Safaris in South Africa
Going on safaris in South Africa is an absolute must for all ages. There are so many lodge options to choose from. I’ve included the lodges I’ve been personally recommended through my circles here in Joburg; it would be impossible for me to visit them all!!
I update this list as I hear of other positive stays from people I know.
Some general tips for your safari adventure:
- Two nights is all you really need at the safari lodge.
- There are self-catering and self-driving options at some national parks and reserves but on a short schedule, I suggest doing the all-inclusive 2-night stay option.
- Often, winter is preferred for safaris in South Africa as there is less greenery and rainfall so not only are the animals easier to spot, they all visit watering holes so your likelihood of seeing animals are higher.
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Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is the most popular safari park in South Africa as the country’s oldest wildlife park and one of the largest in the world. It boasts a wide variety of landscapes, flora, and fauna. If you’re planning to visit Kruger as part of your Johannesburg itinerary, you’ll be able to spot some of South Africa’s most famous animals, including the big five: leopard, black rhinoceros, African bush elephant, and the African buffalo.
Kruger gets hot during the summer months from October to March and temperatures can reach more than 30°C, but you can also expect some rainfall during this time. It is cooler in winter from April to September with temperatures between 10° to 20°C.
Getting to Kruger
It is 5+ hours from Joburg and it’s easy to drive to or request transport from your lodge.
You can also fly into Kruger from Joburg or Cape Town to cut down on your travel time. This may work best for a country experience like spending 3 days in Joburg, driving to Kruger for a 2-night stay, and then flying directly to Cape Town instead of driving back to Joburg.
Flights between Joburg, Cape Town, and Kruger:
There are two airports around Kruger. You’ll probably want to fly into Skukuza Airport as it is within the national park. Prices are an estimate if you book at least 3 months in advance.
- USD 215/ R3000 roundtrip from Joburg, or USD 100 one way.
- USD 130/ R1800 roundtrip from Cape Town, or USD 70 one way.
- Mix and match the flights to make a ticket one way from Joburg to Kruger and then from Kruger to Cape Town.
Safari Lodges in Kruger
You can choose to do a self-driving safari in Kruger but I suggest splurging on one of the fantastic resorts that will have your game drives included. Go on Expedia and search by your budget. You can a great deal for around USD 300 per person per night at some lodges. However, for the full 5-star luxury, you should budget USD 500 per person per night.
In the northern part of Kruger Park, these lodges stood out to me:
If you’re interested in a self-catering option, check out Kruger Cliffs Lodge, which is located 15 min outside of Hoedspruit (one of the entrance towns for Kruger). We stayed here during our Blyde River Canyon road trip
If you have South African residency, please check directly with the lodges for SA discount rates.
Safaris in the rain for the most adventurous! Don’t sleep in just because it’s raining.
Private Reserves near Kruger
If you’d like a safari experience with limited people, consider a private reserve. They usually restrict the number of people and safari cars allowed on the reserve.
- Mala Mala Camp is located on the banks of the Sand River
- andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge is recommended for families with kids
- andBeyond Kirkman’s Kamp
- Londolozi Game Reserve
- Kruger Shalati – The Train on the Bridge is literally set on a train on a bridge. This looks like one of the most unique safari stays you could ever encounter.
- Lion Sands Game Reserve
Just on the border of Kruger
Around 5.5 hours from Joburg, Karongwe Game Reserve has just a few lodges on its property.
- Kuname Lodge (boutique-style lodge with just 5 rooms). I stayed here with my parents in November 2022 and loved it as it was the first time I saw leopards on safari!
- aha Makalali Private Game Lodge (this has some of the best prices I’ve seen). My aunt, uncle, and cousins stayed here and really enjoyed their experience. They rented a car from Joburg to drive here.
Kruger Tours
My friend, Amber, took a 3-day tour with Viva Safari, booked from Curiocity in Joburg. Read about her adventure on her blog Snackeroo, here. She visited two different camps and the tour included pick up and drop off in Joburg. The tour was USD 550 and was mostly all-inclusive, except for a couple of lunches which they had to purchase themselves.
If you’re staying around Hazyview consider this popular Kruger day tour or if you’re staying around Marloth Park or Komatipoort, go on this day tour.
If you’ve just got a short amount of time in South Africa, you might want to do this budget friendly 4-day tour that will pick you up from the airport and take you around Kruger and Blyde River Canyon.
Cape Sites in Kruger
Besides safari lodges, you can also stay at safari camps and bring your own food to braai (if you don’t want to eat at the restaurants on-site). There is a mixture of tents, cabins, and bungalows available. Game drives and walks can be organized with each camp as well. Here are some camp suggestions from our South African friend, Nick:
- Pretoriuskop, suggested for your first night in Kruger although the bush can be quite thick here
- Skakuza, the largest rest camp
- Satara, best for seeing lions
Check out the activity and accommodation rates for Kruger here, this is updated yearly.
If you’re self-driving, be sure to start early in the morning at 5am or so! Game driving after 11am is pointless, says Nick.
Safaris near Johannesburg
Pilanesberg National Park
Pilanesberg National Park is 2.5 hours from Johannesburg. Because of its proximity to the city, you can even visit for the day. There are over 15 lodges on the reserve. Options range from self-catering to luxury lodges.
Contact the South African Wanderer for day trip tours to Pilanesberg with transport, food, and entrance fees all-inclusive. If you want an open safari car, pick this tour that will also pick you up from Joburg.
Welgevonden Game Reserve
Welgevonden Game Reserve is 3.5 hours from Johannesburg. There are 21 lodges on the reserve that vary from camping to luxury resorts.
At Welgevonden, you’ll likely request a transfer to your lodge from Johannesburg (if you’re visiting) or drive to one of the reserve gates. At the reserve gates, which are elephant-proof (!), you’ll leave your car. Most lodges include full room and board. You’ll just need to pay more for extras such as spa treatments and alcohol. Wilhelm and I have stayed at Nedile Lodge on the reserve and it was truly a 5-star experience. Other suggestions include Laluka, 57 Waterberg, and Mhondoro Safari Lodge.
Marakele National Park
Marakele National Park is 4.5 hours away from Johannesburg. It is located in the transitional zone between the dry western and moister eastern regions of South Africa in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains. Marakele means “place of sanctuary” in Tswana. Check out Marataba Lodge.
Madikwe Game Reserve
Located close to the border with Botswana and about 4.5 hours from Joburg. Check out:
- Jaci’s Lodges (I’ve heard it’s great for young kids)
- Madikwe Safari Lodge
- Tuningi Safari Lodge
- Motswiri Private Safari Lodge
- The Royal Madikwe Safari Lodge
Safaris near Cape Town
Safaris around Cape Town are less known than those in Kruger. However, if you’re only visiting Cape Town then you should definitely add a safari to your itinerary. My siblings and I stayed 2 nights at Gondwana Game Reserve, which was on our way through the famed Garden Route.
Tipping Etiquette
It is somewhat common to tip your driver and your ranger on a safari at the end of your stay. It is suggested that you tip the following, per day, per room:
- Ranger: R250-300
- Tracker: R200-R250
I say “somewhat” because I didn’t realize this on the first two safaris I’ve been on; no one said anything at the hotels and I hadn’t read about it online. In both cases, I added a generic tip on top of my total bill. As South Africa is largely cashless for many activities, unless you know about it beforehand, you’re unlikely to be carrying around a lot of cash for tips like this. Obviously, nothing happened becuase I didn’t tip the ranger specifically. However, now you know!