South African Park Safaris: Our Top 15

From Johannesburg: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Game Safari

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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Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

2.Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 872 reviews · 9 hours · from $186

Spend nine hours in Addo Elephant National Park with an English-speaking guide such as Freddy, John, Sidwell, or King Elvis. Travel by air-conditioned 4x4 with a window seat for every passenger, enjoy lunch and refreshments, and search for elephants, lions, rhinos, buffalo, zebras, and more.

“Wonderful day that I’ll remember for a long time. Guide was very knowledgeable!”

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Kruger National Park Full Day Private safari

3.Kruger National Park Full Day Private safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 799 reviews · from $158Top rated

Start around 5:30 a.m. from Hazyview and spend up to 9 hours exploring Kruger National Park with a private guide. Your guide helps search for the Big Five, cheetahs, African Wild Dogs, and birdlife, while your group controls the pace. Collect breakfast packs before pickup, then stop at one rest camp for breakfast and another for lunch, paid separately.

“Didi proved to be quite an awesome guide—he was very knowledgeable about so many things in the park, and was able to answer all of our questions. He also got us up close and personal with white rhinos, elephants, leapards, zebras, giraffes, and countless other small gaRead more”

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Full Day Ultimate Pilanesberg National Park Safari from Johannesburg or Pretoria

4.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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Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

5.Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 576 reviews · from $184

Ride from central Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve in an air-conditioned coach, then join an English-speaking ranger for a three-hour open-vehicle drive through the malaria-free Karoo. Look for lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, hippos, and more than 170 bird species. Lunch, a welcome drink, and hotel transfers are included.

“Fun tour! Get to see all the big 5 although there are very few of each animal. It is a big zoo so don’t expect it to be like a proper safari but still a great experience. A lot of it actually done in travelling too and from the game reserve so be prepared to be on a coach for a while”

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Kruger National Park – Private full day Safari trip.

6.Kruger National Park – Private full day Safari trip.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 347 reviews · from $166

Spend about 10 hours exploring Kruger National Park from Hazyview with a private driver-guide. Gerrie Smith and Keegan are among the guides associated with this experience. You enter through Pabeni Gate, spend roughly nine hours in the park, and search for lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, buffalo, birds, and smaller wildlife without camping overnight.

“Gerrie was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about the animals and knew where to take us to see more animals. We were able to see the big five and many other more.”

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Port Elizabeth: Schotia Game Reserve Safari with Port Pickup

7.Schotia Game Reserve Safari with Port Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 263 reviews · 5 hours · from $233

Leave Port Elizabeth Harbor for a five-hour safari at Schotia Private Game Reserve, beside Addo Elephant National Park. Guides such as Norman, Marilyn, Donald, and Robert work hard to find wildlife, from elephants and rhinos to lions, hippos, and birds. Transport, entry fees, snacks, drinks, and an open safari vehicle are included.

“Had the most amazing day, learned so much in this trip and will never forget this experience. Thank you!”

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Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

8.Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 256 reviews · from $147

Spend about nine hours exploring Addo Elephant National Park from Port Elizabeth in an air-conditioned 4x4. Your guide may be John, Sidwell, Wanele, Allen, or another Afroventures team member. Expect close elephant sightings, lions, buffalo, zebras, lunch, hotel pickup, and a small-group setting, but no guarantee of seeing every major species.

“We had a wonderfull day with our guide. Stafford was friendly and looked after us. We saw a lot of Elephants and other animals. We learned a lot about the animals who live in the park”

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From Hazyview: Kruger National Park Full-Day Safari

9.Kruger National Park Full-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 205 reviews · 10 hours · from $105

Start before sunrise from Hazyview and enter Kruger through Phabeni Gate in an open safari vehicle. An English-speaking guide such as Stephen, Bradley, Sipho, or Remember leads the search for lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, buffalo, cheetahs, and wild dogs. Breakfast, lunch, park fees, and souvenirs cost extra.

“It was a pleasur to have the game drive with Stephen. He is a friendly tour guide and tries his very best to find all the big five. highly recommend 👌”

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Kruger National Park sunrise Morning Private safari

10.Kruger National Park sunrise Morning Private safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 185 reviews · from $131

Start at 5:30 am from a Hazyview lodge or nearby Kruger gate, then explore the park in a private open safari vehicle with a guide. Look for lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, hippos, giraffes, birds, and more. Bottled water, fuel, and guiding are included, but park fees and food are extra.

“My husband and I were realized wildlife viewing is unpredictable, we were surprised and pleased on the number of animals and birds we saw. We took this tour twice. Our guide both times was Abraham N he was very accommodating and knowledgeable.”

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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch

11.Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 183 reviews · 8 hours · from $342

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve by hotel pickup, enjoy a welcome drink and buffet lunch, then join a 3-hour open-vehicle game drive. You may see lions, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo. Leopards are not present in the reserve, so this is a convenient Big Five-style outing rather than a wild, remote safari.

“Great day out, saw all the animals. Tour guard was very knowledgeable and friendly”

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Addo National Park: Guided Half-Day Safari

12.Addo National Park: Guided Half-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 175 reviews · 4 hours · from $81

Spend four hours exploring Addo Elephant National Park’s northern Big 5 viewing area in a closed Toyota Land Cruiser. Guides such as Steven, Donald, and Stevie point out elephants, lions, zebra, ostriches, and smaller wildlife while sharing local history and stories. Snacks and drinks are included, with optional pickup in Addo village.

“An unforgettable safari! We had the most amazing experience, seeing a wide variety of animals in their natural habitat and even witnessing lions on the hunt. Our guide, Stevie, was absolutely fantastic. It’s clear he truly loves his work, and he made the entire journey even more special with his fascinating stories and insights. If we ever go on safari again, we will definitely choose this company!”

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Aquila Game Reserve: Afternoon Safari

13.Aquila Game Reserve: Afternoon Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 166 reviews · from $109

Meet your ranger at Aquila Private Game Reserve in Touws River for a welcome drink, four-star buffet lunch, and a 2 to 2.5-hour safari across 10,000 hectares of Karoo country. You may spot the Big Five, then use leisure time for the outdoor infinity pool before departing at 4 PM.

“Our guide was super nice, taking time and giving opportunities for pictures. He had a great knowledge. The reserve is nice and for sure does a good thing for animals!”

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Aquila Private Game Reserve: Sunset Safari with Entry Fee

14.Aquila Private Game Reserve: Sunset Safari with Entry Fee

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 158 reviews · from $63

Drive yourself to Aquila Private Game Reserve by 3 PM for tea, coffee, snacks, and a sunset safari in an open 4x4. Your ranger leads a 2 to 3 hour drive as animals leave the shade. Add pool time, the labyrinth, giant chess, or paid spa and riding activities.

“The all experience, from the reception from the stuff members, the food and most of all the excitement of the big 5 reserve.”

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

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

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

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.