South Africa might be the easiest place in Africa to plan a first safari, and one of the most rewarding.
In one trip you can have incredible game drives, a few days in Cape Town and long lunches in the Winelands.
Here's what to know as you plan.
Why South Africa
- World-class game viewing. The Big Five, and some of the best leopard sightings in Africa.
- Safari and city in one trip. Cape Town and the Winelands are a short flight from the bush.
- Malaria-free options. Several excellent reserves are malaria-free, which is a big help for families.
- Easy logistics. Great flight connections, short transfers and lodges for every style.
Where to Go on Safari
- Greater Kruger and the private reserves: the area around Kruger National Park, including the Sabi Sand, is probably the most reliable place in Africa to see leopards. Private reserves mean off-road driving, night drives and fewer vehicles at sightings.
- Kruger National Park: one of Africa's great parks, with a huge variety of wildlife and beautiful scenery.
- Madikwe: a malaria-free reserve in the north, and one of my favorite suggestions for families.
- The Eastern Cape: malaria-free reserves and Addo Elephant National Park, easy to pair with the Garden Route.
- KwaZulu-Natal: private reserves like Phinda, where you can combine the bush with the Indian Ocean coast.
From a morning game drive to dinner by the ocean.
Beyond the Safari
Cape Town
Table Mountain, beautiful beaches, great restaurants and the drive down the Cape Peninsula
The Winelands
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, with wine tastings, long lunches and gorgeous mountain views
The Garden Route and Hermanus
A scenic coastal drive, plus some of the best land-based whale watching in the world in season
The Panorama Route
Waterfalls and the Blyde River Canyon, an easy add-on near Kruger
When to Go
For safari, May to September is the dry season and the best time for game viewing in Kruger. The days are sunny and the nights are chilly.
For Cape Town, October to March is the warm, dry summer. Its winter is rainier.
If you want both at their best, September, October, April and May are lovely times to go. Summer is also the green season in Kruger, with baby animals and wonderful birding.
See my full month-by-month safari guide for every country.
Malaria
Most of South Africa is malaria-free, including Cape Town and the Winelands. Kruger and the Greater Kruger area have a moderate risk, highest from about September to May. Madikwe, Pilanesberg and the Eastern Cape reserves are malaria-free. Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic before you go.
How Long to Go
Plan on 10 to 12 days for a safari and Cape Town. A typical trip is 3 to 4 nights on safari, 3 to 4 nights in Cape Town and a couple of nights in the Winelands.
Safaris start at $1,500 per person, per day, excluding international flights, depending on the time of year and location.
South Africa also pairs beautifully with Victoria Falls, Botswana or a beach in Mozambique or Mauritius.
My Biggest Advice
Do both: the bush and the Cape. South Africa's magic is how easily you can go from a morning game drive to a sunset dinner overlooking the ocean.
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