Luxury Safaris South Africa

Safaris in South Africa are an all-time bucket list classic – and for good reason. They boast incredible opportunities to see wildlife and allow safari-goers the chance to immerse themselves in a diverse wilderness.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa

As you might expect, safari holidays across South Africa are ideal for honeymooners, over-50s, young families seeking a thrill, and everyone in between.

You'll be exploring the only sub-Saharan African country that has malaria-free safaris and all of them are easily accessible. With private game reserves travellers can explore with highly knowledgeable trackers and experienced guides.

Alongside breathtaking days spent game-spotting, our South Africa luxury safaris allow you to combine hiking, kayaking, fishing, and horse-riding across jaw-dropping plains. You can also sharpen your skills with photography lessons, allowing you to perfectly capture your trip. The opportunities are endless.

When’s The Best Time to Go on Safari in South Africa?

Wondering when to go on safari in South Africa? The best time of year varies between regions and depends on whether you’d like to get multiple destinations into a single trip.

South Africa’s summer months fall between November and March, so we generally advise going during this period. This is ideal for families keen to book one of our South Africa luxury family safari during the Christmas and Easter holidays. However, the Christmas period is our absolute favourite time to go.

The exception to the rule is Greater Kruger which can be very hot and humid during the summer. It's also more likely to rain then, causing the vegetation to be lush and the animals harder to spot. Instead, the best weather in Kruger is between May and October.

How long should I go on Safari for?

Although the game reserves are extremely accessible by car or aeroplane, we tend to recommend a minimum of four days to really make the most of your stay and give yourself enough time to relax during your South Africa safari holiday.

A popular itinerary includes four nights on safari, five nights in Cape Town and two nights in the Winelands. But if you’d like to experience different safari landscapes during your South Africa tour, you might consider flying between locations and spending at least three nights in each reserve.

Another consideration is what you’d like to do while on your South Africa safari. Four days might feel long enough if game drives are the highlight for you, but there are so many incredible experiences to be had that extending your stay will bring with it a wealth of opportunities.

If you’re planning a family safari in South Africa, consider how many days your kids will be happy sitting in a jeep spotting animals before they get fidgety.

The Best Safaris in South Africa 

Our African Destination Manager, Christina Gordon, has shared her five top South African safari holiday destinations so you can decide which experience will fulfil your wildest dreams.

South Africa safari in Kruger

A safari drive encountering an elephant

Kruger is a big player in the safari world. Recognised for its world-famous conservancies with their abundance of wildlife, this is archetypal Big Five territory. It's especially known for the otherwise elusive leopard, which can’t help but show off here. You might be lucky enough to see multiple in one day. Along with the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, cheetah, African wild dog and buffalo, there are hundreds of animal species to be seen. A luxury South Africa safari package wouldn't be the same without a trip here.

Although Greater Kruger is a National Park, it's surrounded by smaller private game reserves, most of which have no fences between them and the rest of the park, allowing the animals to roam freely and giving guests spectacular game-drive opportunities. It feels like you really are in the wilderness, the landscapes are beautiful and the luxury safari lodges are among the best in South Africa.

One of the most magical things you can do while on safari in South Africa is sleep out under the stars. Several of Kruger’s lodges offer this as an experience, usually in a treehouse with the sights and sounds of the plains around you. You’ll also be treated to night drives and bush walks where you can get thrillingly close to the animals.

South Africa safari in Eastern Cape

Two rhinos eating grass

Eastern Cape is a great choice because of its proximity to Cape Town and the Garden Route, alongside its malaria-free game reserves. It's therefore extremely popular for family safari holidays in South Africa, so the luxury lodges are geared towards this.

You’ll find amazing kids clubs and family accommodation options – particularly in Kwandwe Game Reserve, where there are regular kids' activities and trails. The landscape is defined by Karoo vegetation, with lots of succulents and low scrub bushes. This makes it very different to other South Africa safari experiences.

However, you're still in Big Five territory and the Eastern Cape is particularly known for rhino sightings. The flatter landscape also makes this region a fantastic spot for mountain biking and bush walks, as well as the traditional game drives.

South Africa safari in Madikwe and North West

Wild dogs in a pack

Madikwe is one of the most remote safari destinations in South Africa. This gives it an air of exclusivity and a private feel. Relish spying the Big Five among the clay-thorn bushveld, red savannah setting and riverine forests, as well as catching sight of cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, zebras and endangered cape vultures. Madikwe is another malaria-free safari option, making it popular with families too.

Also in North West is the Waterberg region, where you’ll find the Marataba Game Reserve in Marakele National Park. This is famous for dramatic mountain views, as well as hiking trails or quad biking that will lead you up close to animals. Particularly passionate about sustainability, this game reserve has a luxury conservation camp where guests can get hands-on experiences like rhino notching and game counting during an unforgettable South Africa safari tour.

South Africa safari in the Kalahari

Meerkats peering into the distance

Unlike the traditional sandy colours that you find on the Botswana side of the Kalahari, the South African side is much greener. The region is best known for its black-maned lions, but its wildlife is plentiful beyond this. Out of all the locations for a South Africa safari holiday, this is where you're most likely to see the endangered pangolin and black rhino. Plus, you can also see colonies of meerkats and typical desert species like hyenas, wolves and desert foxes.

