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South Africa Private Safari Tours
It’s hard not to fall in love with South Africa when you visit and explore the country on a private safari. This kind of safari (where you’ll have the guide, driver and vehicle just for you and the others in your own traveling party) means that you’re in charge of your own safari experience, without having to accommodate the wishes of others whom you don’t know. You decide when to stop and when to move on, and you’ll have an expert guide at your disposal at all times to explain what you’re seeing. Yes, it’s more expensive than a group safari, but there’s no better way to enjoy the amazing wildlife and equally spectacular landscapes that South Africa has to offer.
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Top Rated Operator
4-Day Sabi Sand Reserve Luxury Safari, Greater Kruger
$2,939 to $3,165 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryBush Camp
You Visit: Skukuza (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Kruger (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.8/5 – 172 Reviews
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4-Day Sabi Sand Safari with Arathusa Safari Lodge
$1,796 to $2,017 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Hoedspruit (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Hoedspruit (End)
Indigo Safaris
4.6/5 – 142 Reviews
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5-Day Luxury Kruger Park and Sabi Sand Safari
$2,921 to $3,240 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg (End)
Safari.com
4.7/5 – 186 Reviews
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Best Seller
8-Day Highlights of Cape Town, Winelands & Kruger
$3,716 to $4,494 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Cape Town Surrounds, Stellenbosch (Winelands), Kruger NP, Skukuza (End)
Safari365
4.7/5 – 18 Reviews
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Best Seller
![4-Day Private Kruger National Park Safari]()
4-Day Private Kruger National Park Safari
$1,381 to $1,518 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Southern Kruger NP, Central Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Wild Planet Safari
4.9/5 – 223 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
![7-Day Best of Both Worlds - Madikwe & Sabi Sands Safari]()
7-Day Best of Both Worlds - Madikwe & Sabi Sands Safari
$6,813 to $7,540 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Madikwe GR, Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg Airport (End)
Discover Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 504 Reviews
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4-Day Kruger Luxury Safari
$1,265 to $1,391 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Junglers Adventure Tours
4.9/5 – 29 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
![3-Day Sabi Sands Tented Camp Safari]()
3-Day Sabi Sands Tented Camp Safari
$872 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Panorama Route (Highlight), Johannesburg (End)
Safari With Us
5.0/5 – 234 Reviews
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![7-Day Classic Sabi Sand & Timbavati Kruger Safari]()
7-Day Classic Sabi Sand & Timbavati Kruger Safari
$3,655 to $4,006 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Hoedspruit (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger), Hoedspruit Airport (Hoedspruit), Hoedspruit (End)
Explore & Travel Africa
5.0/5 – 44 Reviews
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![4-Day Sabi Sands Luxury Fly-in Safari]()
4-Day Sabi Sands Luxury Fly-in Safari
$5,293 to $6,314 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxury+Lodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Sabi Sabi GR (Sabi Sands), Johannesburg (End)
Ranger Buck Safaris
5.0/5 – 41 Reviews
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![15-Day Beach to Bush, Cape Town to Kruger Eco-Adventure]()
15-Day Beach to Bush, Cape Town to Kruger Eco-Adventure
$4,303 to $4,699 pp (USD)
South Africa: Self-drive
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Cape Town (Start), Hermanus (Whales), Knysna (Garden Route), Garden Route NP (Tsitsikamma) (Garden Route NP), Johannesburg (City), Kruger NP, Southern Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)
Viatu
5.0/5 – 63 Reviews
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![5-Day Safari with Night Drive and Panorama Route Tour]()
5-Day Safari with Night Drive and Panorama Route Tour
$1,517 to $1,549 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Panorama Route (Highlight), Kruger NP, O.R. Tambo Airport (Johannesburg), Johannesburg (End)
Khalanga Safaris
5.0/5 – 77 Reviews
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![4-Day Best of Kruger Park Safari - Midrange]()
4-Day Best of Kruger Park Safari - Midrange
$950 to $992 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Southern Kruger NP, Kruger NP, Panorama Route (Highlight), Johannesburg Airport (End)
Nhlalala Travel
4.9/5 – 53 Reviews
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![7-Day Panorama Route, Blyde River Canyon & Kruger Park]()
7-Day Panorama Route, Blyde River Canyon & Kruger Park
$3,765 to $3,988 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Panorama Route (Highlight), Moholoholo (Wildlife Sanctuary), Blyde River Canyon (Panorama Route), Kruger NP, Central Kruger NP, Greater Kruger, Johannesburg (End)
Mmilo Tours
5.0/5 – 133 Reviews
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6-Day Short & Sweet Kruger/Cape Adventure Tour & Flights
$1,909 to $2,310 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tour
Mid-range Guest House & HotelYou Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kruger NP, Cape Town (City), Cape Peninsula, Table Mountain (Cape Town), O.R. Tambo Airport (Johannesburg), Cape Town (End)
Red Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 117 Reviews
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![4-Day Unforgettable 4-Day Safari at Kapama River Lodge]()
4-Day Unforgettable 4-Day Safari at Kapama River Lodge
$773 to $846 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxury+Lodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Kapama GR (Greater Kruger), Johannesburg (End)
African Wildlife Plains
4.7/5 – 6 Reviews
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6-Day Kruger Package Bush and Elephants
$1,987 to $1,996 pp (USD)
South Africa: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Olifants West NR (Greater Kruger), Kruger NP, Panorama Route (Highlight), Johannesburg Airport (End)
Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
5.0/5 – 11 Reviews
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![9-Day Cape Town, Kruger & Vic Falls]()
9-Day Cape Town, Kruger & Vic Falls
$3,969 to $4,191 pp (USD)
South Africa & Zimbabwe: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger), Victoria Falls (End)
Safari Online
5.0/5 – 130 Reviews
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![4-Day The Greater Kruger Tshukudu Safari]()
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 – 165 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
4-Day Bakubung Bush Lodge Fully Inclusive Safari Package
$922 to $1,014 pp (USD)
South Africa: Self-driveLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Johannesburg (Start), Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)
MoAfrika Tours
4.9/5 – 1,795 Reviews
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5 Questions About South Africa Private Safaris
Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony has been traveling to, and writing about, safaris in southern Africa for nearly two decades. He has co-written Lonely Planet’s ‘South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini’ and ‘Southern Africa’ guidebooks, and he is the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’.› More about Anthony
5 Questions About South Africa Private Safaris
Anthony Ham
When is a private trip recommended in South Africa?
