A remarkable choice of state-owned parks (including two of the world's most famous wildlife reserves, the Kruger Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park) combined with an equally remarkable choice of private game reserves, makes South Africa the premier destination for your wildlife safari.
Within the country you have a limitless range of game lodges at which to stay – from the highly affordable lodges in the national and provincial parks - to the growing number of well-priced community-owned game lodges - to the ultra- luxurious game lodges in the private reserves.
Diversity – Yours for the Taking
Different reserves offer different type of wildlife experience – from the Big Five to birding to the Cape Floral Kingdom to the semi-desert Karoo. Most of the game lodges within these reserves offer morning and evening game drives, guided walks or specialist activities like birding safaris, stargazing evenings and horseback safaris.
Today you can safari throughout South Africa, either selecting a game lodge in the traditional Big Five Lowveld region around Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga or in any one of the increasing number of malaria-free game reserves – such as in the Waterberg and the Eastern Cape.
Affordability and Opulence
The more affordable game lodges are generally those offered by the national and provincial parks for a couple of hundred rand per chalet per night. At the top end of the market are the luxury game lodges, which charge several thousand rand for full board, game drives and an exclusive safari experience.
Luxury accommodation specialist, Dorienne Levitt, who concentrates on the international market through her company African Stay says: ‘It’s no easy matter deciding which Game Lodge to choose as most of them offer ‘a unique experience for guests in the pristine wilderness’. And most are superbly run.
Another Game Lodge renowned for its owners – Jurie and Philipa Moolman - is Djuma Game Reserve in Mpumalanga’s famous Sabi Sand Game Reserve, home to the Big Five and the highest density of lions and leopards in Africa. Djuma is a recipient of the Fair Trade in Tourism in South Africa (FTTSA) award for its long history of commitment to the social, environmental and economic well-being of its staff and neighbouring communities.
Also in the Sabi Sands is MalaMala owned by the Rattrays - one of the first families in the country to develop the private game lodge business. Michael Rattray ranks amongst the godfathers of South Africa’s wildlife fraternity and is very much a hands-on owner who handpicks his managers and rangers. Many have zoology or botany degrees and offer guests a wealth of knowledge. MalaMala’s general manager, Nils Kure, specialises in leopards and has published a book on his many years in the bush with this extraordinary big cat.
The Singita private lodges also a solid mention – these exclusive properties regularly make it onto the Gold List for the Conde Nast Traveller UK Reader Awards. For those in the know, Conde Nast is the traveller’s bible – so the accolades are highly regarded amongst the international traveling fraternity.
While the Big Five remain the hot favourite with visitors, many reserves are now specialising in a range of wildlife options. Birding has become an exceptionally popular activity worldwide and birders from the far corners visit South Africa for our extraordinary variety of birds.
Drive two hours north of Johannesburg into the Limpopo Province and you will find yourself in one of South Africa’s prime birding havens: the Nylsvlei Nature Reserve. A combination of 4000 hectares of wetland and savannah, when it comes to birding, Nylsvlei is the jewel in the crown of the Limpopo Province’s 53 state-owned nature reserves, with 365 bird species, including 37 red-data-listed species.
South Africa also offers an incredible choice of marine safaris. If you would like to see giant sea turtles, sub-tropical corals, dolphins and ragged tooth sharks, a supreme destination and world heritage site is the ISimangaliso Wetlands Park, (formely St. Lucia) along South Africa’s northern KwaZulu-Natal coast. There are a number of fantastic game lodges in this part of the world – and some of them are run by the local community.
The provincial parks in this part of the world – managed by Ezemvelo Kwa-Zulu Natal Wildlife Services – offer an excellent range of lodges from which to choose. Also in KwaZulu-Natal is one of South Africa's most celebrated game parks, the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in northern KwaZulu Natal. Renowned for its variety of animal and bird life, it is also the main conservation area for rhinos.
For visitors to Johannesburg who want a Big Five experience close to the city, there’s the unforgettable Pilanesberg National Park in the North West province – about a two-and-a half-hour drive from Johannesburg. This malaria-free park is perched on the eroded vestiges of a volcanic crater - one of only three such craters in the world. The Pilanesberg offers a choice of accommodation, including the popular Bakubung Bush Lodge and Kwa Maritane resorts.
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