Home » South Africa Safaris, South African Safari Trips, Vacation in South Africa Tours
South Africa Safaris, South African Safari Trips, Vacation in South Africa Tours
South Africa safaris/South African safari trips feature one of Africa’s most celebrated destinations and wonderful trip experiences. Our Vacation in South Africa tours are not only affordable and one of the cheapest African safari destinations to visit but also the country offers a lot of authentic African safari and vacation experiences to visitors.
South Africa is home to high mountains, beautiful coastlines with sandy beaches, and various open plains. There are also some of the best vineyards in the world in this country for wine lovers and the scenic views of the Garden Route will leave you in awe of this African safari highlight.
With major attractions like Kruger National Park being among the most famous destinations, Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg are also major towns for every traveler. Thus, South Africa vacations are a gem to the world of tourism and travel.
Additionally, visit South Africa to explore the beautiful Drakensberg Heights, the dunes of the Kalahari Desert, the amazing Winelands around Stellenbosch, and the beaches of the Garden Route.
Get the chance to also discover the endangered African Penguins in Boulders Beach, the South of Cape Town during your classic South Africa tours.
With the favorable climate for all-year-round South Africa travel and the presence of authentic cultures that allows you to explore the different lives of people in the villages, South Africa tours are an inspiration for every traveler.
Most parts of South Africa are Malaria free with a few destinations at low risk compared to other countries, thus a safer place for travelers on South Africa tours.
Continue reading below to find the best travel company for your classic South Africa adventures.
Best Tour Operators for Your South African Safaris
By choosing the best tour operators for your South Africa tour, you will receive tailor-made South Africa Safaris, the best safari lodges, first-hand services through the best local tour guides, and safe and professional travel tips for your South Africa travel.
For more adventurous travelers in the country, an experienced tour leader can help build an itinerary that allows you to explore Southern Africa and her neighboring countries like Botswana to explore the wild Chobe National Park and Zimbabwe to awe at the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River.
Below is a list of the best tour operators to use for an amazing South Africa tour.
South Africa Safaris/South Africa Tours & Vacation Packages
Based on South Africa tour reviews, we also list the top five South Africa tours and carefully crafted vacation packages to choose from for your South Africa trip.
Kruger National Park is among the largest game reserves in the African continent. It is the only game park in the nation where you will see the big five through your safari game drives. These are the Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, and the endangered Black Rhino.
However, you can also see the big five in the malaria-free Pilanesberg and Madikwe game reserves.
Other animals for game viewing in Kruger National Park include Giraffes, Hippos, Wild Dogs, Zebras, and Cheetahs among others.
The large bird species population which is about 500 species in the park is also a reason to visit this destination. You will see birds like the different species of Eagles and Storks.
The best season to visit Kruger National Park is between April and September toward the beginning or end of the dry season. In the dry season, daytime temperatures in the park sometimes go as high as 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and night temperatures average 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Other game viewing destinations for your amazing wildlife vacations are Garden Route National Park, Addo Elephant National Park, and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, among others.
2. Cape Town
Cape Town is a beautiful cosmopolitan city found on South Africa’s west coast. Cape Town spreads below the beautiful Table Mountain plateau.
Cape Town also has beautiful sandy beaches and amazing rugged hills to hike on your adventures.
In Cape Town, you can explore amazing places like Camp’s Bay, Cosy Bay, Sandy Bay, the Victoria and Albert waterfront and so much more during your South Africa tour.
The best time to visit Cape Town is during the fall or spring when the daytime temperatures are milder and there is little rainfall.
3. Nelson Mandela Prison Cell
The Nelson Mandela Prison Cell, found on Robben Island is the place where Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s hero was imprisoned for 18 years for advocating for the freedom of his beloved country.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site was a prison for 300 years, revealing South Africa’s apartheid history.
Travelers who would love to explore this place on their South Africa tour can take boat trips from the Victoria and Alfred waterfront, where they can also enjoy amazing views of the surrounding area like the hills and the Table Mountain.
4. Drakensburg Mountains
The Drakensberg boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes of this nation like gorges, valleys, and plateaus. The mountains have historical battle sites in and around the surrounding area associated with the Boer wars.
5. Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Sabi Sand Game Reserve is a 650 km square reserve with open borders to Kruger NP.
Although relatively higher in price, there are amazing views of animals on a game drive where you will see the big five. Also, you will find amazing lodges in the facility.
The Addo Park is famous for a self-drive to watch the habituated Elephants very closely. You will also see Antelopes for example the Spiral-Horned Greater Kudu Antelope and other animals like the Black Rhino and Buffaloes.
