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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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Best Seller
4-Day Sabi Sand Reserve Luxury Safari, Greater Kruger
$3,150 to $3,299 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryBush Camp
You Visit: Skukuza (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Kruger (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.9/5 – 191 Reviews
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4-Day Timbavati Safari with Kambaku Safari Lodge
$1,624 to $1,790 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Hoedspruit (Start), Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger), Hoedspruit (End)
Indigo Safaris
4.9/5 – 164 Reviews
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7-Day Kruger Private Reserves
$4,231 to $4,562 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Hoedspruit (Start), Klaserie NR (Greater Kruger), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Hoedspruit (End)
Safari Online
5.0/5 – 134 Reviews
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3-Day Private Kruger Park Safari
$1,135 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Junglers Adventure Tours
4.9/5 – 62 Reviews
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Best Seller
![11-Day 4 Star Cape Town Highlights, Kruger NP, Vic Falls]()
11-Day 4 Star Cape Town Highlights, Kruger NP, Vic Falls
$4,087 to $4,897 pp (USD)
South Africa & Zimbabwe: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Cape Town (Start), Cape Town Airport (Cape Town), Cape Peninsula, Franschhoek (Winelands), Cape Town (City), Kruger NP, Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls Airport (End)
Gems of Africa Safari and Tours
5.0/5 – 153 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
![5-Day Sabi Sands and Kruger Safari]()
5-Day Sabi Sands and Kruger Safari
$3,553 to $4,183 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Johannesburg Airport (End)
Discover Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 538 Reviews
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![7-Day Garden Route & Addo National Park Safari Tour]()
7-Day Garden Route & Addo National Park Safari Tour
$1,750 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Hermanus (Whales), Oudtshoorn (Garden Route), Knysna (Garden Route), Tsitsikamma (Garden Route NP), Addo Elephant NP, Cape Town (City), Port Elizabeth (End)
Thiam Travels
4.7/5 – 10 Reviews
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![9-Day Luxury Cape Town, Kruger NP and Victoria Falls]()
9-Day Luxury Cape Town, Kruger NP and Victoria Falls
$5,379 to $6,611 pp (USD)
South Africa & Zimbabwe: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Kruger NP, Victoria Falls (End)
Off2Africa Travel
5.0/5 – 164 Reviews
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![4-Day Madikwe Incredible Malaria-Free Big 5 Safari]()
4-Day Madikwe Incredible Malaria-Free Big 5 Safari
$3,375 to $3,711 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxury+Lodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Madikwe GR, Johannesburg (End)
Viatu
5.0/5 – 102 Reviews
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![5-Day Sabi Sands + Kruger Park Safari Package]()
5-Day Sabi Sands + Kruger Park Safari Package
$3,569 to $4,222 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Skukuza (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Nelspruit (End)
African Family Safaris
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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![7-Day Panorama Route, Blyde River Canyon & Kruger Park]()
7-Day Panorama Route, Blyde River Canyon & Kruger Park
$4,124 to $4,413 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Panorama Route (Highlight), Moholoholo Wildlife Centre (Wildlife Sanctuary), Blyde River Canyon (Panorama Route), Kruger NP, Central Kruger NP, Greater Kruger, Johannesburg (End)
Mmilo Tours
5.0/5 – 137 Reviews
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4-Day Walking Safari - Africa on Foot, Wilderness Trails
$925 to $1,014 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourBudgetTented Bush Camp
You Visit: Hoedspruit (Start), Greater Kruger, Hoedspruit (End)
JourneyTo
5.0/5 – 20 Reviews
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![3-Day Unforgettable Safari Bliss in Sabi Sands]()
3-Day Unforgettable Safari Bliss in Sabi Sands
$3,186 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg Airport (End)
African Wildlife Plains
4.8/5 – 12 Reviews
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![4-Day The Greater Kruger Tshukudu Safari]()
4-Day The Greater Kruger Tshukudu Safari
$1,645 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Tshukudu GR, Kruger NP, O.R. Tambo Airport (Johannesburg), Johannesburg (End)
Go Touch Down Travel & Tours
5.0/5 – 172 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
4-Day Pilanesberg Luxury Tshukudu Lodge Safari
$1,085 pp (USD)
South Africa: Self-driveLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
MoAfrika Tours
4.9/5 – 2,806 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
![5-Day Kruger and Greater Kruger Semi-Exclusive Safari]()
5-Day Kruger and Greater Kruger Semi-Exclusive Safari
$1,344 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Panorama Route (Highlight), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg (End)
Safari With Us
4.9/5 – 249 Reviews
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3-Day Kruger - Nambu Camp
$557 to $641 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Hoedspruit (Start), Balule NR (Greater Kruger), Hoedspruit (End)
Traipsing Africa's Safaris and Tours
5.0/5 – 119 Reviews
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4-Day Imbali Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park
$2,604 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxury+Lodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
BST Tours
4.8/5 – 32 Reviews
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![3-Day Luxury Safari Timbavati Kruger South Africa]()
3-Day Luxury Safari Timbavati Kruger South Africa
$2,474 to $2,761 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxury+Lodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg (End)
Greatest Africa
5.0/5 – 35 Reviews
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![5-Day Kruger Park and Panorama Route from Johannesburg]()
5-Day Kruger Park and Panorama Route from Johannesburg
$2,005 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Panorama Route (Highlight), Blyde River Canyon (Panorama Route), Johannesburg (End)
Tourgy Tourz
4.9/5 – 38 Reviews
Related Searches
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-watching opportunities stretch far beyond...
Amazing Country!!
A group of us travelled to Cape Town for business (all women) but also had time for sightseeing. We came across our Tour Guide, Munier Daniels (@agentktours) by chance but what a find! We travelled the Peninsula to the Cape of Good Hope,...
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South Africa is so diverse and has it all! Some of the kindest people in the world
Kruger National Park was such a delight! We were lucky with great weather and a lot of animal sightings! I am so grateful for this experience and will reflect on it in the future. I can't wait to go back!
CA
Amazing
I really enjoyed the Safari to Kruger. The camping experience and private tour was everything we hoped for. The amount of wildlife we saw was mind boggling and now going to the zoo will be a disappointment. To see them in their natural...
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Exceeded our expectations
Visited South Africa in May 2025. 4 nights in Cape Town then flew to Kruger for a 5 day safari at Tresimana Lodge. The staff and guides were wonderful. Enjoyed the tours at their private reserve and enjoyed the bush walk down to the river...