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South Africa Private Safari Tours
It’s hard not to fall in love with South Africa when you visit and explore the country on a private safari. This kind of safari (where you’ll have the guide, driver and vehicle just for you and the others in your own traveling party) means that you’re in charge of your own safari experience, without having to accommodate the wishes of others whom you don’t know. You decide when to stop and when to move on, and you’ll have an expert guide at your disposal at all times to explain what you’re seeing. Yes, it’s more expensive than a group safari, but there’s no better way to enjoy the amazing wildlife and equally spectacular landscapes that South Africa has to offer.
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4-Day Sabi Sand Safari with Elephant Plains Lodge
$1,628 to $1,790 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Hoedspruit (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Hoedspruit (End)
Indigo Safaris
4.9/5 – 237 Reviews
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Best Seller
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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Best Seller
5-Day Sabi Sands + Kruger Park Combo Safari
$2,822 to $3,175 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Hoedspruit (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Skukuza (End)
African Family Safaris
5.0/5 – 30 Reviews
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6-Day Sabi Sands and Kruger Park Safari
$5,723 to $6,336 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Johannesburg Airport (End)
Discover Africa Safaris
4.7/5 – 598 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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![10-Day South Africa Wildlife Safari Tour]()
10-Day South Africa Wildlife Safari Tour
$2,998 to $3,298 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 – 67 Reviews
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6-Day Exclusive Kruger/Private Luxury Lodge Safari
$4,328 to $5,047 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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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 Luxury Sabi Sands Safari & Treehouse Sleep-out
$10,204 to $11,021 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxury+Lodge
You Visit: Skukuza (Start), Lion Sands GR (Sabi Sands), Skukuza (End)
Viatu
4.9/5 – 187 Reviews
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5-Day Kruger National Park Bush and Zebra Safari
$1,970 to $2,175 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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4-Day Radisson Kruger Safari with Private Game Drives
$1,872 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryHotel
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Panorama Route (Highlight), Johannesburg Airport (End)
MoAfrika Tours
4.9/5 – 5,544 Reviews
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3-Day Kruger - Tangala Safari Camp
$792 to $869 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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![11-Day Cape Town, Safari & Beach]()
11-Day Cape Town, Safari & Beach
$9,096 to $10,781 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxury+Lodge & Hotel
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Phinda GR (KZN Parks), iSimangaliso Wetland Park (KZN Parks), Durban (End)
Safari Online
5.0/5 – 148 Reviews
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![4-Day Kruger & Panorama Adventure]()
4-Day Kruger & Panorama Adventure
$2,293 to $2,636 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxury+Lodge
You Visit: Hazyview (Start), Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger), Hoedspruit (End)
Map2Africa
5.0/5 – 6 Reviews
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![3-Day Addo Elephant National Park Safari]()
3-Day Addo Elephant National Park Safari
$975 to $995 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Gqeberha / Port Elizabeth (Start), Addo Elephant NP, Schotia Safari Private Game Reserve, Gqeberha / Port Elizabeth (End)
Rawson Touring
4.5/5 – 4 Reviews
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![7-Day Panorama Route & Greater Kruger Safari]()
7-Day Panorama Route & Greater Kruger Safari
$2,261 to $2,833 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Mbombela / Nelspruit (Start), Hazyview (Town), Panorama Route (Highlight), Klaserie NR (Greater Kruger), Hoedspruit (End)
Journey Africa
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![10-Day Cape Town + Victoria Falls + Chobe + Moremi Safari]()
10-Day Cape Town + Victoria Falls + Chobe + Moremi Safari
$4,871 to $5,096 pp (USD)
Botswana, South Africa & Zimbabwe: Private tour
Mid-range Camping & LodgeYou Visit: Victoria Falls (Start), Chobe NP, Moremi GR (Okavango Delta), Cape Town (City), Cape Town Airport (End)
Savanna Safaris and Tours
4.8/5 – 25 Reviews
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![2-Day Pilanesberg Safari and Elephant Experience]()
2-Day Pilanesberg Safari and Elephant Experience
$1,084 to $1,203 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Mmilo Tours
5.0/5 – 143 Reviews
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![2-Day National Park Safari in Pilanesberg]()
2-Day National Park Safari in Pilanesberg
$590 to $702 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
Knap Tours
4.8/5 – 55 Reviews
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![7-Day Cape Town-Okavango Delta Safari]()
7-Day Cape Town-Okavango Delta Safari
$3,395 to $4,325 pp (USD)
Botswana & South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range Tented Camp & Guest HouseYou Visit: Cape Town (Start), Okavango Delta, Maun (End)
Compass Odyssey
4.7/5 – 372 Reviews
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5 Questions About South Africa Private Safaris
Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony has been traveling to, and writing about, safaris in southern Africa for nearly two decades. He has co-written Lonely Planet’s ‘South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini’ and ‘Southern Africa’ guidebooks, and he is the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’.› More about Anthony
5 Questions About South Africa Private Safaris
Anthony Ham
When is a private trip recommended in South Africa?
