Safari in South Africa: These are the most beautiful parks for safaris + travel tips

The Safari Parks in South Africa at a glance

The first safari is unforgettable

Wild and beautiful. Two words that perfectly describe South Africa. South Africa is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and makes the heart of every outdoor and animal lover beat faster with over 200 mammals, more than 850 recorded bird species and an uncountable number of reptiles and insects. Surely you now have the image of an open jeep in your head, roaring past elephants and giraffes and kicking up a lot of dust. Your next safari adventure could look something like this.

My first safari was a real revelation. From the first to the last minute of this three-hour safari tour, I felt as if I had landed in the landscape of the movie 'Jurassic Park'. I was immediately enchanted by this untouched landscape and this beautiful variety of animals. There was something to discover everywhere. Everything was full of life. My love for South Africa and the bush was born. Since then I have been able to visit many safari parks and safari lodges, so hopefully I can give you a small but good overview. To book a safari in South Africa you only need a little background knowledge.

Your first safari in South Africa will be unforgettable. The atmosphere in the bush will inspire you

National Parks or Private Game Reserves

There are about 30 national parks and reserves in South Africa. They range from cheap to expensive. Parks are maintained by the local authorities, whereas reserves are mostly private. But a park can also contain a private reserve. National parks are usually cheaper than private game reserves. However, in private game reserves, services such as full board and the safari drives are usually already included in the price.

In the national parks these are additional. There you usually pay the entrance fee and accommodation. Everything else depends on what the national park has to offer and what you want to experience on your safari holiday. In some national parks, as already described, you can book both state and private camps, for example in Kruger National Park. The general rule for both is: get up early! The safari drives take place between 4:30 and 6:00 am. The time also depends on the season and the light conditions for the afternoon drive.

Book a sunset tour for your safari in South Africa? Let's go

Pilanesberg National Park

Pilanesberg National Park is located in the north of South Africa, near Johannesburg , and is a state park of approximately 55,000 hectares around the extinct volcano of the same name. It is not only home to the Big 5, but also to over 100 other mammals, as well as many species of birds, amphibians and reptiles.

Pilanesberg National Park is the fourth largest park in South Africa and is a malaria-free park. The special feature of the Pilanesberg National Park is its vegetation, as it lies in the transition zone between the drier Kalahari and the wetter lowveld vegetation, also known as bushveld. Here you can book park accommodation as well as private lodges that promise a little more luxury and comfort.

The lion sits majestically in the tall grass. The king of the jungle doesn't always show his face.

For example, Safari Lodge Shepherds Tree Game Reserve(check prices here*) is located in the south-western area of the game reserve. In the northwest, you'll find Tambuti Lodge(check rates here*) with outstanding reviews. At Tshukudu Bush Lodge(check prices here*) you are close to a waterhole.

Tip: Start early, because here too, the early bird catches the worm. On safari, this means that the earlier you are on the prowl, the greater the chance of seeing the animals you want to see. In the park, you are only allowed to travel at 10 km/h, so the journey can take a couple of hours. It's best to pack a small lunch box and drinks. There is a good and inexpensive restaurant in the centre of Pilanesberg that is perfect for lunch. If you prefer to book a guided safari in South Africa, it is best to plan a night in the Pilanesberg National Park and opt for the 'Sundowner Tour'.

Pilanesberg National Park has a beautiful variety of different African animals.

The Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park (not: Kruger National Park) is a national park where you can also book accommodation directly from the park itself or in private lodges/camps. The latter are usually more expensive. From the park's tent sites to a 5-star lodge, everything is possible. The western part of the Kruger, also called Greater Kruger, consists mostly of private reserves like the famous Sabi Sands, Timbavati or Thornybush.

If you are looking for the cheapest way to spend a safari holiday in the Kruger, you should book accommodation directly in the park and explore the park with your own car. Game viewing is absolutely guaranteed, but there may be many cars in a line blocking your view. You may not see the main attractions such as lions, leopards or other animals.

You have to have a good eye to spot the coveted leopard in the tree.

