Best South Africa Safari

16 Days

Best South Africa safari; South Africa has a massive land size of 1,221,037 km². It is not the most populous country in Africa but with 60 million people it is one of biggest. The first Europeans settlers landed on the 6th April 1652 led by Jan Van Riebeeck. At the site of now Cape Town they built a fort named ‘Fort of Good Hope’. Immediately introducing grapes to the Cape, the first harvest came 7 years later on 2nd February 1659. Wine was important in warding off scurvy amongst sailors. Trade for spice with India and the East was popular then. The Khoisan people, the original inhabitants were living here on their nomadic hunting.

Today South Africa is one of the best tourist destinations in the world. The cities are big and vibrant with a taste of Africa from cultures like the Dutch, English, French, German, Italian and Portuguese. There is so much history in this country that has shaped it to thus far. From the ages of the gold rush to the discovery of diamonds way back in 1880 s. Yes South Africa is attractive for its history but not just.

Best South Africa Safari

The country is rich with resources from mines, farming, arts and culture and wildlife. That puts tourism here as one of the most sort in the region. Best South Africa Safari showcases the richness of these resources. National parks and conservation areas are a success story that puts South Africa on the map. Vegetation that varies from savanna, grassveld, succulent and Nama-Karoo , forest and coastal belt supports different wildlife.

Best South Africa Safari sums up wildlife diversity of South Africa. Through the drier region of the North East province to the Mpumalanga wet region. The coast is adorned by the garden route, mostly green with thick forests. Drakensberg mountains stands aloft with streams and rivers flowing and watering the land below.

Overview

Visit South Africa’s prime national parks and game reserves in this exciting package of real African safari. Best South Africa Safari starts from Johannesburg through Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Swaziland and back to Johannesburg via the Drakensburg mountains. The game drives have spectacular sightings of wildlife found in various biomes and vegetations of South Africa and Swaziland.

But its not only safari for this Best South Africa Safari Tour. The landscape changes at every turn of the road. Rural settlements vary so does the urban set up. Traditional mining towns and  farming towns have the flair that coastal towns do not have. Yet all this can clearly be observed in a matter of a fortnight.

Itinerary

We meet in Johannesburg at OR Tambo in the morning. Formal Introduction of your Guides and the other traveling mates. Then we drive off to Pilanesberg national park. Our first briefing of the tour at diner after your first afternoon game drive.

Accommodation: Pilanesberg Safari Camp

Day 2 :
Thabazimbi

Today you start off early taking another route to explore Pilanesberg. The mountainous terrain and the valleys makes it better to spot animals. The waterholes are quite distant apart and good sites and hideouts here walk and view. Birdlife is quite abundant too. The silence of this national park is all you need for better game drive experience.

After lunch you drive off the park to Thabazimbi just 100 km from Pilanesberg. After check-inn you have a late afternoon game drive in Makelele game reserve.

Accommodation: Thabazimbi Africa Hotels

Day 3 :
Musina

Today you drive to Musina in the Limpopo province. Your first stop for shopping in Lephalale Town. The drive is 500 km so pretty much long. Enjoy the warmth of this region and its vegetation. You'll arrive at your lodge/campsite in the afternoon. Relax or take a walk but mindful of monkeys and baboons.

Accommodation: Munati Lodge or similar

Day 4 :
Mapungubwe

Today you'll visit Mapungubwe national park. It's a pre historic site of an ancient African kingdom which dates back to 1200. Archaeological findings have established that the kingdom was so powerful as evidence of trading with eastern cultures such as India and china were found here. The famous golden rhino are part of the findings. The park however has good sightings of birds. The national park lies at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo river forming the borders of the three countries, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Accommodation: Sand River Resort.

You'll drive 450 km today to southern entry of Kruger National Park. Enjoy the change of vegetation from the dry and warm to the wet regions of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Later in the afternoon you have a game drive and sunset in the park over a bottle of wine.

Accommodation: Nkambeni Safari Camp

Day 6 :
Kruger

All day game drive in Kruger National Park. Kruger has the big five game and 19 species of big mammals, 500 species of birds and the big birds like the vulture and the eagle. The park is huge with four big rivers flowing through. It stretches for 300 km from north gate to the south gate.

