South Africa
Safari and beyond in the Rainbow Nation
By Stuart Butler & Heather Richardson
The Rainbow Nation has really come of age as a tourism destination and is a perfect introduction if you've not explored this mighty continent before.
You get the amazing wildlife, exuberant culture and epic scenery coupled with a highly developed transport and accommodation infrastructure.
Of course, South Africa offers unmatched safari too. In places like Kruger, Tembe and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, game is plentiful and guides top notch. And its ocean wildlife shouldn't be overlooked. Along the coastline, dolphins and turtles play just offshore and whales breach on the horizon.
There's sophistication too. Cape Town has moving museums, fine dining and buzzing nightlife — all to a backdrop of spectacular Table Mountain.
Safari in South Africa
An essential guide to South Africa's top safari destinations
There can be few experiences more exhilarating than hearing the roar of a distant lion as the sun rises on an African morning. South Africa has long been regarded as one of the world’s great safari destinations. The diversity of landscapes, from jungly swamps to searing semi-deserts, is without equal and the wealth of wildlife simply extraordinary...read more
Explore South Africa
13 days
Kruger & Kwa-Zulu Natal Safari Itinerary
13 day route to the jewels of South Africa
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Johannesburg
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Kruger National Park
The showpiece of South African tourism, Kruger National Park is one of the world’s most famous protected areas, and for good reason... -
Balule Nature Reserve
Covering an area of 250 sq km, the Balule Nature Reserve is an integral part of the Greater Kruger eco-system, seamlessly blending with its surroundings... -
Kapama Game Reserve
Kapama, located within the greater Kruger region, serves as an ideal first-time safari destination... -
Thornybush Game Reserve
Thornybush, once a fenced reserve ensuring the presence of numerous large mammals, restricted wildlife movement between the reserve and Kruger... -
Timbavati Game Reserve
Timbavati, a private reserve bordering the main Kruger Park, hosts a wealth of mammal and bird species due to its unobstructed access... -
Klaserie Nature Reserve
Spanning 60,000 hectares, Klaserie Nature Reserve is among South Africa's largest privately-owned reserves... -
Manyeleti Game Reserve
Manyeleti, translating to "Place of the Stars" in Shangaan, spans 230 sq km and shares an unfenced border with Kruger... -
Karongwe Game Reserve
Karongwe, a moderately-sized private game reserve, boasts an impressive likelihood of leopard sightings, nestled between four rivers and featuring views of the Drakensberg Mountains... -
Sabi Sands Game Reserve
A place of superlatives, Sabi Sands Game Reserve is in effect a continuation of the massive Kruger National Park, but by anyone’s standards Sabi Sands is no mere Kruger add-on... -
Sabi Sabi Game Reserve
A collection of former rangelands, Sabi Sabi is a good choice for discerning safari enthusiasts seeking luxury and exclusivity... -
Lion Sands Game Reserve
Lion Sands Game Reserve, located within the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, is known for its high density of large mammals, in particular its three separate pride of lions... -
Londolozi Game Reserve
Londolozi Game Reserve, one of South Africa's original private reserves, has a rich history spanning nearly a century... -
Mala Mala Game Reserve
Mala Mala, one of South Africa's original private game reserves, spans an expansive 130 sq km and has been operational since the 1920s... -
Ulusaba Game Reserve
Ulusaba Game Reserve, owned by Richard Branson, showcases many of the exceptional aspects of the Sabi Sands region... -
Kwazulu-Natal
Centred on the beach bum surf city of Durban, the huge, and hugely diverse, province of KwaZulu-Natal on South Africa’s east coast doesn’t have the stellar international wildlife reputation of other parts of South Africa... -
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Second only to Kruger National Park, the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is a nearly thousand square kilometre slab of wilderness surrounded by private game reserves... -
Phinda Game Reserve
If you’re a fan of that spotted blur of speed, the cheetah, then Phinda Game Reserve will make you very happy... -
North West Province
This is one of the more easily accessible wildlife areas of South Africa... -
Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe is unusual in that it is owned by the state in partnership with local communities and the private sector... -
Waterberg Biosphere Reserve
The vast upland massif of the Waterberg region is one of only two biosphere reserves in all of Africa... -
Pilanesberg National Park
Pilanesberg is safari made easy... -
Eastern Cape
In many respects, the Eastern Cape is a microcosm of the best of South Africa... -
Shamwari Game Reserve
Shamwari, an esteemed and exclusive private game reserve in the Eastern Cape, lies near Addo Elephant National Park... -
Addo Elephant Park
Addo Elephant National Park, one of South Africa's largest, is renowned for its elephants but offers a diverse landscape encompassing river valleys, mountains, savannahs, forests, and beaches... -
Amakhala Game Reserve
Amakhala, a compact private reserve of approximately 75 sq km, offers an impressive wildlife experience... -
Kariega Game Reserve
Kariega, a family-owned and managed 10,000-hectare private reserve, occupies former ranch and farmland in the Eastern Cape... -
Kwantu Game Reserve
Kwantu Private Game Reserve, spanning 6,000 hectares, is relatively small compared to other African reserves... -
Lalibela Game Reserve
Encompassing five distinct ecosystems, the malaria-free Lalibela reserve is home to a remarkable variety of flora and fauna, including the Big Five... -
Pumba Game Reserve
Pumba Game Reserve, situated near the bustling city of Port Elizabeth, attracts more visitors than some of the region's more remote parks due to its accessibility to day guests who participate in the reserve's organised safaris... -
Western Cape
