The 8 Best Places For Safari In South Africa
A South Africa safari is one of the best ways to explore this incredible country, and the safaris on offer here are some of the best in Africa. Some of the best safari destinations in South Africa include the Big Five in Kruger, malaria-free Madikwe, Sabi Sands Game Reserve and more. South Africa is home to all of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo – and some of the continent’s most intact wildernesses, especially the Greater Kruger area.
Kruger National Park is by far the most famous South Africa safari destination, but it is by no means your only option. From the legendary plains of Kruger to remote Kalahari deserts, the best safari parks in South Africa offer diverse landscapes and wildlife encounters, and it’s worth considering each of the following reserves for your South Africa safari itinerary.
South Africa offers world-class wildlife experiences. You get incredible value for money. The infrastructure is top-notch. Plus, it is a destination the whole family can enjoy.
But with so many options, planning can feel overwhelming. Do you go for the famous Kruger? Or a private reserve? What about malaria? These are things you have to consider when you’re planning the Best Safari trip in South Africa.
Discover other South Africa’s iconic destinations
Here are the 8 Best Safari Destinations in South Africa
1. Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s most famous safari destinations, offering incredible opportunities to see the Big Five across vast savanna landscapes.
You cannot have a safari list without the massive Kruger National Park. It is the most famous safari destination in South Africa, and for good reason. It offers unrivalled biodiversity. You will find the Big Five here: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. But the sheer scale means you also find cheetah, wild dogs, hippos, and over 500 bird species.
Kruger National Park is South Africa’s flagship wildlife reserve. Covering nearly 20,000 square kilometres across northeastern South Africa, it is one of the largest and most famous national parks in Africa. The reserve is home to 147 mammal species, more than any other South African reserve. This includes healthy populations of all of the Big Five and good numbers of other iconic animals such as giraffe, zebra, cheetah, hippo and African wild dog. In terms of wildlife encounters, Kruger is the cream of the crop.
The park’s landscapes are also very diverse, which is part of the reason that it holds so much life. Vistas vary from open savannah and woodland to river valleys and granite hills. There are numerous natural watering holes which draw wildlife in, especially during the dry season.
Due to its size and popularity, Kruger offers travellers the most choice. Whether you’re after a budget camping safari or a more luxury lodge safari, Kruger caters to all budgets. It’s also possible to enjoy a self-drive safari at Kruger, meaning the park can fit into almost any South Africa itinerary.
It suits every budget. You can self-drive in a rental car, staying at basic rest camps. Or you can splash out on a luxury lodge in a private concession inside the park. The road network is excellent, making it perfect for independent explorers.
Why choose Kruger? It suits every budget. You can self-drive in a rental car, staying at basic rest camps. Or you can splash out on a luxury lodge in a private concession inside the park. The road network is excellent, making it perfect for independent explorers.
• Best for: Self-drive enthusiasts and first-time visitors wanting variety.
• Malaria risk: Present. Take precautions during the summer months.
Best Safari Lodges and Camps in Kruger
2. Sabi Sands Game Reserve
Sabi Sands Game Reserve is renowned for luxury safari lodges and some of the best leopard sightings in Africa.
It borders Kruger National Park and is part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem, with no fences between the two parks. Despite these similarities, Sabi Sands offers a more intimate experience than its more famous neighbour. Visitor numbers are far lower than Kruger. This is because Sabi Sands is a private game reserve, meaning you can only go on safari here if you’re staying at the park, whilst people flock from all over South Africa to visit Kruger.
Another benefit of Sabi Sands is flexibility in the rules for game drives. Unlike national parks where vehicles must stay on established roads, guides in private reserves can sometimes track animals off-road and follow predators through the bush.
In Sabi Sands, vehicles can go off-road. This is a game-changer. When a leopard is spotted in the bush, your guide can leave the track to give you an unobstructed view. Speaking of leopards, Sabi Sands is the world capital for viewing these elusive cats. They are habituated to vehicles, meaning you often get breathtakingly close encounters.
Speaking of predators, Sabi Sands is widely regarded as one of the best places in South Africa to spot leopards, the most elusive and most often missed member of the Big Five. The big cats at Sabi Sands are unusually relaxed around vehicles, allowing guides to approach closely and providing some of the best leopard viewing opportunities in Africa. And all the other members of the Big Five are also present here.
Why choose Sabi Sands? It is the pinnacle of luxury guiding. You get expert trackers and rangers. You enjoy bush walks and star-gazing. The lodges are spectacular. But this exclusivity comes at a price
Best Safari Lodges and Camps at Sabi Sand
3. Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe Game Reserve is one of South Africa’s best hidden safari destinations, known for its rich wildlife and malaria-free environment.