“The best time for going on a South Africa private safari is during the Dry season months of May to September. Throughout this period, you can expect generally fine conditions, with mild daytime temperatures. The only downside about traveling at this time is that it can get very cold at night, especially from June to August. The Dry season is also the best time to go looking for wildlife in South Africa. That’s because as waterholes dry out, it’s easier to find the animals close to the last remaining sources of water. If you’re a birder, you may want to consider the period from November to April. This is when migratory birds from Europe and North Africa spend time in southern Africa in their hundreds of thousands. Whenever you’re planning to travel, you should always try and avoid South African school holiday periods. At such times, accommodations, roads and safari trails are often crowded to an uncomfortable level.”
1Will we spend all our time with the guide on a private safari?
“On most private safari tours in South Africa, the guide will be with you whenever you need them, and you’ll be on your own for as much of the rest of the time as you’d like. Unless your private trip is a self-drive safari, you’ll need a guide and a driver when exploring the parks and reserves. Take this as an opportunity to learn about the animals and landscapes you’re seeing and ask as many questions as you like about local life. You may end up making lifelong friends with those who are looking after you. When you’re not out looking for animals, or when you’re not traveling between destinations, you’ll have lots of time to be alone. Many hours in a safari day are given over to relaxing, eating and drinking, and it will be up to you whether you want company or not.”
2Which parks and reserves should we visit on a private South African safari?
“South Africa has an exceptional portfolio of parks and reserves, and which ones you visit will depend on what sort of holiday you’d like to have. A good place to start is to decide which animals and landscapes you’d like to see, and then do your own research to plan which places are best for seeing them. If you want wildlife to be the centerpiece of your safari, consider visiting the country’s northeast. Here there is a good chance you can see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), as well as cheetah, African wild dog, hyena, giraffe, zebra and so much more. Kruger National Park is rightly famous around the world for its incredible wildlife-viewing possibilities. But you can also see many of the same animals with fewer crowds and possibly even have a more exclusive safari experience in the neighboring reserves, such as Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Pilanesberg Game Reserve is similarly good, but also busy. So why not consider Madikwe Game Reserve or the private Welgevonden Game Reserve, both of which are much more intimate. These are just the start, with so many other possibilities right across the country.”
3How much do South African private safari packages cost?
“There are as many different safari packages and tours as there are safari operators in South Africa. As a result, prices vary greatly, from a base of US$150 per person per day for a private budget camping safari, up to US$600 per person per day, or even more, for a luxury private safari. Factors that can affect the per-day cost of your safari include the number of days you’ll be traveling, how much of the country you wish to see, and when you plan to go on safari. Traveling in high season (which can include local school holiday periods) is usually more expensive than traveling at other times. You should always make sure that you understand what is and what isn’t included in the quoted cost of any safari. As a minimum, expect the quoted price to include a private guide, driver and vehicle, as well as all accommodations, park entry fees, guided game drives, meals and water. Apart from game drives, ask which (if any) activities are included as well.”
4What type of vehicle can I expect?
“On most South Africa private safari tours, you’ll spend a large proportion of your time getting around in a 4WD vehicle. This is certainly the case for the time you spend inside the country’s parks and reserves, where your driver will take you around in a 4WD safari vehicle. These specially adapted vehicles most often have open sides (which are perfect for seeing, and feeling close to, the animals), canvas roofs (to keep out the sun and any rain) and tiered seating. For getting between the various destinations that are a part of your safari, you will most likely travel in a normal 4WD vehicle (which won’t be open-sided). This may vary depending on the size of your traveling party and whether you need a larger vehicle or extra vehicles. It is also possible that you may need to fly between destinations, either in a commercial plane (for getting between South African towns) or a small (six- to 20-seater) charter plane. The latter is used primarily for flying into the small airstrips in more remote and/or exclusive areas of some parks and reserves.”
5South Africa 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...
Lucy is travel writer for a range of publications, including Lonely Planet's guides to Africa, Southern Africa and South Africa.
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...
A wonderful country of contrasts and lovely people.
South Africa truly is a world in one country. The people are so hospitable and the food is wonderful and extremely generous. The wildlife has to be seen to be believed lions walking right by your jeep. Baby elephants being highly...
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One of the most diverse beautiful countries I have ever visited
The scenery is out of this world , from the beautiful beaches, Table Mountain, Botanical gardens, Boulders beach, Wine country, garden route, Safari in Kruger. each experience was unique and highly recommended. Cape Town itself was a very...
A safari is a must when in South Africa
We visited Cape Town first and stayed close to the new V&A development. Lots to see and do and lots of restaurants with superb mall. Moved to Hermanus and watched the whales frolicking in the sea just off the shoreline. No boat trip...
Destination of Beauty and Despair
We travelled as a group of 3 generations- the oldest 81 years old and the youngest 17. Cape Town has the stunning backdrop of Table Mountain against the blue sky, the beautiful Company Gardens and Kirstenbosch Botannical Gardens. The new...