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South Africa Safari - Compare 863 Tours
South Africa is one of the world’s most varied holiday destinations. From the classic safari country of Kruger National Park to the stately ‘mother city’ of Cape Town; from the snow-sprinkled heights of the Drakensberg to the parched red dunescapes of the Kalahari; from the gorgeous Winelands around Stellenbosch to the idyllic beaches of the Garden Route – South Africa is a true all-rounder that attracts more than its fair share of repeat visitors. It is also the most affordable and well equipped of African safari destinations, particularly well suited to family holidays, to those seeking a malaria-free holiday, to dedicated foodies and wine-lovers, and for combining a foray into Big Five country with a beach holiday and/or city break.
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4-Day Private Kruger Park Safari
$1,339 to $1,393 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Junglers Adventure Tours
4.9/5 – 32 Reviews
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Best Seller
4-Day Luxury Radisson Kruger Safari
$861 to $947 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)LuxuryHotel
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Panorama Route (Highlight), Johannesburg Airport (End)
MoAfrika Tours
4.9/5 – 1,918 Reviews
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4-Day Sabi Sand Reserve Luxury Safari, Greater Kruger
$3,141 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryBush Camp
You Visit: Skukuza (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Kruger (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.8/5 – 174 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
6-Day Tremisana Lodge Kruger Park Safari
$1,139 to $1,218 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Balule NR (Greater Kruger), Greater Kruger, Kruger NP, Moholoholo (Wildlife Sanctuary), 3 Rondavels (Panorama Route), Johannesburg (End)
Viva Safaris
4.9/5 – 303 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Big 5 Tented Safari, Kruger National Park
$388 to $429 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Safari With Us
4.9/5 – 239 Reviews
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Best Seller
5-Day Unforgettable Big 5 Kruger Safari
$2,316 to $2,935 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Balule NR (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg (End)
Viatu
5.0/5 – 74 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
4-Day Safari to Kruger Park & Private Safari Lodge
$1,278 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Balule NR (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg (End)
Wildlife Safaris
5.0/5 – 282 Reviews
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5-Day Luxury Mdluli Game Lodge Kruger National Park
$995 to $1,079 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Gems of Africa Safari and Tours
4.9/5 – 127 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
8-Day Private Kruger Safari
$3,220 to $3,542 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Wild Planet Safari
4.9/5 – 225 Reviews
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11-Day Victoria Falls & South Africa Explorer
$5,043 to $5,537 pp (USD)
South Africa & Zimbabwe: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Victoria Falls (Start), Cape Town (City), Cape Town Surrounds, Franschhoek (Winelands), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Skukuza (End)
Safari365
4.7/5 – 23 Reviews
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5-Day Malamala Exclusive Fly in Safari
$4,304 to $5,531 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), MalaMala GR (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg (End)
Ranger Buck Safaris
5.0/5 – 42 Reviews
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4-Day Kruger Park Safari and Panorama Route Tour
$1,041 to $1,093 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Panorama Route (Highlight), Johannesburg (End)
Mmilo Tours
5.0/5 – 135 Reviews
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3-Day Cederberg Wilds & West Coast - Highly Recommended
$175 pp (USD)
South Africa: Self-driveBudgetHotel & Self Catering Accommodation
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), West Coast NP, Namaqualand, Nieuwoudtville (Town), Cape Town (End)
Southern African Tours
4.6/5 – 67 Reviews
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3-Day Kruger Park and Manyeleti Reserve Bongan Lodge
$700 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Manyeleti GR (Greater Kruger), Central Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Bongan Safaris
5.0/5 – 31 Reviews
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4-Day Kruger Safari, Soweto & Apartheid Museum
$957 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Soweto (Johannesburg), Kruger NP, Johannesburg Airport (End)
Nhlalala Travel
4.8/5 – 55 Reviews
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3-Day Safari with Night Drive
