Few destinations rival South Africa when it comes to offering a wide range of attractions combined with an easy and convenient regional travel. Home to the Big 5 and breathtaking natural beauty, South Africa is an ideal safari destination for families, honeymooners and adventure seekers of all ages. The teeming game reserves are home to lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino in addition to rare cheetah and all the plains game favourites, like zebra, giraffe and gazelle. South Africa's Kruger area is widely considered the best place in Africa to see leopard, the most elusive big cat.
Accommodation options range from five-star to star-lit, and include family lodges, honeymoon hideaways, and grand tented camps of which Hemingway would have approved. You can hop onto a scheduled tour or take advantage of expert advice and tailor-make a fly- or drive-safari to your exact specifications.
With so much on offer, where should you go? The Kruger is a must-see on your safari and if you're travelling with young children, we recommend one of South Africa's famous malaria-free private reserves. Another must-see with something wonderful for every age and appetite is Cape Town, home to internationally acclaimed wine country and gourmet dining, award-winning beaches, the Two Oceans Aquarium, open air markets, mountain trails for hikers and cyclists, vibrant theatre and nightlife, and a range of ultra luxe villas, hotels, shopping malls and spas.
The Flagship: The Kruger National Park
The Granddaddy of South Africa’s reserves, the century-old Kruger is synonymous with safaris. We recommend a stay at one of the private reserves that adjoin the main park, or one of the exclusive-use concessions located within it - these promise crowd-free environments where the game viewing ranks among the best in Africa. Indeed, such is the density of game in the Sabi Sands, Timbavati and Thornybush private reserves that it’s not unusual to see the Big 5 in a single day, with leopard sightings so good you’ll feel like you’re in a National Geographic feature film! Night drives, guided walks and off-road driving add to the adventure, while open-top tree houses, world class spas, fine dining and private villas combine to deliver a superior vacation experience.
There are plenty of family-friendly lodges with babysitters and children’s activity clubs as well as camps that emphasise the romantic side of safaris – sumptuous, tucked-away suites and candle-lit dinners for two. You can drive to the Kruger from Johannesburg or fly in from almost anywhere in South Africa. The ease of getting around South Africa and its neighbouring safari destinations makes it simple and easy to combine the Kruger's big game viewing with the tropical paradise beaches of Mozambique’s Bazaruto or Quirimbas Archipelagos, or Africa's gastronomy and design capital, Cape Town, or the continent's self-proclaimed adventure capital, Victoria Falls.
When to go: the May to October dry season is the best time in terms of climate and game viewing. The rainy summer season is a time of newborn antelope, lush green views and sensational bird watching. Bear in mind that Kruger falls into a malaria zone: the risk is slight - even in summer - but consult your medical practitioner before you travel.
Keeping it easy: Madikwe & Pilanesberg
Malaria-free, home to the Big 5 and located close to Sun City, Africa’s biggest and boldest holiday resort – what’snot to like about these two premier reserves?
A beautifully scenic reserve cradled in an extinct volcanic crater, Pilanesberg is th closest to Sun City – in fact, it's right next door. For those who want to mix waterslides and championship golf courses with game viewing by 4X4, elephant-back and hot air balloon, this is the ideal destination. Two-and-a-bit hours' drive from Johannesburg and offering great game viewing year round, Pilanesberg is a perfect introductory safari and is easily included on a self-drive itinerary - families with young children will love it.
The experience is far more exclusive at Madikwe. Set on red sands at the edge of the Kalahari, this private reserve is home to a beguiling mix of desert and savannah species, and its accommodation varies from camps specialising in families to those offering the ultimate in romantic luxury. Under a 2-hour drive from Sun City, Madikwe offers an extra edge to a self-drive safari: you’ll join night drives and sit down to lavish lantern-lit suppers away from camp.
Malaria-free: the Eastern Cape
South Africa’s Eastern Cape is home to beautiful malaria-free game reserves set along rivers and the great escarpment, sitting under dazzling night skies and filled with the call of lion.
These are multi-faceted reserves, places where Big 5 game viewing vies for your attention with river cruises and cultural tours. Families can enjoy the option of private villa accommodation, and since many lodges offer family-oriented safari programmes, parents get to enjoy a massage at the spa while their children have a hands-on cooking lesson or learn how to track animals.
Add an Eastern Cape safari onto a Cape Town and Garden Route tour: the can-do nature of this popular holiday region means a self-drive safari is ideal – pick up your car in Cape Town and return it in Port Elizabeth before flying out. You can take in the Whale Coast and Cape Winelands on the way, leaving you plenty of time to discover why the Garden Route is so named before settling back for a few days of classic Big 5 game viewing.
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