South Africa Safari - Complete Travel Guide
As the name implies, South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa. Located at the point where two mighty oceans, Atlantic and Indian, collide, it has a unique biodiversity and various ecosystems. From Big Five safari to Whale Watching, wine tasting and rhino-spotting, this country has it all – no wonder it is the most popular travel destination on the continent!
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Best Time To Go
May-September for wildlife viewing November-March for winter sun and bird-watching August-September for whale-watching
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Average Safari Cost
From $150 to $700 pp/day
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Highlights
Kruger National Park, Whale watching, Garden Route, Cradle of Humankind, Big Five, Wine regions, Cape of Good Hope, African penguins
Why Experience South African Safari?
While the Western Cape is famous for its Garden Route drives, gorgeous beaches and wine regions, inland South Africa is marked by its amazing safari adventures in the Kruger National Park, inhabited by the Big Five.
Vibrant Cape Town has a great nightlife and top-notch restaurants. And after a night out, before breakfast, you can drive to watch the sun rise at the tip of Africa – the Cape of Good Hope.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Amazing variety of adventure activities
- Choice of self-guided drives, guided tours, private or group trips
- Well-established tourism and safety for tourists
- City breaks in Cape Town and Johannesburg
- Very protected and looked after wildlife (most of the rhino in Africa is in South Africa)
- Lots of add-on options
Cons
- Malaria risk in the North
- Too much choice to pick the best safari
- Crime rates have halved since the 1990s, but are still relatively high
- More conservation/protected areas than wilderness
Best Time To Go
With its summer months falling into the months of November all the way till March, South Africa is a great place to visit in winter for everybody coming from North America and Europe. It offers a great escape from those winter blues with buckets of sunshine!
There is really only two seasons – spring and fall. However, the weather differs across South Africa. On the Atlantic Ocean coast, you are more likely to experience strong winds and more moderate temperatures, in comparison to the Indian Ocean coastline. Additionally, higher altitude places have contrast continental climates.
As a rule of thumb, it might be helpful to remember that January is mid-summer in South Africa, while June is mid-winter.
High Season
Inland is dry, warm and hot, average temperatures 75-95°F (25-35°C)
The rest of the country is in rainfall season
Unsurprisingly, around December and Easter holidays prices usually sky rocket, but are still affordable if you convert local Rand into US Dollars, British Pounds or Euros. Beware that you need to pre-book accommodation as early as possible (from September everything gets booked up quickly).
Parks to Visit
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Things to do in South Africa from November till March
- See 450 elephants in the Addo Elephant National Park
- See lion hunt in all major parks and reserves
- Turtle tracking at night: See rare leatherback and loggerhead turtles nesting on the coastline
- Horseback riding: Take a trail around Clarens and ride in the Drakensberg Escarpment for amazing views of Lesotho
- Dive with sharks in Protea Banks, Kleinbaai, Gansbaai and more
Shoulder Season
Wet and cool
Expect fall weather
Cape Town average temperature is 61°F (16°C)
Sunny spring weather. Good time to visit for wildlife watching. The tourist numbers are low and so are adventure prices.
Parks to Visit
- Kruger National Park
- Addo Elephant National Park
- Sabi Sand Game Reserve
- Phinda Game Reserve
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
- KwaZulu-Natal parks
Other Things to do in South Africa from April till May
- Cape Agulhas National Park: Enjoy a walk around Africa’s southernmost tip for the most amazing sea views and encounters with many indigenous and unique to the area plant species sans tourist crowds!
- Little Karoo: Take the Four Passes Route drive through the ostrich farms, wine making regions and fruit orchards of the Western Cape.
- Hike Table Mountain in Cape Town from picturesque Skeleton Gorge, located in Kirstenbosh Botanical Gardens.
- Helicopter tour of Cape Town might be cheaper during the off-season months.
Low Season
July is the coldest month of the year, but is mild by the European and North American standards
Dry and cool, snow in the mountains
Average temperature is 55°F (13°C)
With holiday prices lower during the rainy season, summer is perfect for quiet wildlife watching.
Parks to Visit
- Kruger National Park
- Addo Elephant National Park
- Sabi Sand Game Reserve
- Phinda Game Reserve
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
- KwaZulu-Natal parks
Other Things to do in South Africa from June till August
- In June, head to Sodwana Bay, whose water is warm even in the colder months and the coral riffs flourish with a vibrant array of tropical fish.
