South Africa

The country where Safari meets Ocean

South Africa is arguably the top African safari destination, boasting a diverse range of ecosystems and habitats set against breathtaking landscapes. The options are as varied as the country itself, with incredible safari locations spread across each province.

Greater Kruger National Park

The Greater Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s largest and most established wildlife sanctuaries, with the majority of its vast expanse made up of the park itself and the numerous reserves along its western periphery. One of our favorite maps provides a clear overview of the various destinations within this area. Several reserves, such as Kapama and Thornybush (which is home to Royal Malewane), are fully fenced and do not share an open border with the Greater Kruger. In this context, we’ll focus on a few of the reserves that have an unfenced border with the park.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve (SSGR)

Arguably the most famous and frequently visited of all the game reserves in South Africa, this reserve spans around 65,000 hectares and is divided into several independent reserves. The largest of these are Singita and Londolozi, with smaller reserves often sharing traversing rights with their neighbors. Mala Mala, an independent game reserve, borders the Kruger National Park on the eastern edge of SSGR. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly to ultra-luxurious, while wildlife viewing here is among the best in the region.

Timbavati Game Reserve

Home to the renowned white lions, Timbavati covers approximately 60,000 hectares and lies to the north of SSGR and functions as a single entity, with all camps having the flexibility to traverse the entire reserve. Like SSGR, Timbavati shares an open, unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park, allowing wildlife to move freely between the two areas. The reserve is home to virtually all the animal and bird species one would expect to encounter in the region.

Ngala Private Game Reserve

Operated exclusively by andBeyond, this reserve is located on the southern edge of the Timbavati Game Reserve and spans approximately 15,000 hectares of pristine wilderness. It shares an open, unfenced border with the Kruger National Park, allowing wildlife to roam freely between the two areas. The reserve is home to all the iconic species found within the Kruger ecosystem.

June – Sept

This period marks the peak travel season, following the winter months in the Southern Hemisphere, when the environment becomes dry, making wildlife easier to spot from a distance or as they gather at watering holes. The winter season is ideal due to its cooler temperatures, with chilly mornings and evenings that require warm layers, while the afternoons are perfectly pleasant. This time of year is typically the busiest, with lodges and camps operating at full capacity, resulting in a higher guest-to-vehicle ratio. Game drives tend to be more structured, with set morning and afternoon sessions lasting between 3 and 3.5 hours each.

Oct - Nov & Jan – Mar

Coinciding with the rainy season, this period offers a fantastic alternative for visiting during the low or shoulder season, allowing travelers to avoid the crowds. As the environment begins to green and temperatures rise with the onset of summer in the Southern Hemisphere, wildlife sightings may become less frequent in certain areas, as animals move farther in search of food and water. However, this is a great time to take advantage of discounts in addition to lower pricing providing the traveler with a greater "bang for the buck".

Sabi Sands Game Reserve (SSGR)

For the uber luxurious setting and exclusive traversing across approx. 45,000 acres you can't go wrong with Singita Ebony or Boulders. Singita also operates Sweni & Lebombo lodges within their Kruger Park concession offering the opportunity to combine a stay at both. Londolozi is another luxurious concession with several lodges to select from. Honorary mention to Mala Mala Game Reserve that shares an unfenced border with the Greater Kruger National Park.
Other great options are Leopard Hills Lodge and Dulini on the northern end of the Reserve (both share traversing rights with their neighbors).
On the southern end, andBeyond Tengile Lodge or Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge are good options noting that Tengile has traversing rights on the southern flank of the Mala Mala Game Reserve. This significantly expands the area they can drive on.
An honorary mention to Lion Sands which operates the River & Ivory lodges in SSGR and Narina & Tinga lodges in the Kruger Park within their concession.

Timbavati Game Reserve

Motswari, Makanyi and Kings Camp are the ones we like while there are many to choose from. All offer specials and discounts - sometimes even during peak season.

Ngala Private Game Reserve

Being an exclusive andBeyond Reserve, your choice is between the Safari and Tented Camps. If traveling as a family, the Safari lodge is the one to go with else we recommend considering the Tented Camp for a more authentic experience. With the specials, it’s possible to blend in a visit to other Reserves operated by andBeyond such as Phinda Private Game Reserve.