7. Kgalagadi Trans frontier Park
This trans frontier park is found in the Kalahari Desert, with old riverbeds running across the red dunes. It boasts the unique Kalahari Lions that feed on the migrating Wildebeests and Springbok.
8. Cradle of Humankind
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a Paleoanthropological site where more than half of the early hominid fossils of the world has been found. Visit the Maropeng Visitors Centre and the neighboring Sterkfontein Caves where the 2.5-million-year-old skull of Mrs. Ples was discovered.
9. Namaqualand
This semi-desert area is an amazing place to view beautiful flowers like violets, daisies, and aloes among others, especially from August to September.
Other tour destinations to visit for your South Africa tour are the famous Mossel Bay and the Apartheid Museum during your trip.
Activities/Things to Do in South Africa
Below are some of the most famous activities that you can do on your trip to South Africa.
Visit the Wines of Stellenbosch
Wine lovers are in for wine tasting experiences at Stellenbosch, one of the best wine-making places in the East of Cape Town. Stellenbosch is one of the two famous wine-making places in South Africa, the other being Constantia.
Wine lovers on a South Africa tour will thus get the opportunity to have an amazing wine tasting experience in these regions in addition to Franschhoek and other places.
Watch the Whales in Hermanus on A South Africa Safari
Hermanus is a popular whale-watching town, on the far Southern coast and just one and a half hours away from Cape Town.
Its cliffs at the beautiful beaches are a favorite place to watch the whales, especially as they migrate south.
Adventurous travelers can additionally visit Cape Agulhas, in the extreme South of Africa where they can see the point where the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean waters meet.
Explore The Coral Reefs at The Coast
The beautiful coral reefs are usually explored in the Marine Protected Areas in South Africa. You will be able to explore one or more of the top five reefs of the country with most of them on the Northern Kwazulu Natal coast and others in Cape Town. They include the following.
1) Pinnacles at Sodwana Bay in KwaZulu Natal.
2) Playground at Protea Banks in KwaZulu Natal.
3) Landers Reef in KwaZulu Natal.
4) Seven Mile Reef at Sodwana Bay in KwaZulu Natal.
5) Castle Rocks at False Bay in Cape Town.
Go Cage Diving at Gansbaai
Gansbaai, a town just two and a half hours away from Cape Town is known as the Great White Shark capital of the world as it is a great place to do cage diving.
It is the best place to do cage diving in the country because its conditions allow the adventure to occur any time of the year.
A shark cage diving trip involves exploring the Sharks underwater while inside a cage.
Before your cage diving experience, an experienced tour guide will explain to you about the water life, giving you knowledge and precaution before you begin the cage diving adventure.
Explore Table Mountain on The Aerial Cableway
With cable car transportation, you will be able to explore the scenic top of Table Mountain in Cape Town through a five-minute ride.
Your cable car ride will not just offer you amazing views of Table Mountain but also of Cape Town, Cape Point, Robben Island, and the Atlantic Ocean seaboard.
Other places to go for South Africa’s scenic adventures include the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and the Bourke’s Luck Potholes in Mpumalanga.
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve comprises beautiful natural features and the amazing Blyde River Canyon which is a 26km gorge in Mpumalanga to explore on South Africa’s adventures.
Bourke’s Luck Potholes on the other hand are among South Africa’s ancient geological features that resulted from water erosion for millions of years.
It is actually believed that some of South Africa’s and Africa’s naturalistic features are similar to those in South America due to a common geological history between the two continents.
Discover The Endangered Penguins at Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach, found in the suburb area of Cape Town is a famous wildlife viewing spot to see the African Penguins by the shores.
The beach forms part of the Table Mountain National Park, thus enabling you to explore other wildlife in the region.
Game Drives
You can go for this adventurous activity in national parks like Kruger NP, Chobe National Park in Botswana, and other game reserves.
Surfing And Scuba Diving
This adventurous activity occurs majorly near Port Elizabeth because of its big waves and many breaks.
Sandboarding
Likewise, sandboarding can also be done at the sandy beaches of Port Elizabeth and other spots like the Jeffreys Bay, and the Atlantis Sand Dunes.
Other activities to do on a South Africa’s adventures include among others,
How Much Does South Africa Safari Cost? | How Much Does It Cost to Go on Safari in South Africa? | How Much Does a Safari Cost in South Africa? | How Much Does a South African Tour Cost?
The cost of your South Africa safari will depend on many factors but majorly whether you go on a budget, midrange, or luxury safari.