$1,028 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Khalanga Safaris
5.0/5 – 81 Reviews
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3-Day Kruger National Park from Cape Town
$967 to $997 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)LuxuryHotel
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Kruger NP, Blyde River Canyon (Panorama Route), Cape Town (End)
Pure Diamond Tours and Safari
4.3/5 – 6 Reviews
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5-Day Luxury Greater Kruger to Canyon Safari Adventure
$1,655 to $1,787 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Balule NR (Greater Kruger), Central Kruger NP, Blyde River Canyon (Panorama Route), Johannesburg (End)
Shinzelle Safaris
4.8/5 – 76 Reviews
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3-Day Kruger Mid Range Safari from Johannesburg
$721 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Southern Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Balanta Imagine Safaris
5.0/5 – 1 Reviews
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4-Day The Greater Kruger Tshukudu Safari
$1,515 to $1,535 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Tshukudu GR, Kruger NP, O.R. Tambo Airport (Johannesburg), Johannesburg (End)
Go Touch Down Travel & Tours
5.0/5 – 166 Reviews
8 Questions About South Africa Safaris
Answered by
Philip Briggs
Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Bradt guidebooks to African destinations, including the guide to South Africa.› More about Philip
8 Questions About South Africa Safaris
When is the best time to visit South Africa?
“There is no bad time to take a South African holiday. But certain parts of the country are far better at specific times of the year. If a safari will be the main event of your South African tour, most of the country’s key parks and reserves are at their best in the southern hemisphere winter months of May to September, when daytime temperatures are cooler, the bush is less dense allowing for better visibility, and wildlife tends to gather around limited water sources. For beach-lovers, by contrast, the main coastal resorts are at their best in the southern hemisphere summer (November to March). Special interest groups such as bird-watchers and photographers may also prefer to undertake a safari in summer, when resident bird populations are boosted by large numbers of migrant birds, and the clear sky and greener countryside make for a more photogenic backdrop.”
› More about South Africa’s best time to visit 1Why visit South Africa, what are the major attractions?
“Variety is the keynote of South African holidays. The country boasts one of the continent’s finest safari destinations in the form of Kruger National Park and nearby private reserves, while other key Big Five safari reserves include Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and malaria-free Madikwe and Pilanesberg. Safaris aside, South Africa is renowned for its fantastic beaches, limitless hiking opportunities, wonderful outdoor climate and good-value dining and wining scene. The main focus of non-safari sightseeing is Cape Town, which is gracefully perched below Table Mountain on a scenic stretch of Atlantic coastline, close to the whale-watching hub of Hermanus and the historical Winelands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.”
2How much does a South African safari cost?
“South African safari prices will depend greatly on the level of comfort you expect. At one extreme, self-drive camping safaris in somewhere like Kruger might work out at under US$100 for a couple per day. At the other extreme, all-inclusive safari packages at one of the country’s more exclusive private safari lodges might be 10 or 20 times more expensive. A good compromise between comfort and cost is a safari using the well-run rest camps that can be found throughout Kruger and in many other key national parks and provincial reserves. Accommodation aside, extras such as food, wine and other drinks are very cheap by international standards.”
› Factors influencing the cost of a South Africa safari 3How is the wildlife viewing?
“Excellent. Kruger National Park and neighboring private reserves host large populations of all the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo), and rank among the top African safari destinations when it comes to spotting white rhino, as well as the rarer black rhino, leopard, cheetah and African wild dog. All these safari favorites are also likely to be encountered in Madikwe and Pilanesberg Game Reserves, as well as in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and the various small private reserves of the Eastern Cape. Outside of the major Big Five reserves, many parts of the country are still home to a variety of antelope, monkeys and small predators, all of which might be encountered by hikers and ramblers. Bird watching is consistently excellent throughout the country, while locally conspicuous marine wildlife includes penguins, whales and giant turtles.”
4How safe is South Africa for tourists?
