Planning a trip to South Africa and wondering which game reserve to explore? Here are the 10 best safaris in South Africa.
South Africa is, unsurprisingly, one of the world’s top safari destinations. The country boasts a large number of game reserves and national parks, inhabited by exceptional and fascinating wildlife. As well as offering stunning landscapes of astonishing diversity, South Africa is the destination where you’re most likely to spot the lions, buffalo, elephants, leopards and black rhinos that make up the Big Five. From the unmissable Kruger to the more confidential Madikwe, these parks offer a unique and unforgettable adventure. Ready to meet Africa’s most emblematic animals in their natural habitat? Discover the 10 best safaris in South Africa.
1. Kruger National Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – PACO COMO
Best time to go: all year round, and/or between November and December for the birthing season.
Park bonus: best place to see the Big Five
Covering an area of some 20,000 km2, Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s largest game reserves and the country’s most important. But what makes Kruger Park so popular is the presence of the famous Big Five. In all, some 150 species of mammal, including giraffe and cheetah, and 500 species of bird roam freely in the bush of this famous park.
Kruger is the ideal place for a safari in South Africa, but please note that it is also very busy. It lies in the north-east of the country, almost 5 hours’ drive from Johannesburg.
2. Addo Elephant National Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Johan Swanepoel
Best time to go: all year round, and/or from June to November for whale watching.
Park plus points: considered the kingdom of elephants, presence of the Big Seven and malaria-free zone.
A safari in Addo Elephant National Park is your chance to see herds of African elephants in their natural habitat. Today, the reserve is home to over 500 elephants, as well as black rhino, lion, hyena, Cape buffalo, antelope and a wide variety of birds.
Located in the south of the country, in the Sundays River valley, Addo Elephant Park is South Africa’s third largest park, after Kruger and Kgalagadi. Better than the Big Five, Addo National Park, which borders the ocean, is home to the Big Seven, which also includes the southern right whale and the great white shark.
3. Pilanesberg National Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Henk Bogaard
Best time to visit: all year round, although the best time to visit is during the dry season, from May to September.
Park plus points: very affordable, opportunity to observe a variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, in a more tranquil setting.
Let’s continue our tour of the best safaris in South Africa in the Bojanala region, in the heart of the Pilanesberg volcanic crater. Covering an area of 550 km2, this park enjoys an exceptional geographical position between the wet Lowveld and the dry Kalahari Desert.
Wild animals from two different ecosystems live together at Pilanesberg. You can see the Big Five, giraffes, zebras, crocodiles, white rhinoceroses, snakes and buffalo, among others!
4. Madikwe Reserve
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Udo Kieslich
Best time to visit: all year round
Park plus points: more exclusive, possibility of seeing the Big Five and wild dogs.
Madikwe is a wildlife sanctuary in northwestern South Africa, on the border with Botswana. This private reserve is managed by the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) and is only accessible to guests staying in the park’s lodges. Madikwe boasts a particularly rich and varied flora and fauna. The rangers take great care to ensure the tranquillity of the animals and to provide good safari conditions for visitors, limiting the number of 4×4s on any one observation.
What awaits you on a Madikwe safari? The Big Five, black antelopes, impalas and the endangered wild dog!
5. Mapungubwe National Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – PACO COMO
Best time to go: all year round, especially from May to August to stay dry.
Park plus points: Unesco World Heritage Site, rich history and breathtaking scenery
Let’s continue our top safaris in South Africa with Mapungubwe. Mapungubwe National Park, in Limpopo province, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Steeped in history, the park protects the remains of Mapungubwe Hill, capital of the first South African kingdom.
Mapungubwe is also distinguished by its natural landscapes of giant baobabs, river forests and sandstone formations. And the wildlife is just as abundant! Hundreds of different bird species, black and white rhinos, elephants and meerkats can all be spotted in this paradise.
6. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Reserve
Photo credit: Shutterstock – meunierd
The best time to visit: all year round. During the rainy season, from October to March, the vegetation is greener and more luxuriant.
Park plus points: oldest reserve in Africa, rhino concentration and presence of the Big Five.
Founded in 1895, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is Africa’s oldest reserve. With over 1,600 rare white rhinos and 370 black rhinos, it is home to the largest concentration of rhinos in the world. But they’re not the only animals to inhabit this hilly landscape!
On a safari in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, you’re likely to come face to face (or almost face to face) with the Big Five, giraffes, nyalas and even wild dogs.
7. Sabi Sand Reserve
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Mark Dumbleton
Best time to visit: all year round
Park advantages: renowned for its leopard population, presence of the Big Five, very exclusive and quieter.
Sabi Sand is one of South Africa’s finest safari reserves. It lies in the immediate vicinity of the iconic Kruger Park, with which it shares no fences. The animals are therefore free to move from one park to the other. As a result, it’s not uncommon to spot the Big Five, antelopes, hyenas and, above all, majestic leopards in this private reserve.
8. Kgalagadi Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Ondrej Prosicky
Best time to visit: all year round, especially from May to October
Park plus points: oryx spotting and incredible desert landscapes
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is shared between the Kalahari region of South Africa and Botswana. It actually comprises two former national parks, Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (South Africa) and Gemsbok National Park (Botswana). In this desert ecosystem, lions and cheetahs live alongside wildebeest, zebra, meerkats and a large number of bird species.
But the park’s emblematic animal is theoryx! Dreaming of a unique experience in the heart of the African bush? Take a safari in Kgalagadi Park!
9. Shamwari Reserve
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Paul Rhee
Best time to visit: all year round, especially from December to February
Park plus points: malaria-free zone, Big Five presence and spectacular scenery
The Shamwari Private Game Reserve, which means « my friend » in the Shona language, is home to no less than five different ecosystems. As you immerse yourself in the Eastern Cape wilderness of Shamwari, you’re likely to encounter the Big Five, rhinos, cheetahs and zebras.
The park has also set up a program for the conservation and protection of endangered species. Shamwari has been voted the world’s best safari and conservation reserve for several consecutive years.
10. Marakele National Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Kev Gregory
Best time to visit: during the dry season, from May to September
Park plus points: malaria-free zone and Cape Vulture colony
Let’s finish off this selection of safaris to do in South Africa at Marakele, in the Limpopo province. This national park is home to the world’s largest colony of endangered Cape Vultures. Nestled in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains, Marakele offers an extraordinary environment for the coveted Big Five, as well as hundreds of other mammals and birds.
Now you’re ready for the big trip! Which of these South African safaris will you choose?