Couples on a camping safari and self-drive South Africa tour will spend about USD 100 per day, while those on a luxury safari can spend up to USD 1000 per day.
To save money, travelers on a South African safari can sleep in rest camps at Kruger Park or other national parks and game reserves in the country.
Other factors affecting the cost of a South African safari include among others the following major ones.
How long you will stay on your safari:
Major costs on the number of days will go on the park entrance fees. You may only get discounts if you stay in one of the safari lodges for a long time and this does not usually apply everywhere.
Whether you are doing a solo or group travel:
Group safaris are usually a good way to travel cheaply thus saving money. This is especially if they organize budget camping safaris, and each person contributes to their travels.
Your transportation system within the country:
The kind of transportation you use for your South Africa tours also affects the cost of your overall safari in the country. Travelers who use domestic flights within the country will spend more than those who use road transport.
More so, South Africa is among the biggest countries in Africa therefore exploring it in just one South Africa tour will have you spending a lot on transportation during your trip.
The places you visit:
The most famous destinations for a South African safari like Kruger National Park will have the highest costs than the non-famous South Africa tour destinations.
Cheaper destinations like the botany tours in Western Cape Town will make your South Africa tours cheaper than when you visit Kruger Park, Chobe National Park in Botswana, and other of the largest game reserves.
The season of visit:
Parks are more expensive when you visit in the holidays rather than when you visit in the school periods.
From around July to August, the costs of a South Africa tour will also be expensive as it is also the Europe summer holidays.
May, June, and September are the best months to visit if you are after low prices and meeting fewer people. Plus, it is also the best season to do wildlife viewing.
Are South African Safaris Expensive? | Is South Africa Expensive to Vacation? | Is It Cheap to Vacation in South Africa? | Is South Africa Safari Expensive?
South Africa tours are one of the cheapest places to visit in Africa as there are services for every kind of traveler be it a budget, midrange, or luxury tourist.
More so, flights are cheaper, especially during the school periods in South Africa and Europe.
How Expensive Is South Africa for A Vacation?
A South Africa tour will provide travelers value for money as most of the services are priced according to their value.
South African safaris are ranked as one of the cheapest in the world, and thus will not cost a lot of money to travel to.
Most expenses may go to the fuel costs and park entrance for travelers staying in the country for a long time. However, accommodation costs are relatively cheap, but this depends on the class you choose, that is budget, midrange, or luxury.
Also, food and wine are quite cheap.
What Is the Best Time of Year to Go on Safari in South Africa? | Which Month Is Best for Safari in South Africa? | What Time of Year Is Best for Safari in South Africa? | What Time of Year Is Best to Visit South Africa? | What Is the Best Month to Travel to South Africa? | What Month Should I Visit South Africa? | What Is Best Time to Visit South Africa?
South African safari is ideal at any time of the year. However, some parts of the country will require you to visit at certain times of the year.
For example, the Southern part is best visited in the Southern hemisphere winter months from May to September.
Apart from the nights and mornings being less cold than other seasons, this season also provides amazing views of the wildlife as the vegetation is not dense and the wildlife animals usually gather to drink from the water sources. The average daytime temperature in this season is between 10-15°C.
From November to March, the Southern hemisphere summer is best to visit the beaches on the South African coast of the Indian Ocean.
On the other hand, birders can have an amazing safari experience in the summer holidays.
Best Safari Lodges in South Africa
The best safari lodges in South Africa’s tour destinations are categorized into luxury safari lodges, midrange safari lodges, and budget safari lodges as seen below.
Luxury Safari Lodges in South Africa
&Beyond Kirkman’s Kamp
Boulders Lodge – Singita
&Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge
Ebony Lodge – Singita
Savanna Private Game Reserve Lodge
Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge
Simbambili Game Lodge
Thornybush Game Lodge
The Royal Malewane
Simbavati Hilltop Lodge
Standard Safari Lodges in South Africa
Arathusa Safari Lodge
Chapungu Tented Camp
Kaoama River Lodge
Dilini Lodge
Lion Sands Ivory Lodge
Notten’s Bush Camp
Moditlo River Lodge
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Simbavati River Lodge
Budget Safari Lodges in South Africa
Wildside Camp
Lakeside Lodge
Woodbury Tented Camp
Mabula Game Lodge
Mjejane River Lodge
Best South Africa Tour Tips
South Africa safari and tour tips are important, especially for first-time visitors to the country. Let us look at them below.
Carry all the documents that you need for your South Africa tour for example your passport, your Yellow Fever vaccination card, and a visa which you can get online.
