exclusive safaris in south africa
South Africa has a large, long-established safari industry with many great safari options. From some of the finest luxury lodges on the African continent, to simple bush camps and walking trips, there is something for every interest and budget – and we will help you find the perfect itinerary for your safari!
Kruger National Park
Most people, when considering a safari in South Africa, immediately think of the Kruger National Park. This 2-million-hectare park is world famous for it’s safaris, and there is a good chance to spot the Big Five here. The surrounding private game reserves are no longer isolated from the Kruger Park, which means that the animals have an even larger domain to roam.
Sabi Sands & Timbavati
Sabi Sands and Timbavati are probably the best-known private game reserves near the Kruger Park – and both are easily accessible from Johannesburg. They are a collection of privately-owned game reserves which share an unfenced boundary with the Kruger, so animals are able to move freely from one park to the next.
Unlike in the Kruger, off-road driving is permitted in the private reserves, and the game viewing is incredible.
Night drives and bush walks are also offered at most of the lodges in the Timbavati and Sabi Sands.
Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe lies on the border with Botswana and is also a good location for spotting the Big Five… and it’s only a 3 hours drive from Johannesburg.
The Madikwe region was originally inhabited by livestock farms, but in 1991 Operation Phoenix became the largest reintegration project in the world. More than 8,000 animals (28 animal species) were brought to Madikwe. Even the African wild dog was brought back to Africa for the first time. The project was so successful that Madikwe can now even sell game to other South African game parks to get a better distribution. Their breeding program to protect the African wild dog has been a great success.
Madikwe Game Reserve is malaria free, which makes it a great destination if you’re travelling with kids.
Kwazulu Natal
Phinda is generally regarded as the best private game reserve in Kwazulu Natal.. Home to the Big Five, it’s a really special place – particularly for rhino viewing. There aren’t huge populations of either lion or leopard, which allows cheetah (who are usually out-competed by the other big cats) to thrive.
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is also a good choice. The park is 50km from Durban and not far from the border with Mozambique. Hluhluwe was the second game reserve to be created in South Africa, and you have a good chance of seeing the Big Five here. The reserve has been one of the major drivers of Operation White Rhino, where the number of white rhinos here has risen from a few dozen wild specimens to around 1500 currently.
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape, unlike many other safari destinations, is malaria free. Equally, when it’s wetter in the Kruger region, you can still get great weather in the Eastern Cape. The best time to spot game in the Eastern Cape is between October and April.
In the heart of the Eastern Cape lies Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, which offers 22,000 hectares of pristine wilderness stretched out on either side of the meandering Great Fish River.
Kwandwe offers a range of accommodation options, from luxury lodges to exclusive-use villas, as well as diverse and flexible safari activities, such as game drives, walking safaris, fishing expeditions and rhino conservation.
Kalahari
The Kalahari is a semi-desert that spreads across large parts of Southern Africa, and borders with Botswana and Namibia. The Kalahari is home to a variety of wildlife, including cheetahs, meerkats, lions, giraffes, and antelopes.
The vast landscapes of sand dunes, savannahs, and mountains are simply spectacular, and there are several luxury safari camps that offer comfort and hospitality in the wilderness. Safaris in the Kalahari are a unique opportunity to witness the conservation efforts and the cultural heritage of this region.
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Augrabies Falls National Park and Tswalu Kalahari Reserve all offer excellent game viewing and spectacular scenery.
