15 National Park Safaris in Johannesburg to Build a Trip Around

1.Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Game Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,327 reviews · 12 hours · from $186Our pick

Leave Johannesburg early for Pilanesberg Nature Reserve, about two hours away. You get two open-vehicle game drives totaling 4.5 to 5 hours, lunch at a rest camp, and guides such as Petrus, Martin, and Desmond who explain the animals and bush. Expect elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, birds, and a fair chance of seeing several Big Five species.

“This is a great day trip from Joburg for an authentic safari experience. Thomas our driver was communicative and professional, pointing out interesting things on our way to Pilanesberg. Thabo our guide was also great. Very knowledgeable. Of course you can’t control what you will and won’t see but we were fortunate enough to see a leopard and had incredible elephant and rhino sightings. Lunch is a bit basic but overall would recommend the trip”

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2.Full Day Ultimate Pilanesberg National Park Safari from Johannesburg or Pretoria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 718 reviews · from $159

Leave Johannesburg or Pretoria early for Pilanesberg National Park, then join two open 4x4 drives with a professional guide. You will search for lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo, stop for lunch beside a waterhole, and return by air-conditioned minivan. Guides such as Clement and Sibu are praised for their animal knowledge and good humor.

“Great experience. Our guide at the park was very funny and knowledgeable. The food provided was good as well.”

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3.Full Day Safari Tour of Pilanesberg National Park, Open Jeep experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 139 reviews · from $155Top rated

Leave Johannesburg around 6:00 am for Pilanesberg National Park, where an open safari vehicle gives you wide views of lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and more. Your day includes transfers, park fees, lunch, and water. Guides such as Tummy, Peter, and Ambos have been praised for their animal knowledge, while drivers including Tshepo and Bobo make the long road trip easier.

“Excellent tour guide got to see a lot of wild animal but no lion or cat highly recommended lunch provided was excellent too”

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4.3-Day Kruger National Park Open Vehicle Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · from $770

Spend three days exploring Kruger National Park with Wild Wings Safaris, traveling from Johannesburg in a group of no more than nine. You will switch to an open-sided safari vehicle at the park, enjoy afternoon and morning game drives, and sleep in air-conditioned bungalows with private bathrooms. Rufus, Simon, and Nicky are among the company’s highly praised guides, though assignments vary.

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5.4-Day Classic Kruger National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 52 reviews · 4 days · from $1,120

Travel from Johannesburg to Tremisana Game Lodge for open-jeep drives in Balule, a four-hour guided bush walk with armed rangers, a star-lit bush braai, a full day in Kruger, and sunrise wildlife viewing. A small group of up to nine keeps the pace personal. Guide John has earned special praise for his warm, engaging approach.

“4 jours intenses à la recherche des BIGFIVE. Pick-up on time à Johannesburg.. arrêts prévus pour les pauses. Dès votre arrivée au lodge, l'accueil est chaleureux, on vous laisse 30 min pour découvrir votre logement et puis c'est le moment pour partir à la recherche d'animaux dans la savane. Le véhicule est ouvert. Le soir même, vous vivrez un braai fantastique et avec un peu de chance, vous entendrez les animaux mieux les voir (hyènes et éléphant pour notre part). En fin de repas, retour au logement pour la nuit. Le petit-déjeuner est simple mais suffisant, idem pour les repas, le choix est unique. Sachez qu'il n'y a pas de…”

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6.3-Day Classic Kruger National Park Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 45 reviews · 3 days · from $959

Travel in a small group of up to nine from Johannesburg to Tremisana Game Lodge. You will take sunset, night, full-day, and sunrise drives, visit the Orpen and Satara area, enjoy a bush barbecue, and see Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels. Guides may include Terrence, Dylan, Andy, Smiley, or Rocky.

“Uzlabot drošību naktsmītnē, jo kamēr biju game drive tikmēr tika izzagtas dāvanas no somas, kura atradās naktsmītnē.”

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7.4 Day Lodge and Treehouse Kruger National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 33 reviews · from $917

Travel from Johannesburg to Balule and Kruger National Park with a local guide and a maximum of nine people. You’ll take sunset and night drives, walk with an armed ranger, ride an open-sided Gameviewer, sleep in a treehouse, enjoy a bush braai, and visit Blyde River Canyon.