The Yellow Fever vaccination card is required for travelers who are one year and above coming from Yellow Fever risk countries.
Pack light cotton clothes for your safari holidays so that you protect your skin from harmful sun rays. To further protect your skin from the sun, wear sunscreen protection and a wide-brimmed hat.
Arrive at least two days earlier to the city where you are going to depart from for your South Africa safaris. This is to help you fine-tune to the South African time zone before you depart for your South Africa tours.
To help prepare for your South Africa tour mentally and physically, always first go through your travel itinerary.
Pack your camera, binoculars, adapter, and other gadgets for catching memories of your South Africa tours and also remain connected to the outside world.
Inform your doctor about your travels, especially if you have health problems. They will advise you accordingly and even recommend some vaccines and medications to pack.
Buy and wear comfortable sturdy shoes for your South Africa tours, especially for hiking adventures.
For safety purposes, always move with your guide if you have one. Also, avoid walking at night and showing off expensive jewelry that may attract thieves.
The sanitary conditions in the country are good, with many places having flush toilets. However, the villages, rural parks, and many reserves may have squat toilets especially if you are on a budget travel. Thus, carry your toiletries for comfort, just in case they are not provided rural these areas.
Ensure that you purchase travel insurance for your trip. Travel insurance always helps in case of any medical emergencies during your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa Tours
How Is Wildlife Viewing in South Africa?
Viewing animals in South Africa is the best! There are large numbers of wildlife in Kruger Park and other game reserves, especially the big five.
South Africa safaris in Kruger Park are also one of the best for viewing the African safari Wild Dogs, Cheetahs, and Rhinos.
You can also see them in the Malaria-free Pilanesberg and Madikwe game reserves. Likewise, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi and other private game reserves in the East of Cape Town are also great places to see these animals.
Where Is the Best South African Safari?
The best South African Safari is in the famous Kruger NP, the home for the big five like the Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo, and Black Rhino.
However, you can also visit other amazing destinations in the country like Cape Town, Johannesburg, and other game reserves.
Does South Africa Have Good Safaris? | Is South Africa the Best for Safari?
Yes, South Africa has good safaris. The country is one of the best places to have a spot at the African safari big five, have an adventure of the amazing land and water sports, enjoy a coastal vacation at the beaches, and also have an amazing scenic view at the Kalahari Desert.
Additionally, you can visit other African safari countries on top of your South African tours to make your African safari experience more authentic.
Some of The South African Safari Destinations
Chobe National Park in Botswana:
Chobe National Park is not just great for animal viewing but also the Chobe River cruises. In Chobe National Park, you can also view animals like Hyena, Giraffes, Buffalo, and Zebra, on game drives. Additionally, you will also see water animals like Crocodiles and Hippos while on river cruises on the Chobe River.
Victoria Falls on Zambezi River:
Every traveler on South African tours should not miss the awe-inspiring sight of Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, thus a must-see for you.
You can likewise explore River Zambezi to watch the sunset and other amazing wildlife through the awesome river cruises.
How Many Days Are Enough for South Africa Trip? | How Many Days Are Enough for South Africa?
Two weeks are the best for a South Africa travel. This period will allow you to explore places outside Cape Town during your trip like the Winelands.
Is South Africa Good for Tourists? | Is South Africa a Good Place for Tourists?
This country is one of the developed African safari countries thus a good place for tourists.
Self-drives are amazing because of the good roads and there is abundant this to explore from the wildlife to the great scenery and the amazing cultures.
What Are the Toilets Like in South Africa
South Africa is a developed country with most places having flushable toilets. However, you may find squat toilets in some national parks and villages.
How Safe Are Safaris in South Africa?
The safari destinations like the national parks, national reserves, and beaches are safe for your South Africa tours. This is an advantage because it is where travelers on a South Arica safari usually go.
Major crimes happen in the major towns areas like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. To stay safe, always follow the safety precautions in an area, avoid walking at night, or show off expensive possessions in public.
There are guided tours offered in the national parks and reserves to avoid being hurt by the dangerous wildlife.
A South African safari is an experience and a chance for every tourist to explore the beauty of an unspoiled Africa. Get into this adventure by planning and booking your South Africa trip with a tour leader at Prime Safaris for your South African tours.
Seek the expertise of a dedicated safari specialist for expert guidance and advice...
Whether you're seeking top-notch safari advice or in need of expert guidance, feel free to contact us via phone or schedule a video conference with our specialists.
![Splendid African Safaris](https://www.africasafaris-tours.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Splendid-Logo.png"){kind=logo}
> 
