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South Africa Private Safari Tours

4.6/5  –  1,326 South Africa Reviews

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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5 Questions About South Africa Private Safaris

1. When is a private trip recommended in South Africa?
2. Will we spend all our time with the guide on a private safari?
3. Which parks and reserves should we visit on a private South African safari?
4. How much do South African private safari packages cost?
5. What type of vehicle can I expect?
 
 

5 Questions About South Africa Private Safaris

Answered by 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.”

1

Will 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.”

2

Which 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.”

3

How 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.”

4

What 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.”

5

South Africa Reviews

4.6/5 1,326 Reviews
Expert
Emma Gregg  –  
United Kingdom UK

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
5/5

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...

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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...

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Dominic Tennant  –  
United Kingdom UK
Reviewed: Oct 2, 2026
Lions, elephants, cheetah, giraffe, rhinoceros, buffalo, hyena, penguins and whales, in one trip!
5/5

We wanted a holiday to see African animals in the wild. We were not expecting such a vast array. My children were blown away by a bushwalk were they encountered a cheetah. The safari at Kruger did not disappoint seeing a hyena trying (but...

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Kristie Wright  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Oct 1, 2026
Fantastic adventure!
5/5

This was a great trip! During my 5 day tour, I was able to see an incredible number of animals, including the Big 5. Most of the guides were seasoned and knowledgeable, but even the newer guide (1st day at Kruger) did a good job (handled...

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Sreyus Philip  –  
Australia AU
Reviewed: Sep 24, 2026
Beautiful.
5/5

Wildlife: The game viewing was outstanding. On our drives we saw[lions, elephants, cheethah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, wild dogs, and the highlight was catching the lions at sunset. Our guides were knowledgeable and patient, and the roads...

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Heidi Daugherty  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Sep 15, 2026
It was the best trip of my life
5/5

South Africa far exceeded all of my expectations. I went on safari to Kenya last year and found South Africa to be even better! We went to Klaserie and Sabi Sands. We saw lions and leopards on every single game drive as well as so much...

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All 1326 South Africa Reviews