Nevertheless, it is worth it, because you can also book a guided safari in a jeep. Here the rangers communicate with each other. However, the rangers are only allowed to stay on the signposted paths. Unlike in most private reserves, there are almost only tarred roads in the Kruger. Walking tours are also offered. To get one of the coveted places, you need to book your safari in South Africa well in advance.

The Olifants River in the Kruger is a particularly beautiful photo motif.

An overnight stay in the Kruger costs from 40 euros in a safari lodge via Sanparks(website). There are some very nice luxury lodges directly in or adjacent to the Kruger. For example, the Sabie River Bush Lodge(check prices here*) in Hazyview is very popular. Here you have a view of the Sabie River and the National Park. Call of the Wild Lodge(check rates here*) in Hoedspruit with its outdoor pool is also top rated.

You should definitely book a safari tour in an open safari car (from 13 euros), because here the real safari experience comes when the wind blows around your nose. Entrance to the Kruger costs about 25 euros per person.

My secret tip for you: make sure you book a night safari, because the bush at night is a very special experience. Don't forget mosquito spray!

The Addo Elephant Park

For me, the Addo Elephant Park is a bit like the Disneyland of safaris. Simply because this park is huge and is the only Big 7 Game Reserve. In addition to the Big 5, it also includes the whale and the shark, as the Addo Park is connected to the ocean. The Safari Park is home to approximately 500 to 600 elephants. An elephant sighting is almost guaranteed. Almost because, of course, it always takes a little bit of luck to actually see elephants.

The probability of seeing elephants in Addo Elephant Park is very high.

So far, I have always been lucky enough to see the pachyderms. It is especially important to keep an eye on the weather. In heavy rain, the animals prefer to hide in the bush. When it's sunny, you can experience wonderful spectacles at the waterholes.

With 1640 square kilometres, the Addo Elephant Park is the largest national park in the Eastern Cape and also part of the network of national parks in South Africa. It is situated about 70 kilometres north-east of Port Elizabeth in the Sundays River Valley and is therefore easily accessible for holidaymakers on the Garden Route. The park was founded in 1931 to protect elephants, which until then had been the victims of ivory hunters.

The good thing is that the Addo Elephant Park is a malaria-free national park and offers good value for money. Entrance here costs under 15 euros per person.

In bad weather, however, whole herds may be hiding in the bushes and you may not see a single elephant.

Again, you can book park accommodation or rent private accommodation and safari lodges. River Bend Lodge(check rates here*) is located in the middle of the park. If you book Camp Figtree(check rates here*), you'll have a panoramic view of the majestic Zuurberg.

The main entrance to the Addos is open from 07:00 to 19:00 all year round and is a great place to drive through in your own car. I would recommend that. You can also book a game drive there with a trained ranger.

Insider tip: Opposite the picnic areas there is an opportunity to observe the pachyderms at close range, on foot. At Spekboom Hide and Seek Camp, a path leads through the 'Spekbooms' directly to a waterhole. The wooden fence has several peepholes to observe elephants relatively close and at eye level. However, it takes a bit of luck and patience to actually see elephants at the waterhole.

You should always have your camera with you, so that you don't miss any motifs.

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is situated near St Lucia in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, on South Africa's largest inland lake: Lake St Lucia. The park is 3,280 square kilometres in size and extends to the Mozambique border. The entrance fee is about 17 euros for adults.

Here, safari is done in a different way, mostly on water. If you want to see hippos, crocodiles or the endangered leatherback turtle, this is the place to be! Here you will find a variety of subtropical to tropical vegetation, ranging from swamps in the north to savannah in the west.

With crocodiles and hippos in the wetlands, and guenons, leopards, buffalos and rhinos in the savannahs, iSimangaliso World Land Park has a huge range of different game viewing tours.