Are you looking for a safari close to Johannesburg? Need it to be malaria-free? Madikwe Game Reserve is your answer. It is a conservation success story. In the 1990s, they reintroduced over 8,000 animals in “Operation Phoenix.” Now, it is a thriving ecosystem.
Madikwe Game Reserve is located on the other side of South Africa from Kruger and Sabi Sands, near the Botswana border. Founded on degraded lifeless farmland, it’s one of South Africa’s greatest conservation success stories. Thanks to careful rewilding and the reintroduction of more than 8,000 animals, this is now once more a fully wild landscape!
Today Madikwe covers around 75,000 hectares and is home to more than 60 mammal species, including all of the Big Five. Large herds of elephant roam the plains, with more than 900 individuals in the reserve, while buffalo, rhino and lions are frequently spotted during game drives.
Madikwe is also one of the best places in South Africa to spot the endangered African wild dog. Packs can be seen hunting across the plains and savannah, alongside cheetah which also live in good numbers here.
It’s also good to know that Madikwe is a malaria-free safari destination in South Africa, making it a popular option for families with children and those who can’t or don’t want to take malaria medication.
Finally, Madikwe’s location means it’s a great South Africa safari option for those looking to combine their trip with Botswana, an incredible country home to the Okavango Delta and the Makgadikgadi salt pan.
Why choose Madikwe? It offers a high-end, exclusive experience without the health risks. It’s also excellent for spotting rare species like brown hyena and sable antelope.
4. Addo Elephant National Park
Addo Elephant National Park is famous for its massive elephant herds and diverse wildlife in South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
This Park offers the best safari opportunities for those exploring South Africa’s Garden Route. Located near Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), it offers a very different safari experience thanks to its coastal location and impressive sand dunes.
Addo Elephant National Park was originally founded to protect the Eastern Cape’s dwindling population of, you guessed it, elephants. And as the name suggests, it’s one of the best places to see these gentle giants in South Africa, with huge herds roaming the park and gathering around watering holes. It is sometimes possible to see multiple generations and hundreds of individuals gathering together around water sources, especially in the dry season.
There’s more to Addo than just the elephants though, and this park is home to all of the Big Five. In fact, it’s home to the Big Seven: this reserve is unique because its boundary extends beyond the coast. It’s possible to combine your traditional South Africa safari with a marine tour out to sea. Here, (if you’re lucky) you may be able to spot southern right whales and great white sharks. The park stretches all the way to the coast. You can do a land safari in the morning and go whale watching (in season) in the afternoon.
Why choose Addo? It is affordable, accessible, and malaria-free. It’s just a 45-minute drive from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). The dense thicket vegetation provides a different, lush backdrop compared to the savannas of the north.
5. Pilanesberg National Park
Located near Johannesburg, Pilanesberg National Park offers a convenient Big Five safari experience in a dramatic volcanic landscape.
You may be surprised to know that Johannesburg, not Cape Town, is South Africa’s biggest city. And if you’re spending time in Joburg, then Pilanesberg National Park is the closest Big Five reserve to the city, with a journey time of around 2 hours. The landscape of Pilanesberg is also unique, as it lies within the crater of an extinct volcano, creating a dramatic landscape of rocky hills, open plains and lakes.
At 572 square kilometres, Pilanesberg is 35 times smaller than Kruger National Park, but it’s still the fourth biggest reserve in South Africa and supports a diverse array of wildlife. There are healthy populations of all the Big Five species, as well as cheetah, hippo and crocodile. More than 300 bird species also call the park home, making it a good option for birdwatchers. There are also numerous historic human settlements in the park, dating to the Iron and Stone ages.
You can see all the Big Five, along with wild dogs and a variety of antelope. “Operation Genesis” relocated these animals in the 1970s, creating a thriving wildlife population.
Pilanesberg is another malaria-free safari option in South Africa, and is well-suited if you are staying in Johannesburg and not wanting to travel far for your safari.
Why choose Pilanesberg? It is incredibly convenient. You can easily do it as a long day trip from Johannesburg. However, staying overnight is better. As the park is malaria-free, families do find it very appealing.
• Best for: A quick safari fix or a short break from Johannesburg.
• Malaria risk: None.
• Pro Tip: The park can get busy on weekends with day visitors. For a quieter experience, plan a mid-week stay.
6. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is one of Africa’s oldest wildlife reserves and a global leader in rhino conservation.
Travel to KwaZulu-Natal to find Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. As the oldest nature reserve in Africa, it’s no surprise that Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, located in South Africa’s rolling KwaZulu-Natal hills, makes our list for the best South Africa safari destinations.