- In July, join a famous Knysna Oyster Festival or head to Knysna for a great game of golf.
- Canoe around Lake St Lucia.
- Take a few hours to drive the Blyde River Canyon Road. Along the way you will be treated to quartzite columns, bottomless gorges and massive pine farms.
Shoulder Season
Average temperature is 55°F (15°C)
The warmest temperature during the day is about 70°F (21°C)
Sunny fall weather. Good time to visit for wildlife watching.
Safari Conditions
- Wildlife is easier to spot, as animals congregate around waterholes.
- September is right at the end of the wildlife watching season and the temperatures are moderate.
- There are fewer mosquitos, as the air is pretty dry.
- Parks and game reserves are usually free of tourist crowds.
Parks to Visit
- Kruger National Park
- Addo Elephant National Park
- Sabi Sand Game Reserve
- Phinda Game Reserve
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
- KwaZulu-Natal parks
Other Things to do in South Africa in Septem and October
- September is the best time to go whale watching in Hermanus, a stunning 45-minute coastal drive away from Cape Town. In fact the road is so picturesque and dramatic, it's featured in many modern car commercials!
- Try to ride an ostrich in Oudtshoorn, where you can also try an arguably healthiest burger made with very low fat ostrich meat.
- Take a few hours to drive the Blyde River Canyon Road. Along the way you will be treated to quartzite columns, bottomless gorges and massive pine farms.
Best time to visit: From April till October
September is right at the end of the wildlife watching season and the temperatures are moderate.
There are fewer mosquitos, as the air is pretty dry.
Parks and game reserves are usually free of tourist crowds
Parks to Visit
- Kruger National Park
- Addo Elephant National Park
- Sabi Sand Game Reserve
- Phinda Game Reserve
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
- KwaZulu-Natal parks
Start your African Adventure
Popular Tours
Tailor-Made South African Safari
We constantly strive to improve our award winning safari packages each year. I believe this is the best safari package we have ever offered, providing great quality at an affordable price. We start this safari at our safari base, the exclusive Rukiya Safari Lodge located on the banks of the Blyde River in the Wild Rivers private Nature Reserve. Rukiya is not only our safari base but is also a key location for our leopard research program. Following four days at Rukiya with our team, you will visit three other game reserves to ensure you can enjoy a variety of different lodge styles and reserves to give you a comprehensive safari experience. This safari provides a perfect balance between big five game viewing and a chance to gain a better understanding or be involved with wildlife conservation. As well as opportunities to explore in the company of wildlife conservationists. Of-course there is also time for some R&R to sit back, relax and enjoy the African bush. We recommend our safari itinerary shown below, as we’ve developed and honed it over many years in keeping with our company ethos and moreover feedback from safari guests. It covers all the elements that we feel should be included in an African safari, and has received many five star guest reviews”.
4 Day Kruger Safari
Wild Planet`s 4 Day Kruger Safari a perfect introduction to South Africa's Kruger National Park. On this tour you will spend 3 nights at 2 different Rest Camps inside the National Park. We choose the camps based on the best wildlife viewing opportunities. The tour is an absolute must for first time visitors to South Africa and for wildlife enthusiasts. Kruger Park is one of the best examples of conservation in Africa. The Park is home to the `Big 5` and many other endangered animals that you have always dreamed of seeing. Join us on your ultimate dream African vacation.
4 Day Kruger Camping Safari
Wild Planet`s 4 Day Kruger Safari a perfect introduction to South Africa's Kruger National Park. On this tour you will spend 3 nights at 2 different Rest Camps inside the National Park. We choose the camps based on the best wildlife viewing opportunities. The tour is an absolute must for first time visitors to South Africa and for wildlife enthusiasts. Kruger Park is one of the best examples of conservation in Africa. The Park is home to the `Big 5` and many other endangered animals that you have always dreamed of seeing. Join us on your ultimate dream African vacation.
5 Day Kruger Safari Southern Adventure
If you find yourself dreaming of a trip to Africa then you should definitely spoil yourself with this Safari. We will take you to the amazing Kruger National Park for 4 nights. While you are there you will get to explore this vast wilderness and witness the many animals that live there. We will concentrate on the south of the park and "game-drive" in search of the mighty "Big Five" and all the other animals that roam this land. This is one adventure not to be missed!