For most visitors to South Africa, the Western Cape is all about the finer things in life: food, wine, beaches and Cape Town — arguably the most beautiful city in Africa... -
Aquila Private Game Reserve
Aquila Private Game Reserve, named after the endangered black (Verreaux) eagle, is a 10,000-hectare conservancy established in 1999... -
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve combines big cat sightings with wine tasting, offering a unique experience... -
Cape Town
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Durban
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Nelspruit
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The Karoo
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Madikwe Game Reserve
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Pilanesberg National Park
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Hluhluwe Game Reserve
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Welgevonden Game Reserve
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Waterberg Biosphere Reserve
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Lion Sands Game Reserve
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Londolozi Game Reserve
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Ulusaba Game Reserve
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Stellenbosch
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Table Mountain National Park
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Port Elizabeth
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Plettenberg Bay
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Knysna
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Hermanus
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Pretoria
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Drakensburg
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Places to go in South Africa
South Africa Tours
The Southern African Experience
Explore Africa's most stunning destinations, including the Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta
12 daysFrom $4,300| Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Safari, Luxury, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Culinary, Wine |
South Africa Family Safari & Beach
Discover the magic of safari
11 daysFrom £3,725| Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Safari, Family, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, National Parks |
Cape Town, Kruger & Victoria Falls
See the absolute highlights of Southern Africa
10 daysFrom £6,250| Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Private guided tour |
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Safari, Luxury, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Culinary, Wine |
Ultimate African Taster
15 days from Victoria Falls to Cape Town
15 daysFrom £4,850| Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Self-guided tour |
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Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Beach, Family, Adventure, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Culinary, Food, Wine |
Kruger Safari & Beach
8 days from Kruger to Mozambique
8 daysFrom £4,995| East Africa, Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Self-guided tour |
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Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Beach, Family, Adventure, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culinary, Food, Wine |
Wonders of South Africa
15 days from Port Elizabeth to Kruger
15 daysFrom £4,125| Southern Africa, Africa | |
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Custom itinerary, Self-guided tour |
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Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Beach, Family, Adventure, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Culinary, Food, Wine |
South Africa Travel Companies
Wayfairer
Tailor-made luxury travel
| East Africa, Southern Africa | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour | |
| Luxury, Family, Nature & Wildlife, Culture, Culinary, Responsible Travel |
Absolute Zambia Safaris
Custom safari holidays to Zambia
| Zambia | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour | |
| Safari, Luxury, Family, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Responsible Travel |
Wild Frontiers
Safaris into East, West and Southern Africa
| East Africa, Southern Africa | |
| Custom itinerary, Small group tour, Private guided tour | |
| Safari, Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Overlanding, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, National Parks, Culture, Indigenous Tourism, Solo Travel |
The African Wild
Botswana tours and safaris
| Botswana | |
| Custom itinerary, Private guided tour, Self-guided tour | |
| Safari, Luxury, Family, Active, Walking, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks |
Take Me To Africa
Experts in small group travel to Africa
| East Africa, Southern Africa | |
| Small group tour | |
| Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Beach, Family, Active, Walking, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Culinary, Food, Solo Travel |
YellowWood Adventures
Sustainable travel for the modern-day explorer
| Central America, North Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, Central Asia | |
| Custom itinerary, Small group tour, Private guided tour | |
| Safari, Adventure, Backpacking, Hiking & Trekking, Mountain Biking, Water Sports, Active, Walking, Overlanding, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History, Responsible Travel, Conservation, Solo Travel |
African Encounters
| East Africa, Southern Africa | |
| Small group tour | |
| Safari, Luxury, Family, Adventure, Active, Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Responsible Travel, Conservation, Eco-travel |
The Adventure People
The Most Inspiring & Exciting Adventure Holidays On Earth.
| Central America, South America, North Africa, East Africa, South Asia | |
| Small group tour | |
| Safari, Beach, Adventure, Backpacking, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks, Culture, Solo Travel |
South Africa Articles
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