Founded back in 1895, it has played an integral part in protecting South Africa’s population of white rhino from extinction, and remains one of the best places in South Africa to see them, as well as the even rarer black rhino.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park’s 960 square kilometres is also home to the rest of the Big Five, as well as cheetah, African wild dog, giraffe and game animals including zebra. More than 400 bird species have also been recorded in the park.
The park combines two distinct areas. The northern Hluhluwe section is hilly and forested. The southern iMfolozi section is more open savanna. This variety supports huge herds of buffalo and some of the best rhino viewing on the planet. The birdlife is also spectacular, making it a haven for birders.
The really unique thing that makes Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park worth considering for your South Africa safari is its landscapes. Whilst many South African reserves are known for their rolling savannah plains, the Hluhluwe section of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is dominated by lush green hills and acacia woodland, offering something different for those on safari. Meanwhile, the iMfolozi section is a premier South African destination for walking safaris.
Why choose Hluhluwe-iMfolozi? It offers a raw, authentic African experience. It is less commercialized than Kruger. The rolling green hills (if you visit in summer) are beautiful.
• Best for: Rhino enthusiasts and those seeking a classic Zululand safari.
• Pro Tip: Book a wilderness trail. These multi-day hikes put you on foot in the bush with an armed guide. It is an unforgettable and immersive experience.
7. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is famous for its black-maned Kalahari lions and spectacular desert landscapes.
Spanning the border between South Africa and Botswana, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park protects vast stretches of the red-sand Kalahari Desert. This dry and arid landscape supports lower densities of wildlife than some of South Africa’s other parks, but it does have one unique advantage. Thanks to a bare desert setting and much less vegetation, wildlife sightings here are remarkable. Spotting predators such as the iconic black-maned Kalahari lions is much easier than in other places, whilst this park is your best bet for seeing a cheetah stretching its legs whilst on the hunt. Large herds of antelope such as gemsbok, springbok and wildebeest roam the desert plains.
Besides the incredible wildlife encounters on offer, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park features long stretches of desert roads, towering sand dunes and enormous open skies. It’s also generally visited by far fewer tourists, creating much wilder and authentic safari experiences.
8. Tswalu Kalahari Reserve
If you seek true solitude and otherworldly landscapes, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is the ultimate destination. It is South Africa’s largest private game reserve. It is located in the southern Kalahari, near the Botswana border. This is red dunes, starry skies, and wide-open spaces.
Tswalu offers exclusivity. They limit the number of guests at any one time. You get a private vehicle, guide, and tracker for your entire stay. The wildlife is unique to the region. Look for the “elusive five”: aardvark, aardwolf, brown hyena, pangolin, and meerkat. You will also find desert-adapted species like oryx and springbok.
Why choose Tswalu? It is the pinnacle of privacy. It focuses on the fragile beauty of the desert. You can explore on foot, by vehicle, or even on horseback. The star beds and dinners in the dunes are magical.
• Best for: Honeymooners, celebrities, and those wanting complete privacy.
• Malaria risk: None. The Kalahari is a high-altitude, semi-desert.
• Pro Tip: Visit in the summer (November to March). The summer rains transform the desert into a green oasis. The dramatic thunderstorms are a sight to behold.
So, Where Is The Best Safari In South Africa?
South Africa’s Big Five reserves offer a variety of experiences and choosing the best one for you can depend on your budget, location and the sort of experience you’re after. Kruger National Park is the obvious choice: it’s the largest wild area in South Africa, with huge numbers of animals and a great range of safari and accommodation options. But it does have its downsides, primarily the fact that it is South Africa’s busiest reserve.
Sabi Sands is a great option in the Kruger area for those after a more intimate safari, whilst if you’re staying in Johannesburg then Pilanesberg National Park offers great convenience and wildlife experiences. Addo Elephant Park is the best national park to visit along the Garden Route, and opens up the opportunity of also taking in wild great white sharks, a unique South African experience. And over on the Botswana border, Madikwe Game Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park are great options. You also can’t go wrong with a safari in the trailblazer of South African reserves: Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Overall, Kruger still takes the gold medal, but my runner up and most underrated of the best places for safari in South Africa probably goes to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
South Africa offers some of the most varied safari experiences anywhere in Africa. From the legendary wildlife density of Kruger and the luxury lodges of Sabi Sands to the desert landscapes of Kgalagadi, you can’t go wrong with any of the national parks in this list: all of them virtually guarantee a memorable safari adventure.
Read our South Africa Travel Guide for other Destinations and Attractions
The best time to Visit South Africa for Safari
The Ultimate South Africa Travel Guide: Best Itineraries for First-Time Visitors