Wildlife And Birds
- Lion
- Elephant
- Cheetah
- Leopard
- Hippo
- Buffalo
- Hyena
- Giraffe
- Black Rhino
Rare Animals:
- Cheetah
- Rhino
- African Wild Dog
- Oribi
- Mountain Zebra
- Sei Whale
- Blue Whale
Infrequently Seen Animals:
- Leopard
- Hyena
- Cape Horseshoe Bat
Frequently Seen Animals:
- Lion
- Elephant
- Buffalo
- Springbok
- Bontebok
- Cape Grysbok
- Kudu
- Dolphin
- Humpback Whale
- Southern Right Whale
Public: Kruger, Addo
Private: Scotia
With almost 850 registered bird species, 175 endemic, and 50 unique avian species, South Africa is a very special place for seasonal bird watching.
From November to April is the best time to come to South Africa for exciting bird watching. This is the time when the resident bird species are nesting and breeding, while the birds migrating from Europe and Northern Africa congregate in the country.
Critically Endangered Birds:
- Bearded vulture
- Blue swallow
- Cape vulture
- Crozet shag
- Damara tern
- Southern banded snake eagle
- Taita falcon
- Tristan albatross
- Wattled Crane
- White-winged flufftail
- Leach’s storm petrel
Endemic Birds:
- Agulhas long-billed lark
- Black-rumped buttonquail
- Blue bustard
- Botha's lark
- Bush blackcap
- Cape bulbul
- Cape long-billed lark
- Cape siskin
- Cape sugarbird
- Cape weaver
- Eastern long-billed lark
- Forest canary
- Grey-winged francolin
- Ground woodpecker
- Karoo lark
- Knysna warbler and Woodpecker
- Long-tailed pipit
- Orange-breasted sunbird
- Protea canary
- Rudd’s lark
- Southern black korhaan
- Southern double-collared sunbird
- Victorin's warbler
The endemic species can be found throughout the variety of local landscapes: grasslands, mountains and even deserts.
Western Cape
The province is one of the best bird watching destinations in the country. You will find a number of endemic birds here, including Cape Sugarbird, Cape Rockjumper, Cape Siskin, Kynsna Warbler, Hottentot Buttonquail, Protea Seedeater and Orange-breasted Sunbird.
At the Cape of Good Hope National Park you will usually see a whole display of seabirds, while the African Penguin colony is a massive tourist attraction at the Boulders Beach.
For the Arctic wading birds head to the West Coast National Park.
The Free State and KwaZulu-Natal has a number of fantastic bird watching facilities and well-informed resident tour guides.
North East of KwaZulu-Natal
Plentiful freshwater creeks, thick forests and flooded grasslands are an excellent natural habitat for many bird species, including African Broadbill, Southern Banded Snake Eagle Delegorgue’s Pigeon, Woodward’s Barbet Knysna Turaco, Palmnut Vulture and more.
A slight downside of the area – it is very popular among bird watchers, so book your tour around the peak times. One of the areas especially crowded is the Dlinza Forest, which has been equipped with boardwalk.
Mpumalanga
The area that includes Krueger and Drakensberg is home to a variety of eagles (raptors), including, African Hawk Eagle, the Steppe Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Martial Eagle, Walhberg's Eagle, and Lesser Spotted Eagle.
Gauteng
Although the area has fallen victim to heavy urbanisation, around 350 recorded bird species live near Johannesburg and Pretoria. The areas for spotting more birds include, Magaliesberg Mountains, Suikerbosrand, the Dinokeng Bushveld area, Marievale and Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens.
Kruger
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
Kgalagadi
Mkhuze
Popular Parks
The majority of parks and reserves in South Africa are home to the Big Five. In most of the parks you are very likely to see lion, rhino, leopard, elephant and buffalo all on one safari.
Apart from Kruger, Kgalagadi and KwaZulu-Natal parks, there are over 700 national parks and government-sponsored conservation areas and reserves, and over 200 more of the privately run game reserves, where seeing most animals is pretty much guaranteed. This makes your choice tough, but we are here to help you make the right one!
Kruger National Park in South Africa is one of the oldest parks in the world and it is absolutely golden. Famed for its incredibly impressive wildlife display of the most beautiful animals roaming the planet, including elephants, lions, leopards and hundreds more mammals, it is safe to say Kruger is an essential part of any visit to the rainbow nation. Sloping granite hills line the southern part of the park and the Lebombo Mountains brood in the east, providing one of the most stunning South African scenes.