“We stayed in Tremisana Lodge and Marc’s Treehouse. The accommodation is basic but an experience not to be missed - especially the tree house. The food in both locations was good. The bbq was impacted by the weather, but we still saw tRead more”

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8.5 Day Katekani Lodge Kruger National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $1,500

You spend four nights on a guided safari from Johannesburg, combining sunset and night drives, an armed bush walk, two full days in Kruger, and visits to Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondawels. Katekani Lodge provides tented accommodation, meals, a private pool, and a quiet bush setting. Groups are capped at nine people.

“Staffs are very nice and professional. The annoying part is the frequent out of power, does not have wifi and phone communication with the staff in Katekani Tented Lodge.”

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9.6 Day Lodge and Treehouse Kruger National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $1,148

You’ll spend six days with Viva Safaris, using Johannesburg pickup, open-vehicle drives, guided bush walks, and five nights of lodge and treehouse-style accommodation. Andy, Nadine, Luke, and the wider guide team lead wildlife outings through Balule and Kruger, with a Moholoholo visit and the Three Rondawels added for variety.

“Great tours, very professional and kind staff. You will never be getting hungry, there is a lot of tasty food. The accommodation is nice and you feel inside a safari. Everything is very neat and clean. You can also enjoy the place to rest and use the swimming pool. The BBQ in the bush and the morning walks are really an amazing experience.”

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10.2-Day Safari into Kruger National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 29 reviews · 2 days · from $616

Leave Johannesburg early for Kruger National Park, then take an afternoon and morning game drive in an open safari vehicle. You stay outside the park in Hazyview, with dinner and breakfast arrangements to check carefully before booking. The small group holds up to 15 people, and guide Rudzani has earned special praise for his wildlife skills and care.

“Foi tudo muito tranquilo e as pessoas envolvidas, tanto no translado como no Lodge e Safari, muito atenciosas! Recomendo”

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11.Kruger National Park – 4 Day Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 19 reviews · 4 days · from $946

Spend four days with English-speaking guides, including Lloyd and David, on sunset and full-day safaris, a Blyde River Canyon cruise, a Moholoholo wildlife centre visit, and a bush walk. You get private rustic accommodation, breakfast and dinner, a pool, Wi-Fi, and transfers from Johannesburg or Hoedspruit.

“Nous avons apprécié notre 4 jours de safari. Nous sommes satisfait de l’organisation en général et particulièrement de la diversité des activités. Bon rapport qualité/prix.”

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12.Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $121Best value

From your Johannesburg hotel, an English-speaking guide takes you to Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve for a two-hour open-vehicle drive. Look for lions, white rhinos, wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, and antelope, then browse souvenirs before returning. Small groups are limited to 15 people.

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13.6-Day Classic Kruger National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews

Travel from Johannesburg to Tremisana Game Lodge for six days of open-vehicle safaris, a sunrise bush walk, a starlit bush barbecue, two full days in Kruger, and a visit to Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre. Guides such as Smiley, Vic, Rocky, Elias, and Victor may lead activities. Airport pickup and drop-off are included.

“Everything was perfect, punctual and efficient service. Exceptional staff, an experience not to be missed. Very authentic safari.”

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14.Full-Day Kruger National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 14 reviews · 9 hours · from $435

Travel from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park with an English-speaking guide, breakfast, lunch, snacks, water, and park fees included. You will stop in Middleburg and Nelspruit before a guided game drive near Skukuza Camp. The Big Five are possible, but the long return journey leaves limited time in the park.

“Wszystko było super przygotowane. Pełen profesjonalizm a zarazem miła i wesołą atmosfera. Dziękuję bardzo”

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15.5-Day Classic Kruger National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews

Spend five days between Tremisana Game Lodge, Balule Big 5 Reserve, and Kruger National Park. You’ll take sunset and sunrise drives, walk with armed rangers, eat beneath the stars, and visit the Blyde River Canyon. Guides such as Luke and Marc lead game drives, while Mama D, Carolina, prepares generous lodge meals.

“Todo el personal de Viva Safaris y de Tremisana Lodge fueron excelentes. Hicieron todo lo posible para que viéramos todos los animales, incluidos los del Big Five, explicaron los horarios y actividades a la perfección y la comida fue exquisita.”

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