SAFARI HOLIDAYS IN SOUTH AFRICA – WHERE TO GO & WHEN

South Africa offers an exceptional variety of safari experiences, spectacular landscapes and easy-to-combine destinations. Home to the Big Five, it is an excellent choice for first-time safari travellers, families, couples and experienced safari-goers alike.

From the world-famous Kruger National Park and the private reserves of Sabi Sand to Madikwe and other outstanding wildlife areas, South Africa offers superb opportunities to see lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, along with giraffe, zebra, cheetah and a wealth of other wildlife. Accommodation ranges from comfortable safari lodges and family-friendly camps to intimate tented camps and romantic hideaways.

Area and Landscape

South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent, with a spectacular coastline stretching for more than 2,500 kilometres along the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Its remarkably varied landscapes range from mountains and semi-desert to subtropical coastline, vineyards, forests and vast wildlife reserves.

Quick Safari Facts

Summer: November to March
Winter: June to August
Cape Town’s wetter season: May to September
Kruger’s wetter season: November to March
Best time for wildlife viewing in Kruger: May to September
Whale-watching season: June to November

South Africa’s interior is dominated by a vast plateau bordered by the Great Escarpment, which includes the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains. To the south lies the semi-desert landscape of the Great Karoo, while the north-east descends into the Lowveld, home to Kruger National Park and many of the country’s renowned private game reserves.

Along the coast, the scenery changes dramatically. Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula offer mountains, beaches and vineyards, while the famous Garden Route combines forests, lagoons and a beautiful coastline. Further east, the warm Indian Ocean meets the subtropical landscapes of KwaZulu-Natal, creating yet another distinctive side of South Africa.

Where to Go: South Africa’s Best Safari Destinations 

Greater Kruger: Classic Big Five Safari

Kruger National Park and the adjoining private game reserves form one of Africa’s greatest wildlife areas. The region is renowned for excellent Big Five viewing, with opportunities to see lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, as well as an extraordinary variety of other wildlife. Private reserves such as Sabi Sand offer guided game drives, excellent lodges and superb wildlife viewing.

Eastern Cape: Malaria-Free Safari & the Garden Route

The Eastern Cape is an excellent choice for a malaria-free safari, with a number of outstanding reserves offering superb wildlife viewing. Popular options include Addo Elephant National Park, Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Amakhala Game Reserve, Kariega Game Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Pumba Private Game Reserve.

Addo Elephant National Park is particularly renowned for its large elephant population, while the Eastern Cape’s private reserves offer guided game drives and a wide choice of safari lodges. The region is especially well suited to families and first-time safari travellers.

Its location also makes it easy to combine a safari with Cape Town and the Garden Route, creating a wonderfully varied South African holiday.

KwaZulu-Natal: Bush and Beach

KwaZulu-Natal combines excellent wildlife viewing with mountains, wetlands and the warm Indian Ocean coastline. Its game reserves are particularly renowned for rhino conservation, while the region makes it possible to combine a safari with a relaxing beach stay.

From the wildlife-rich reserves of Greater Kruger to Cape Town, the Garden Route and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa offers an exceptional variety of experiences in one journey. Whether you are planning your first safari, a family holiday or a return to Africa, we can help create an itinerary tailored to you.