With so many spectacular places to visit in South Africa, it’s rare to have just one which stands out as thoroughly brilliant. The Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa is the stand-out feature of this country’s safaris by a mile, enveloping the brooding Zuurberg Mountains and the Sundays River Valley. The park itself has a special and touching history having started in 1931 with just eleven elephants compared to over 600 today roaming the grounds alongside lions, zebras, black rhinos and many more. Everyone who visits South Africa should take a trip here, for it is unlike anywhere else in the world.
The African predator experience of a lifetime is located at Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park’s section in South Africa, known as the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. Set in the harsh location of a red sand dune desert, this park offers a uniquely authentic experience of wildlife and environment alike. Here you can spend the day watching breathtaking black-maned lions, cheetahs and hyenas to name just a few. While Kgalagadi is not host to elephants or rhinos and other members of the Big Five, it is host to some simply stunning predators, and a few friendly meerkat faces too.
Hluhlwe-iMfolozi Park in South Africa is a vast expanse of true African wildlife and scenery. Giving Kruger National Park a run for its money, this park offers its own elephant, giraffe and hippo population with the added bonus of black and white rhino alongside lion and cheetah. As the oldest game reserve in South Africa, declared one by the Zulus in 1895, there is an air of history about Hluhlwe-iMfolozi, making it a simply wonderful place to be. Nearby is the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, providing stunning beaches to relax on, as well as the iSimangaliso Wetland Park where your favourite aquatic animals, such as flamingos, hippos, crocodiles and pelicans, reside in the iconic Lake St. Lucia.
The Golden Gate Highlands National Park gets its name from the spectacular golden glow of the sandstone mountains as the late afternoon sun begins to set. This is a place of captivating and breathtaking scenery and some of the most exquisite sunsets you will ever see! Dark shadowy outcrops meet gorgeous red and yellow skies in the dying evening light. Hike through this highland wilderness and experience the incredible natural beauty of the land!
The Karoo National Park is situated within the vast plains of the Great Karoo. While most of the wildlife has been eradicated from land, the Karoo National Park is a protected area where animals can roam free and their habitats remain untouched by man. This is a place of striking landscapes, diverse flora and breathtaking sunsets. This is an excellent place for nature lovers and bird watchers to explore the wilderness and experience the incredible silence of the natural land.
Bontebok National Park is the smallest park in South Africa. It was formed to save the bontebok species from the brink of extinction as they were protected from hunting practices within the park. This park has helped the bontebok species thrive, along with plenty of other animals, birds and indigenous plants known as fynbos. Travel here at the right time and feel as if you're in a dream as blossoming fynbos brings bright colour to the land. This is the ideal destination for outdoor adventurers as you can hike and walk through the park, as well as swim and canoe in the Breede River.
Augrabies Falls National Park is most famous for its spectacular Augrabies waterfall, which thunders down from the Orange River in a 60 meter drop. The mighty waterfall was referred to as "Aukoerebis" by the Khoi people, which means "place of great noise". See the mighty rapids crash together and plummet into the gorge with a deafening roar. This magnificent waterfall is known as one of South Africa's most amazing sights and is definitely worth a visit!
Getting There And Safety
You can choose to arrive at Johannesburg or Cape Town Airports from most major international hubs like London, Frankfurt, New York, Amsterdam and others. Our advice is to book flights as far in advance as possible, as this could secure a very affordable return ticket from Europe, which could be as low as £400 p.p.
If you require flights in South Africa (to get to your safari destination), make sure your operator either guides you through booking the best flight, or includes those in your itinerary.
If you are based in the UK and Europe, check out these flights to South Africa.
If you are based in the USA and Canada, check out these flights to South Africa.
Going on a safari in Africa comes with obvious risks. We recommend you get travel insurance for all safaris in South Africa. Make sure your insurance has full medical coverage, emergency air evacuation, repatriation and the standard travel insurance for cancellations, delays and luggage cover.
Check World Nomads’ travel insurance calculator to see the cost of your safari trip cover.
According to AfricaCheck, "South Africa is relatively poorly endowed with water resources and is considered a “water-stressed” country.
"However, according to the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa’s drinking water supplies are of international standard and in compliance with World Health Organisation requirements".
For more details on what to pack see our Safari Packing List.