Madikwe Game Reserve

Located northwest of Johannesburg, straddling the Botswana border and covering 75,000 hectares, the privately managed Madikwe Game Reserve is home to the Big Five, as well as a diverse array of elusive species such as the brown hyena, honey badger, aardwolf, and bat-eared fox. This reserve is an excellent choice for both first-time safari-goers and seasoned travelers, offering a variety of stunning landscapes and exceptional camps, ensuring a memorable experience for all.

Jun- Sept

Peak travel season with peak rates. The weather tends to be cooler given its winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The rains have passed, the land is dry allowing for greater visibility into the bushes. As you can expect, pricing will be higher during this time although some camps do offer discounts. We recommend traveling in May or September to take advantage of lower crowds, good weather overall and decent pricing.

Nov- May

Shoulder to Low season offering lower crowds, better pricing and good weather overall with a possibility of a rain shower.

Madikwe offers a wide range of lodging options, from budget-friendly to ultra-luxury, catering to nearly every type of traveler, making it an ideal choice for all. We highly recommend exploring the various accommodation options by visiting the Madikwe Reserve website. Among the luxury choices, we particularly recommend Jamala Madikwe, Mateya, RockFig, and Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge. Madikwe Hills is especially appealing, as it provides opportunities to explore sister properties in other reserves as part of your safari experience. For families, Tau Tau and Motswiri Private Game Lodge are excellent options, offering a welcoming and comfortable environment for all ages.

Phinda Private Game Reserve

Located in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, this reserve spans approximately 75,000 hectares of protected habitat, including some of the last remaining sand forests. Exclusively managed by andBeyond, the reserve is truly exceptional. As a biosphere reserve, it encompasses a diverse range of habitats, including savannah, bushveld, and forests, among others. This variety of ecosystems supports a wide array of wildlife, making it an ideal destination for those looking to experience different environments while combining multiple andBeyond properties.

Jun-Sep

This is peak travel season, with the highest rates of the year. The weather tends to be cooler, as it's winter in the Southern Hemisphere. With the rains having passed, the land is dry, offering clearer visibility into the bush, which enhances wildlife viewing. While pricing is at its highest during this period, andBeyond generally offers various discounts, including for longer stays and when combining stays at other sister properties, making it a great time to take advantage of special offers.

Nov- May

Shoulder to Low season offering lower crowds, better pricing and good weather overall with a possibility of a rain shower. The discounts continue during this time frame.

There are 4 camps situated throughout the Reserve. Forest Lodge is ideal for families. Vlei and Rock Lodges are ideal for couples or honeymooners. We don’t recommend Mountain Lodge as its footprint is very large – akin to a city hotel in the bush.

More Destinations

South Africa is home to a vast number of parks and reserves, each offering unique wildlife experiences and diverse landscapes. In addition to the destinations already mentioned, here are a few others that showcase a greater diversity of animals and habitats.

  • Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is one of the better ones in the Eastern Cape (amongst Amakhala, Addo, Shamwari, etc.) with a large property, limited land to guest ratio and a large variety of animals & vistas.
  • Marataba Game Reserve in the Marakele National Park close to the Waterberg Biosphere is close to Joburg, has amazing vistas & animal sightings and a light lodge footprint.Welgevonden Game Reserve is another decent property in close proximity.
  • The Pafuri region, home to the Makuleke Concession in the northern fringes of the Greater Kruger National Park is another amazing area to consider visiting. Its home to the Outpost Lodge, a stunning property.
  • Other destinations include the many reserves along the flanks of the Greater Kruger National Park, Samara, De Hoops, Tembe Elephant Park, Pilanesberg National Park amongst so many others.

More about Africa

African Safari : The “why”.Parks ~ Reserves ~ Concessions ~ Conservancies : What’s the difference?. Top 5s : Our FAVs
SAFARI DESTINATIONS : Botswana.Kenya.Namibia.Tanzania.Zambia.Zimbabwe