questions About South Africa Day Tours
Answered by
Ariadne van Zandbergen
Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert and photographer. She and her husband form a team who write and update many travel guides. South Africa has been her home for the last 25 years. She has traveled around the country extensively, visiting all its parks and reserves regularly for work and leisure.
6 Questions About South Africa Day Tours
Ariadne van Zandbergen
Are there day trips available to any South African parks or reserves?
“Although an overnight stay is recommended, there are day trips available to many South African parks and reserves. You can book a full- or half-day trip to Kruger NP in an open-sided safari vehicle when staying in Hazyview or surrounds. Even if you have your own transport, a guided trip is highly recommended. Your knowledgeable guide will know the best routes and will be able to point out lots of things you might miss when self-driving. The open vehicle is a bonus too. You’ll feel closer to nature and the added height makes for better viewing. You’ll need to drive further for a day safari from Johannesburg; Pilanesberg and Dinokeng Game Reserves are popular options. You can even spend a day on safari when in Cape Town; Aquila GR is only a two-hour drive away. There are more options on the Garden Route. Addo Elephant National Park, the third-largest national park in the country, is only about 60km/37mi from Port Elizabeth. The KwaZulu-Natal game reserves can be visited on day trips too. You can book a day trip to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve from Durban or the popular coastal holiday town of St Lucia. ”
1What can I expect from a 1-day South Africa safari?
“On a typical 1-day safari, you’ll be picked up at your accommodation at dawn to get to the park not much after sunrise when animals are most active. You might have a transfer to the park first from where you may start the safari in an open-sided vehicle. You’ll spend the morning looking for animals. Early morning, before it gets too hot, is a good time to spot predators on the prowl. When animals retreat to the shade, it’s time to stop for lunch. You might be at a lodge, rest camp or picnic spot, but chances are you’ll be overlooking a waterhole. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to see some thirsty animals drinking before heading off on the afternoon game drive. You’ll be looking for more animals before you get dropped off back at your hotel in time for dinner.”
2Is it safe to book a day tour in South Africa?
“As long as you book with a reputable tour operator, day trips in South Africa are very safe. Crime inside the parks is almost unheard of, but you should take normal safety precautions in urban areas (see Safety & Security – South Africa). Cities can be hot spots for crime throughout the world, and Johannesburg in particular has a bad reputation. When you’re not familiar with a city, you might put yourself at risk because you don’t know which areas to avoid and what might bring trouble. Therefore, it is recommended to book a tour if you have a day spare and you would like to explore. You will be collected and dropped off at your hotel or the airport, and your safety will be taken care of throughout the day. The guide’s presence alone will make you a very unlikely target.”
› More about South Africa Safety & Security 3Is it possible to see the Big Five on a 1-day South Africa safari?
“South Africa has many great Big Five parks and reserves that can be visited on a 1-day safari. Of course seeing all of the Big Five is never guaranteed. Kruger and Addo Elephant NPs are popular Big Five destinations, but you’re unlikely to see all of them in just one day. That shouldn’t be an issue though. You’ll see plenty of wildlife, and not knowing what you’ll see is part of the attraction. Animals move around in large areas, big parts of these not even accessible to visitors. Some small private game reserves, such as Aquila GR near Cape Town, offer something close to a guaranteed Big Five experience. While these safari parks offer great entertainment for the whole family, they don’t have the authenticity or wilderness appeal of a large ecosystem such as Kruger NP and the KwaZulu-Natal game reserves.”
4What day tours are available in Cape Town?
“Cape Town is one of South Africa’s biggest tourist attractions, so there is a huge array of fantastic day trips to choose from. You could literally fill a whole holiday in this vibey city that’s surrounded by natural beauty. A city tour takes in Cape Town’s historical landmarks and museums. A highlight is setting foot in the pentagonal-shaped Castle of Good Hope, the oldest existing colonial building in South Africa. So are the aerial cableway to the top of Table Mountain for a bird’s eye view of the city and a short hike on the rocky plateau. You don’t have to venture far out of the city to find pristine wilderness. A day trip to the Cape Peninsula brings you to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve with its rugged cliffs and idyllic bays. Don’t miss out on a visit en route to Boulder’s Beach with its colony of African penguins. Another popular day trip is a Cape Winelands tour. A drive though this scenic mountainous region, covered in vineyards, is a lovely way to spend the day. You might stop for a delicious lunch at one of the wine estates and you’ll have plenty of opportunities for wine tasting and shopping too. You can book a day trip to nearby Aquila Game Reserve where you may get to see all of the Big Five and much more.”
5What day tours are available in Johannesburg
“Although Johannesburg might seem a bit intimidating and lacking in character at first, there is plenty to keep you busy here, including day tours. Don’t hole up in your hotel if you have a day to spare in this African city. Take in the views from the Top of Africa (223m/732ft), the tallest building in Africa. Learn about South Africa’s turbulent past in the Apartheid Museum, and get a glimpse of township life today in Soweto. Other nearby attractions include Sterkfontein Caves, famous for important fossils dating back more than 3 million years, and Cullinan Diamond Mine. If you want to go on a short safari from Johannesburg, an overnight stay is recommended. However, if time is restricted, you can visit Pilanesberg GR for the day. Be aware though, that it will be a long day out in the car.”
6South Africa Reviews
Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
South Africa is rightly celebrated for its magnificent natural beauty and excellent choice of parks
South Africa has a wonderful range of landscapes, a near-perfect climate, and the choice of destinations, activities and itineraries is virtually inexhaustible. Aside from its beautiful coastline and cosmopolitan cities – both of which I...
Mike is an award winning wildlife writer, 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 savanna 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...
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Tourico Vacations "Loves South Africa"
Planning a South African vacation is a great idea not only for you, but your entire family. The country has so many things to offer everyone. You can plan a romantic holiday with your partner in the beautiful Cape Town or Johannesburg, or...
South African parks are affordable compared to Botswana and Zimbabwe. The big five look the same any where in Southern Africa so decide why added expense and four extra days of travel with petrol costs make it worth while. If you are in...
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Miraculous!
Our trip to South Africa and Jamila Lodge in the Welgovenden Game Park was a trip of a life time! Sandra Nicol at Traipsing Through Africa made it all happen with the upmost care, excitement and precision. Sandra contacted me and...
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Absolutely fabulous!
Our safari to Madikwe Game Reserve was spectacular. We saw more wildlife than we could have hoped for; the accommodations and food were outstanding. Our guide went out of his way to show us all that he could. I hope to come back and spend...