Kruger National Park
This national park is perhaps
the most famous park in South Africa! It’s perfect for self-drive safaris, spotting the Big Five, and serves as the best starting or ending point if you're planning to drive the Panorama Route. Covering an area the size of a small country, you can spend days exploring the vast savanna landscapes, encountering lions or elephants at any moment. Stay in the park at luxurious lodges and keep an eye out for the iconic Baobab tree. Combine Kruger with the trendy and vibrant
JoBurg, just under six hours away. Can we book your trip to Kruger National Park already?
Pilanesberg National Park
One of the most unique parks in South Africa! This park was formed on the crater of an extinct volcano (how incredible is that?), and with a little human intervention, an additional 6,000 mammals were introduced in 1979 on top of the 10,000 already living there. The park sits on the border between the arid
Kalahari and the subtropical Lowveld, creating a fascinating mix of mammals and bird species.
The Big Five are present, along with giraffes, hippos, buffalos, kudus, hartebeests, and even the elusive brown hyena! Did you know that hyenas are considered some of the most dedicated mothers in the entire animal kingdom?
You can explore the park on a self-drive safari or join a guided tour, where guides stay in contact with each other to share the best wildlife sightings. A great bonus:
the park is malaria-free!
Addo National Park
Are you, like me, absolutely crazy about elephants? Then this is the park that needs to be on your list! A few hundred elephants roam here in their herds, with a population nearly four times larger than elsewhere. You’ll also find the other four members of the Big Five, and did you know that there are three different species of zebras? Two of them can be spotted here.
Besides massive elephants, you’ll also encounter giant tortoises. Addo is at its most beautiful in the early morning—definitely not a place to sleep in! It’s perfect for families who don’t want to drive long distances but still want a safari experience, for those looking to avoid malaria-carrying mosquitoes, and, of course, for all elephant lovers out there.
Marakele Game Reserve
Are you drawn to rugged landscapes with rocky terrain and untamed bush instead of endless savanna plains? Then this is your park! This reserve lies further inland, and while the Big Five can be trickier to spot due to the rough terrain, it offers something truly unique—wildlife spotting by boat!
Imagine a boat trip at sunset, watching elephants take their last dip of the day, the earth glowing red beneath the fading light, and the mysterious rustling of… well, what exactly, as the night sets in?
Marakele sits in the heart of the Waterberg Massif, home to the (still) surviving white rhino. There’s a high lookout point where you can spot the rare Cape vulture. The winding roads through the park are truly off the beaten track, so make sure you know how to change a tire! An added bonus—this park is malaria-free, so you can leave those pills at home.
All set for a safari adventure in South Africa?!
Hluhluwe-imfolozi Park
Are you here for the rhinos? Welcome to
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park! Not only is it home to the Big Five (the only park in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province where you can see them), but also to plenty of hippos, giraffes, hyenas, and wild dogs. This is South Africa’s most beautiful wildlife park—and also its oldest. It was established in 1895 to protect the rhino population. Today, around 1,600 rhinos roam the park, but can you imagine how long this magnificent animal has been hunted?
Bird lovers, take note: the park also boasts an impressive variety of bird species!
Madikwe Game Reserve
DIVERSITY ALERT! No ten miles here look the same. Drive through open grasslands, past towering mountains, dense forests, and rocky hills. This varied landscape has made it the perfect home for the rare wild dog and the gemsbok—an antelope you won’t find in Kruger National Park.
Listed as South Africa’s fourth-largest game reserve, this park is often overlooked due to its remote location. Sitting on the border with Botswana, it’s ideal for those planning a combined trip or looking to escape the more touristy Kruger experience. Another bonus? It’s malaria-free all year round!
Isimangaliso Wetland Park
The park where the bush meets the Indian Ocean! This park was South Africa’s first to be placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 1999—and for good reason. It’s home to five distinct ecosystems: coral reefs, beach and coastal forests, salt and freshwater marshes, open river mouths, lush coastal plains, and drier woodland areas. This diversity supports an abundance of wildlife, from whales in the sea to crocodiles on the beach and hippos in the wetlands!
Of course, you can also spot the classic Big Five during a self-drive, night safari, or marsh safari.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park is arguably South Africa’s most diverse park, located close to the coast—perfect for our bikini babes and beach boys who might want to swap their surfboards for binoculars.
Are you ready for a safari adventure?!
Ben jij meer een olifantenmens of zie jij liever de neushoorn? Hou jij het bij de uitgestippelde paden of ga jij liever op avondsafari per boot? Laat het ons weten via de chat en wij helpen je meteen verder met het in elkaar zetten van een onvergetelijke vakantie!