Accommodation: Nkambeni Safari Camp

You have an option to go on a walking safari in the morning at sunrise. It's the best chance to learn a bit about birds, game tracking through identifying footprints and flora of the Kruger national park.
From your walking safari you head of to Graskop Town 100 km from the park. This ancient town is popular for the panoramic route. You'll visit the Bylde River Canyon through the 3 rondavels park. Proceed to Burkes portholes as you make your to God's window.

Accommodation: Nkambeni Safari Lodge

Today you drive off to Swaziland in the morning arriving at Hlane national park on lunch time. After lunch you head for an afternoon game drive. At Hlane camp there is waterhole just in front of the restaurant and bar. Enjoy your drinks while viewing wildlife at night.

Accommodation: Hlane Royal Camp

You have an option of a walking safari again in the morning. You have a full day game drive today in the park. Hlane is Swaziland's biggest national park. There is so much to see, from birds to animals big and small.

Accommodation: Hlane Royal

Day 10 :
Hluhluwe

Setting off after breakfast today we drive through Swaziland to Hluhluwe. You'll like the vegetation in this small country in a valley with so many streams and rivers. You arrive in Hluhluwe late in the afternoon. Take a rest or take a walk watching birds giraffes and antelopes around this camp.

Accommodation: Ezulwini Game lodge

All day game drive in Hluhluwe Imfolozi national park. This is also a big five game measuring 9 600 sq km of wilderness awaiting you. The hilly landscape is amazing and good sightings for buffalo and rhino.

Accommodation: Ezulwini Game lodge

You head south today along N2 highway as if going to Durban. Join the N3 to Pietermaritzburg where you stop for lunch. After lunch drive off N3 again and turn at Mooi river up the Drakensberg to Giant Castle game reserve.

Accommodation: Giant Castle

Today you hike the Giant castle game reserve. It is filled with amazingly hiking trails and climbing routes that are always pleasantly and perfect serene. On a luck day you could sight the eland and the majestic bearded vulture. Even so visit the rock paintings. Later in the afternoon you relax at the pool.

Accommodation: Giant Castle

Day 14 :
Golden Gate

Down the mountainous terrain we drive round to the Golden Gate national park and through the park we head to Clarence. The name comes from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the park's sandstone cliffs.

Accommodation: Glen Reenen Rest Camp

Today you hike the Golden Gate national park. Enjoy your last days of this epic journey with a stretch up the mountain. You hike at your pace.

Accommodation: Glen Reenen Rest Camp

Day 16 :
OR Tambo

We drive back to Johannesburg in the morning. Drop off is at OR Tambo International airport later in the evening in time for your flight. But you have a break and diner at Doves' Nest lodge. Tour ends Today.

The Trip Cost Includes

  • Pick-up or Drop-off service from and to Airport(in our own vehicle)
  • Transportation to and from!!
  • Food all along the trip(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a cup of coffee or tea) and accommodations during the trip in lodges with family environment
  • Transportation, food, accommodation and insurance of Guide during the trip
  • First Aid Medical Kit
  • All the required permits and paperwork

The Trip Cost Excludes

  • International Airfare
  • Visa Charges
  • Hotel Expenses(In Johannesburg, some packages do include hotel expenses)
  • Your travel and medical insurance
  • Personal Expenses such as shopping, bar bills, hot shower, telephone, laundry, titbits etc
  • Food and accommodations in Johannesburg
  • International vaccinations and inoculations
  • Services not mentioned or not promised by the agent/agency
  • Emergency expenses such as expenses on chartered helicopter.

Frequently asked Questions

How fit do I need to be to do hiking activities?

More or less these are a few hours of hiking at your own pace. Anyone can do the hikes. Mostly its safari on vehicles.

What about battery charging and hot shower facilities?

All our facilities on this tour have charging and hot shower.

Are there ATMs on the way ?

Yes there are ATMs in South Africa and Swaziland in case you want some cash on you. However at most of our lodges they accept card payments.

What about internet access?

Yes. Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. But its safe to say in most cases internet will be accessible. Note that when traveling on the road and on safari there wont be internet.

Is it necessary to hire Guides?

Our tours are run by professional Guides.

How much do guides and porters cost?

We encourage you to tip our Guides a minimum of $3 per day. Porters at OR Tambo tales $10 to $20 a day

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Best South Africa Safari
8% Off
From €2,600 €2,400
/ Adult
From €1,600
/ Child
  • 1-12 people
  • lodges
  • Johannesburg
  • Moderate
  • All year
  • 15 breakfast, 15 lunches and 13 diners
  • English speaking Guides runs the Tour
  • Accommodated and camping

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