“The best time for going on a South Africa private safari is during the Dry season months of May to September. Throughout this period, you can expect generally fine conditions, with mild daytime temperatures. The only downside about traveling at this time is that it can get very cold at night, especially from June to August. The Dry season is also the best time to go looking for wildlife in South Africa. That’s because as waterholes dry out, it’s easier to find the animals close to the last remaining sources of water. If you’re a birder, you may want to consider the period from November to April. This is when migratory birds from Europe and North Africa spend time in southern Africa in their hundreds of thousands. Whenever you’re planning to travel, you should always try and avoid South African school holiday periods. At such times, accommodations, roads and safari trails are often crowded to an uncomfortable level.”
1Will we spend all our time with the guide on a private safari?
“On most private safari tours in South Africa, the guide will be with you whenever you need them, and you’ll be on your own for as much of the rest of the time as you’d like. Unless your private trip is a self-drive safari, you’ll need a guide and a driver when exploring the parks and reserves. Take this as an opportunity to learn about the animals and landscapes you’re seeing and ask as many questions as you like about local life. You may end up making lifelong friends with those who are looking after you. When you’re not out looking for animals, or when you’re not traveling between destinations, you’ll have lots of time to be alone. Many hours in a safari day are given over to relaxing, eating and drinking, and it will be up to you whether you want company or not.”
2Which parks and reserves should we visit on a private South African safari?
“South Africa has an exceptional portfolio of parks and reserves, and which ones you visit will depend on what sort of holiday you’d like to have. A good place to start is to decide which animals and landscapes you’d like to see, and then do your own research to plan which places are best for seeing them. If you want wildlife to be the centerpiece of your safari, consider visiting the country’s northeast. Here there is a good chance you can see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), as well as cheetah, African wild dog, hyena, giraffe, zebra and so much more. Kruger National Park is rightly famous around the world for its incredible wildlife-viewing possibilities. But you can also see many of the same animals with fewer crowds and possibly even have a more exclusive safari experience in the neighboring reserves, such as Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Pilanesberg Game Reserve is similarly good, but also busy. So why not consider Madikwe Game Reserve or the private Welgevonden Game Reserve, both of which are much more intimate. These are just the start, with so many other possibilities right across the country.”
3How much do South African private safari packages cost?
“There are as many different safari packages and tours as there are safari operators in South Africa. As a result, prices vary greatly, from a base of US$150 per person per day for a private budget camping safari, up to US$600 per person per day, or even more, for a luxury private safari. Factors that can affect the per-day cost of your safari include the number of days you’ll be traveling, how much of the country you wish to see, and when you plan to go on safari. Traveling in high season (which can include local school holiday periods) is usually more expensive than traveling at other times. You should always make sure that you understand what is and what isn’t included in the quoted cost of any safari. As a minimum, expect the quoted price to include a private guide, driver and vehicle, as well as all accommodations, park entry fees, guided game drives, meals and water. Apart from game drives, ask which (if any) activities are included as well.”
4What type of vehicle can I expect?
“On most South Africa private safari tours, you’ll spend a large proportion of your time getting around in a 4WD vehicle. This is certainly the case for the time you spend inside the country’s parks and reserves, where your driver will take you around in a 4WD safari vehicle. These specially adapted vehicles most often have open sides (which are perfect for seeing, and feeling close to, the animals), canvas roofs (to keep out the sun and any rain) and tiered seating. For getting between the various destinations that are a part of your safari, you will most likely travel in a normal 4WD vehicle (which won’t be open-sided). This may vary depending on the size of your traveling party and whether you need a larger vehicle or extra vehicles. It is also possible that you may need to fly between destinations, either in a commercial plane (for getting between South African towns) or a small (six- to 20-seater) charter plane. The latter is used primarily for flying into the small airstrips in more remote and/or exclusive areas of some parks and reserves.”
5South Africa 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...
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
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...
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...