You will definitely see hippos in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

You can stay overnight in the cosy village of St. Lucia, where you might even encounter a hippo on the open road. Here, too, you can adapt the safari lodge to your budget, as there is something to be found in every category. The Elephant Lake Hotel, for example, is located directly on the St. Lucia Estuary River(check prices here*). Much better rated is La Dolce Vita No. 3(check prices here*). However, it is a little further away from Jabula Beach and the park. The Luxury Tented Village(check prices here*) offers urban glamping.

Insider tip: Be sure to take a tour to see the sea turtles and hippos. Seeing hippos up close is really fascinating and when these funny fellows are bathing in the sun, it is easy to forget how dangerous these animals actually are. A turtle tour at night should be a 'must' during your stay. Between November and March, you can even see the phenomenon when the giant sea turtles come ashore to bury their eggs in the sand. These tours are very popular, but also very limited because the welfare of the animals is paramount. You can see the already mentioned endangered leatherback turtle and the loggerhead turtle. However, you need a bit of luck, because a sighting cannot be guaranteed. The tours cost about 65 euros, but are absolutely worth it.

Private Game Reserves

South Africa is home to a number of exceptional and luxurious private game reserves. Most are Big 5 Game Reserves. Sightings of animals are usually guaranteed, as trained rangers take over the safaris here. So it's all about sitting back and enjoying the safari park. You should definitely compare prices, as there is usually no upper limit.

Luxury game reserves include Sabi Sands Reserve, Mala Mala Game Reserve and Shamwari Game Reserve. Sabi Sands belongs to the Greater Kruger and the Earth Lodge(website) is beautiful - but also expensive. Elephant Plains Game Lodge is also very well rated(check prices here*). Sabi Sands is famous for its leopard sightings. At just under 1000 euros per person per night, it is no bargain.

The Shamwari, like the others, also belongs to the luxury safari category. With its many awards and the famous guests who have been hosted here, the night per person also costs around 1,000 euros. For this, private game reserves usually include two safari drives per night, as well as full board. Have a look at Shamwari Long Lee Manor(check prices here*).

There are also cheaper private game reserves, which are also beautiful and great for your safari holiday. In these reserves, too, you will have at least as good an animal sighting during the safaris. The Estern Cape in particular is home to a number of good game reserves that are somewhat cheaper. However, you have to reckon with an accommodation price of about 300-600 Euro per person and night.

The River Camp in the Sibuya Game Reserve has a viewing platform over the reserve and the adjacent river.

I can especially recommend the Sibuya Game Reserve(check prices here*), which is 1.5 hours away from Port Elizabeth and is an eco-camp. The special thing about this game reserve is that you can only get there by boat. After registering at the reception in Kenton-on-Sea, you board a boat and are driven along the river for about 40 minutes until you reach your camp in the middle of the bush.

Once there, your luxury eco-tent awaits you in the middle of nature. Here you are really in the wilderness and can even watch rhinos from the other side of the river on your hammock. Accommodation costs are around 500 euros per person per night. This includes two safari tours, three meals and all drinks.

Rhinos sunbathing on the river are not uncommon here.

Best time to travel

The best time to travel in South Africa is generally between September and May. Especially the South African spring (September to November) is a good time to travel around the Cape region. You can expect pleasant temperatures and beautiful vegetation, as many plants blossom at this time.

In the South African summer (December to January), it is pleasantly warm to very hot and there may be occasional showers. This is because the rainy season around the Kruger National Park, the Panorama Route and the subtropical coastal sections of Durban, is from December to March.

The disadvantage of December and January, however, is that these are the South African school holidays and it can get quite crowded in towns and on the beach. Accommodation is usually booked up in advance. My recommendation is to visit South Africa outside the high season!

Are you flexible? Then the months of April and May are particularly suitable for travelling. It is autumn in South Africa at this time and the temperatures are still a pleasant 25 degrees. These months are particularly suitable for safaris in the Kruger National Park. (April to September). It is cooler and drier then and the chance of spotting animals is very high, as they like to retreat into the bush when it is very hot.

South Africa and its wildlife will enchant you.

