Emma is an award-winning travel writer for Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller, Travel Africa magazine and The Independent.
23 people found this review helpful.
Where Big Five safaris are big business, there’s a wealth of choice
Glorious images of elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards and buffalo parading through pristine bush are central to South Africa’s popular image. So it comes as a surprise to some first-time visitors that, in reality, the proportion of this complex nation given over to national parks and reserves is rather small compared to other parts of southern and East Africa safari belt.
Of the pockets of protected bushland dotted along South Africa’s Indian Ocean coastline and in the region between Johannesburg and Gaborone, many are small, with carefully stocked and managed wildlife populations. While these offer rewarding wildlife-watching, they lack some of the atmosphere and cachet of a true wilderness. I have to admit that some South African game drives can feel a bit like bus trips and the hotel-style accommodation found in some parks and reserves just feels commercial and tame. Kruger National Park, South Africa’s flagship conservation area, is gigantic, and I love it for its wild, sprawling landscapes roamed by masses of animals and birds. But parts of Kruger are so popular that some write it off as a traffic jam zone.
I’m happy to put these reservations aside, because where South Africa really wins is in the quality of its infrastructure. Most of its parks and reserves are easily and efficiently accessible by air, road or both. Some are geared up for self-drive visitors, others require you to book into a lodge and use its facilities, but they’re all good at what they do. If you’re looking for a luxury wilderness camping safari, you may prefer Botswana, Zambia or Tanzania. But if you’re in the market for a luxury lodge-based safari, with expert, conservation-savvy guides, superb cuisine and chic surroundings, South Africa can certainly deliver. It’s home to some of the most comfortable and attractive lodges I’ve ever seen.
Mike is an award-winning wildlife writer, former editor of Travel Zambia magazine and author of the Bradt Guide to Southern African Wildlife.
13 people found this review helpful.
A world in one country
South Africa’s astounding array of landscapes – from semi-desert to savanna and snow-capped mountain to coral reef – means it offers a greater variety of wildlife experience than any other African country. There are surely few other places where, for example, you can see hippo, leopard and humpback whale within a single day – as I have done at Cape Vidal, on the Zululand coast.
At the same time, however, South Africa bears a greater human imprint than any other safari destination, with many of its wilderness areas having been severely reduced or heavily modified by development, and those that remain now under careful management. This can make a safari feel tamer than in less developed countries to the north. The Kruger, South Africa’s flagship national park, is a case in point: its undeniably superb wildlife experience is, for many, spoiled by its tar roads, boundary fences and souvenir shops.
The well-developed infrastructure is great news for the independent traveller, though, who can use the excellent tourist facilities and transport network to chart an inexpensive self-drive course around the country. And there are many remote corners of the country, from the Richtersveld or Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, where you can find yourself almost completely alone. Those in search of top-end safari pampering, meanwhile, will find exclusive retreats that compete with any in Africa for style, comfort and guiding.
Furthermore, while the likes of the Kruger offer classic big-game country, South Africa is about much more than just the Big Five. Among my most memorable African wildlife experiences have been watching lammergeyers on the thermals of the Drakensberg and loggerhead turtles on the beaches of Kosi Bay. Some of the country’s smallest parks are among its most rewarding.
A final plus, especially for families: South Africa is the only safari destination that offers a malaria-free Big Five experience – although not in the Kruger.
Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
8 people found this review helpful.
South Africa is rightly celebrated for its magnificent natural beauty and excellent choice of parks
South Africa has a wonderful range of landscapes, a near-perfect climate, and the choice of destinations, activities and itineraries is virtually inexhaustible. Aside from its beautiful coastline and cosmopolitan cities – both of which I think should be a mandatory addition to any South African safari – the country is home to just about every African animal imaginable in a staggering variety of habitats. There are more than 20 formal parks managed by South African National Parks; countless game and nature reserves run by regional conservation bodies; and dozens of privately-run game reserves, which now feature in every province and have been instrumental in restocking game that once occurred naturally across South Africa. In almost all, knowledgeable guides will take you on game-drives and walking or night safaris, some offer activities like cycling or canoeing, while others have opportunities for close encounters with animals such as elephant or cheetah.
The benefit of living in South Africa as I do is that I can visit these places leisurely and thoroughly; maybe just a couple on one trip and with a few days in each to fully appreciate what they have to offer. The overseas visitor doesn’t always have that luxury of time, and the vast choice of where to go is bewildering. It’s no surprise that Kruger and its neighbouring private reserves are so popular; easy to get there, virtually guaranteed wildlife sightings, and a superb choice of accommodation. But there are numerous other parks and reserves that also fit this bill, while others have particularly unique environments, rarer or more unusual species, are better known for birds or trees, or feature other things to do, or absolutely nothing to do depending on your preference, then the usual racing around in a vehicle looking for the Big Five. It’s not a case of South Africa meeting your expectations as a safari destination – it will do that – but I would advise careful planning for a safari that exactly suits.
Lucy is travel writer for a range of publications, including Lonely Planet's guides to Africa, Southern Africa and South Africa.
7 people found this review helpful.