Experiences in the Kalahari include helicopter rides, camping out under the stars, junior ranger programmes and wildlife conservation. Then there's the exceptional Klein Jan restaurant in the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve with Michelin-star chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen at the helm. He describes the dining experience as storytelling, as guests move between locations sampling a menu that celebrates his Afrikaner grandmother's Dutch-influenced farm cooking.

If you're seeking a spot of luxury throughout your South Africa safari, you're spoilt for choice at this destination.

South Africa safari in KwaZulu Natal

A cheetah on high alert

When it comes to safari locations, it doesn’t get much more eclectic than KwaZulu-Natal. Set on the dramatic Elephant Coast, it sits between the turquoise Indian Ocean and the majestic Drakensberg Mountains. As a result, the area has a rich biome. From impressive mountains to unique sand forests and a striking coastline, KwaZulu Natal brings together safari, sea and surf like no other. It's perfect for anyone seeking a coastal element to their South Africa safari tour.

You'll be able to observe the Big Five, rare marine species and the suni antelope, the latter of which are rarely spotted elsewhere in Africa. Game drives, walking safaris and mountain hikes are all available, making it the ideal place for an active holiday. You can also visit local battlefields to uncover the military history of the Zulu and Boer wars.

When it comes to places to stay, you can’t beat the Phinda Game Reserve. Located in the north of the region, nestled in the Ubombo Mountains and flanked by golden beaches, conservation lies at the heart of this reserve. It offers seasonal trips to see loggerhead and leatherhead turtles lay their eggs in Sodwana Bay. Safari tours in South Africa don't get more special than this.

Meet our South Africa Travel Specialists

Matt Shock

Africa & Safari Specialist

Safari encapsulates everything that I love and yearn for in travel – wildlife, remote landscapes, wonderful people and special memories – and I am so lucky to have been able to form a career around these passions.

What Our Guests Have Said

South Africa Safari Holiday FAQs

  • Which is the most popular safari park in South Africa?

    While most of the safari sites in South Africa promise exceptional wildlife sightings, Kruger National Park is the most famous. The sheer abundance of animals here, including those belonging to the Big Five, makes it a great spot for anyone who hasn't been on safari before.

    That being said, there are many remarkable highlights at each of the safari destinations we cover.

  • Can I book a luxury family safari in South Africa?

    We're proud to offer family safaris in South Africa that your loved ones won't forget in a hurry. Whether you're searching for a tour suitable for teens or much younger children, there are endless activities for them to get involved in. Think helicopter tours, junior ranger programmes and even kids clubs. We strive for one-of-a-kind tours in comfortable surroundings so you can get the most out of the experience.

    You can tailor your chosen tour so that it accommodates any grandparents joining you on your trip. Simply specify any requirements you have when you book.

  • How do I plan my luxury South Africa safari holiday?

    Let us relieve you of all the logistical stresses that come with planning a holiday. When you book with Scott Dunn, you can relax knowing that any tricky admin tasks will be handled ahead of the trip. Simply tell us what you'd love to experience during your South Africa safari holiday and we'll do the rest.

  • How long are your luxury South Africa safari packages?

    Our holidays in South Africa last between nine and 13 nights and many of these include unforgettable safari tours through national parks and iconic game reserves. We can advise you further about any recommendations we have regarding each safari tour.

  • What are the flight times for going on a safari holiday to South Africa?

    You can take a direct flight to Cape Town or Johannesburg from the UK, which takes 11 and a half hours. The time difference is just one or two hours ahead of the UK, depending on when you travel.

    The jet lag will be minimal, so you can get straight out on your South Africa safari with nothing holding you back!

  • What type of accommodation will I stay in during my luxury safari holiday in South Africa?

    Our South Africa tours and safaris are interspersed with comfortable and stylish accommodation that allows you to completely recharge at the end of the day. Think luxury safari lodges and hotels in enviable spots across South Africa that are perfect for Big Five game-viewing. Wake up at your villa in the Madikwe Game Reserve to elephants playing in nearby water or watch hippos from the deck at Chitwa Chitwa in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

    Alternatively, spot animals drinking from the river right in front of the Dulini River Lodge, also on the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Your luxury safari lodge will be among the best in South Africa, fitted with private plunge pools, floor-to-ceiling windows and vast outdoor game-viewing spots you can comfortably sit in for hours. You'll be perfectly placed for animal-spotting wherever you are.

  • Can I visit multiple countries during my South Africa safari holiday?

    Selected safari holidays to South Africa include a visit to another country. This ensures your tour is varied, allowing you to soak up multiple new experiences and sites in one unforgettable trip. After spotting the Big Five in South Africa's world-famous game reserves, you can sink into tropical bliss in Mauritius or explore the Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique.

  • How do I book my South Africa safari holiday?

    Unsure how to book a safari in South Africa? Simply call us on the number listed below or fill out our enquiry form to begin the process. From there, we'll craft a wonderful itinerary that considers your requests and give you a final quote. If you're happy to proceed, you can put down a deposit and count down the days until you can jet away.

Why choose Scott Dunn for your South Africa safari holiday?

  • Bespoke: We're proud to offer tailor-made South Africa safari holidays that meet your every need
  • Unrivalled service: You can get in touch with our team 24/7 across our UK, US and Singapore offices
  • Local guides: You'll have a South Africa safari guide with you every step of the way to shower you with exceptional, local insight
  • Award-winning: We've been named Condé Nast Traveller's Top Travel Specialists in the World for 11 years in a row

Call us on 020 3918 9367 to start planning your holiday

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