“Crime is a genuine issue in the larger cities, especially Johannesburg, but not so much in the game reserves, smaller towns and beach resorts that form the focal points of most South African safari trips. Follow local advice about safety, avoid walking around cities at night, and you should be fine. Malaria is absent from most parts of the country, the one major exception being Kruger National Park and its immediate environs, but even here the risk is far lower than in most other African safari destinations. Madikwe and Pilanesberg are Africa’s premier malaria-free safari destinations. Many reserves in South Africa offer guided walking safaris in areas inhabited by potentially dangerous animals such as elephant, black rhino and lion, but the risk of an incident is minimal provided that you listen to your guide at all times, and treat wildlife with respect. Possibly the biggest risk to life and limb in South Africa is a car accident, so self-drivers should adopt a more defensive and cautious approach than they might at home.”
5How do I select a reliable tour operator for a South Africa trip?
“It’s worth doing a bit of research into operators before you book a South Africa tour. Look for reviews of any given operator on SafariBookings.com and possibly other online portals; the more reviews an operator has received, the more confident you can be of its reliability. If you have friends who have visited the country, or who live there, ask for word-of-mouth recommendations before booking any South African safari packages. Check out the company’s website too – as a rule its level of professionalism will reflect that of the company it represents. Once in South Africa, hotels and guesthouses can usually point you to tried-and-tested operators for day outings and other short local tours.”
6What type of accommodation can I expect?
“South African safari accommodation ranges from no-frills campsites to exclusive upmarket lodges offering the last word in safari chic. In between these extremes, most national parks and provincial reserves have at least one well-run rest camp offering camping facilities and self-catering chalets (usually en suite but occasionally using shared bathrooms). For those who don’t want to immerse themselves in the bush, a selection of mid-range hotels can be found within easy driving distance of many national park and reserve entrance gates. Exclusive lodges are generally associated with private reserves and concessions that offer all-inclusive safari packages incorporating guided game drives and walks.”
7What can I expect from South African safaris?
“Generally South Africa has a more developed feel than other African safari destinations. Most national parks and other reserves can be reached via good, surfaced roads, which certainly isn’t the case in many other parts of Africa. Some, such as Kruger, actually have an internal network of surfaced roads, and it is the only major African safari destination where a 4WD would be a luxury rather than a necessity, and the most suitable one for self-drive safaris. Likewise, most national park rest camps are well equipped for self-caterers, and many have well-stocked grocery shops. Further, the wildlife in South Africa is as wild as it is in most parts of Africa, the standard of guiding is unusually high, and people on organized safaris can expect excellent close-up sightings of everything from the Big Five to smaller animals such as birds and lizards.”
8South Africa Safari Reviews
Emma is an award-winning travel writer for Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller, Travel Africa magazine and The Independent.
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...
Anthony is a photographer and writer for travel magazines and Lonely Planet, including the guides to Kenya and Botswana & Namibia.
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....
Stunning, Like no other experience
I took my best friend to my home country SA We did it all, Cape Town and everything it offers, food, wineries, Tablr Mountain, Chapman's peak coast drive, Drive to Hermanus and of course a Safari Inverdoorn! Even my first at this safari ...
Great infrastructure, good food, excellent wines, stunning landscapes and welcoming people.
It surprised me positively, the culture and history of South Africa is incredible, the food is delicious, the infrastructure is impeccable, the nature is preserved and especially the people are receptive, polite and friendly. I recommend!
A beautiful country with friendly people and good value for money
We had a 3 week family stay centred at Cape Town. We had 5 nights at the V&A waterfront which is VERY safe as gated and guarded. There’s plenty of restaurants and other places to eat. From the we made use of the hop on / off bus tour,...
The sceneri and the wild life is stunning. Cape Town was fascinating.
It was a great safari where we saw the big five, the middle five and the small five. We can only recommend Baobab Ridge as a superbe lounge not to fancy but with nice surroundings and lovely personell. Safary bookings organised our lounge...