Preparations

One thing is clear: you can travel South Africa very individually and don't need an expensive package tour or a tour operator. Plan everything individually and save money on flights or great accommodation in a safari lodge.

You can book flights to Johannesburg for as little as 500 euros (return flight). If you land in Johannesburg, you can rent a car and drive along the Panorama Route to Kruger National Park. You can also book a domestic flight from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth. Around Port Elizabeth there are several private game reserves or the Addo Elephant Park where you can book your South Africa safari.

The rental car and accommodation can be booked easily from the internet. Either directly on the websites of the private game reserves or via internet providers such as AirBnB or Booking. If you want to stay directly in a South African national park, you have to book your accommodation via the official website of the national parks, as they are organised in the SanPark association. The website is a bit more complicated and you need some patience before you understand the principle. In a pinch, you can also call them directly and book accommodation in the safari park by phone.

Hippos - an attraction, but also dangerous

What wardrobe do I need?

You should definitely choose a safari wardrobe. Natural tones such as brown, beige and khaki will ensure that you don't stand out on a bush walk (a guided walk through a reserve or national park). As there are mosquitoes in the Kruger that carry malaria, it is also advisable to wear long-sleeved, lighter clothing.

You should bear in mind that it can be very fresh, especially in the morning and evening, and you should definitely take a jacket (or even several jackets), including a rain jacket, for the 'onion principle'. A good anti-mosquito spray, binoculars, a torch and a camera should also be included in your luggage. Then you are well equipped for your safari.

Practical tips and information

In your luggage you should have an adapter that is valid for South African sockets so that your camera and mobile phone can be charged. A small safari first-aid kit is also useful. Once you are in the bush, a pharmacy can be relatively far away. It should contain a malaria prophylaxis if you plan to visit the Kruger. Aspirin, paracetamol, Immodium and a mosquito bite cream are always advisable.

You also need to know that many of the accommodations you book directly through the national parks' website are self-catering. There is a small shop in all national parks, but it is only equipped with the essentials. Almost every accommodation has its own barbecue areas available for private use. So a little planning is needed before you can enjoy your African barbecue, which is called 'braai' in South Africa. Often there is also a restaurant in the parks, so you don't have to worry about starving.

Recommended guidebooks

If you still like it old school, you should think about investing in a guidebook. Personally, I am very happy with the Lonely Planet guidebook and have used it several times. You can also use it in 'offline mode'.

Worth knowing

• The word safari comes from Swahili and means 'journey'.

• In South Africa we generally speak of Game Reserves and Game Drives, which describes the game reserves and the game drive in the jeep.

• The Big 5 does not, as most people assume, refer to the 5 largest animals in South Africa. The term comes from an expression used in big game hunting. In fact, the Big 5 (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo) describe the animals that were the most difficult to shoot or kill.

• On a safari you are really going on a journey. A journey through nature and sometimes also to yourself.

• It is also customary to tip the guides or rangers on safari trips. You should factor this into the cost of your safari.

In general, I think you will have the best or most beautiful safari if you expect nothing and then get swept away by the magic of the bush. Whether it's a self-drive safari in moderate accommodation in the Kruger, or as a star guest in a 5-star lodge. The beauty of South Africa is that there really is a safari for every budget. You just have to be a little lucky and be in the right place at the right time. Sometimes it also takes a lot of patience. Most of the time, however, the real safari experience is off the beaten track. So book a game reserve in a beautiful landscape. Drive with a guide across the terrain in a jeep, or even do a safari tour on foot.

South Africa should be booked early. I would always recommend a year in advance. Then you can book what you want and choose your safari lodge. Sometimes there are even bargains. Private game reserves may seem more expensive at first, but the value for money can sometimes be a little better. If you add up accommodation, safari tour and meals, a guided tour with a trained ranger may be more worthwhile. After all, you can not only discover a lot on safari, but also learn a lot.

Debby

Hi, my name is Debby and my wanderlust has taken me to some very special places, like the Amazon in South America or Mount Everest in Tibet. Today, I live in my adopted country of South Africa and explore the best spots off the beaten track.