An array of animals
Of all the African countries people visit on safari trips, South Africa is probably the easiest to travel around. Infrastructure is excellent, accommodation for every budget is abundant and wildlife-watching opportunities stretch far beyond the Big Five. Elephant lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo are present, of course, and can be viewed in numerous parks including Addo, Pilanesberg, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and Kruger. As with every aspect of visiting South Africa though, the best thing for animal lovers is the sheer diversity. Whether you're seeking ultra-luxurious lodges, a rough-and-ready camping experience or anything in between, you'll find it available somewhere. Self-drive safaris abound, but everywhere that you find the option to seek out animals on your own, you'll also find guided drives on offer. And for those looking for something different to the usual safari photos, there are whales, sharks, seals and turtles off-shore, raptors to be found in the skies and in the Western Cape, even a couple of penguin colonies to admire. It was in South Africa that I saw my first rhino, that I witnessed the adorable sight of an infant elephant trying to trumpet us away, that I watched meerkats playing in the dust and that I saw a zebra chase a hyena through the undergrowth. For these – and so many other reasons – I chose to make South Africa my home.
Anthony is a photographer and writer for travel magazines and Lonely Planet, including the guides to Kenya and Botswana & Namibia.
3 people found this review helpful.
South Africa: World-class Safaris
South Africa is one of my favourite places to go on safari, with all the necessary ingredients for a wildlife experience that will begin your enduring love affair with the continent.
Primary among these ingredients is the wildlife. Nowhere else in Africa is it easier to see (and draw near to) the continent’s charismatic mega-fauna – if you don’t see elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, rhino and zebra on safari in South Africa, you’re either extremely unlucky or you picked the wrong corner of the country to visit. On a recent three-week visit, I saw more than 60 lions, 54 rhinos, nearly 10 leopards and the same number of wild dogs. And I wasn’t even on safari every day.
Another essential ingredient for a memorable safari is the beauty of the landscapes you’ll encounter. From the Wild Coast to the endless horizons of the Kalahari and the Karoo, with a detour to the high peaks of the Drakensberg en route, South Africa is staggeringly beautiful. There is classic African terrain of bushveld and thorny woodlands, the red-rock fortresses of the Waterberg, the beautiful drama of Table Mountain, the sand dunes of Kgalagadi, the great rivers and converging international frontiers of Mapungubwe.
Perhaps just as importantly, South Africa makes the safari easy. The infrastructure here is first-rate, from world-class lodges, exclusive and extravagant, to park-run rest camps replete with campgrounds, bungalows and restaurants. Guided walks, wildlife drives, night drives, 4WD wilderness trails and all manner of other activities are all designed to get you out into the African wild, to get up close and personal with its wildlife, and to learn from expert guides along the way.
There may be moments when you long for a wilderness experience more easily found in Namibia, Tanzania or Botswana. But if this is your first time on safari, South Africa might just be the best of them all.
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Mary is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including South Africa, Tanzania, East Africa and Africa.
2 people found this review helpful.
Abundant Wildlife at Your Doorstep
There are so many reasons to go on safari in South Africa: wildlife is abundant, diverse and easy to spot; infrastructure is well developed; accommodation is of a high standard and reasonably priced; landscapes are stunning and varied; and, the network of protected wildlife areas spans the country, from Cape Town in the southwest to Durban in the east. Wherever you find yourself, wonderful wildlife experiences are, quite literally, on your doorstep.
South Africa is an especially recommended choice for first-time visitors to the continent, for family safaris and for those with limited time, as nowhere else can you so quickly and comfortably find yourself amidst such a diversity of animals. With its long coastline alive with dolphins, seals, whales, penguins and more, South Africa also offers a unique opportunity to mix marine-focussed safaris with land-based wildlife watching.
And, there is so much to do before and after your safari – from visiting the Cape Winelands to hiking in the Drakensburg or visiting Johannesburg’s fine museums and cultural sites. As an all-around travel destination that also offers high-quality safaris, South Africa is hard to beat.
Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.
1 person found this review helpful.
Watch the Wildlife … but Hunt the Wilderness
With vast populations of all iconic wildlife (albeit dwindling rhino numbers), South Africa deserves its top-billed ranking among the most popular safari destinations on the planet. Facilities are fantastic and there are reserves and accommodation that can satisfy the most stringent budgets … or the highest-flying safari aficionados.
Wildlife is often wonderfully habituated and there are few places in the world that offer such unforgettable interactions with the Big 5, along with some once-in-a-lifetime sightings. Addo Elephant National Park is justly famous, and if you want to see big cats and wild dogs then Kruger National Park (and specifically Sabi Sands and MalaMala) is almost unbeatable. Southern Kruger sees a lot of traffic at times but the wilder north and the Greater Kruger area (think Timbavati Nature Reserve for the near-mythical white lions) offer more exclusive experiences. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve was a cornerstone of rhino conservation and remains one of the country’s greatest drawcards.
If there’s a downside to a South African safari it will probably be in the polished level of infrastructure. If you’d choose smooth tarmac over endless hours jolting around on Land Rover suspension – enjoying an ‘African massage’, guides will tell you – then South Africa could be for you. If you prefer the sense of security that comes from fenced camps and lodges then this might be preferable to the free-range wildlife that troops through many East African camps. The more rough-and-ready wildlife experiences that other destinations offer can also come at a cost, however, as animals that have not been habituated to humans are invariably more skittish. Rain runoff from tarmac actually attracts grazing game … which in turn attracts predators. It’s not a mere coincidence that Kruger is one of the best places to see hunting predators.
Be sure to look beyond the big-name parks though, because South Africa has 20 major national parks and scores of smaller reserves. Once you’ve spent enough time sitting in a vehicle, consider Golden Gate Highlands National Park for breathtaking mountain hiking or Camdeboo National Park for the spectacular Valley of Desolation landscapes. Throw in the fascination of its history and varied culture and you’ll see that South Africa has enough world-class wilderness areas to keep you exploring for a lifetime.
