Covering 700 square kilometres, the Cederberg Wilderness Area is a haven for flowers, birds and other wildlife. The mountains and areas of San rock art are home to unique fynbos such as the endemic snow protea or rooibos, while mammal species include leopard, aardvark and the vulnerable Cape mountain zebra.
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False Bay is a favourite breaching location for South Africa’s great white sharks. Between August and September you can spot these fascinating predators leaping above the surface of the water to catch their favourite prey - the Cape fur seal. Nearby is Boulder beach and its penguin colony of over 3,000 pairs.
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Where: Cape Point
Ideal for viewing: great white shark, fur seal, broadnose sevengill shark, pyjama shark, brown shyshark
Golden Gate is South Africa’s only grassland national park and has over 60 species of grasses, as well as tracts of Afromontane forest which are restricted to sheltered ravines and gorges. Special birds include southern bald ibis, while mammals such as oribi and blesbok roam the foothills.
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Where: Drakensberg
Ideal for viewing: blesbok, black wildebeest, oribi, lammergeier, southern bald ibis
Located on the southern coast of the Western Cape in South Africa, the seaside town of Hermanus is a must-visit destination, especially during the whale watching season between June and November. At Hermanus, you can head out on whale watching boat trips and observe cetaceans from the land.
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Where: Western Cape
Ideal for viewing: southern right whale, Cape fur seal, Bryde’s whale, bottlenose dolphin, kelp gull
Hluhluwe–iMfolozi is the oldest proclaimed natural park in Africa. Covering 96,000 hectares and supporting an exciting diversity of fauna, it is known for its conservation efforts, boasting the world’s largest population of white rhino. It is the only state-run park in KwaZulu Natal where all the major predators can be found.
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Where: KwaZulu Natal
Ideal for viewing: black rhino, cheetah, lion, spotted hyena, klipspringer
iSimangaliso Wetland Park (previously known as Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park) is the jewel in the Maputaland crown. It is one of Africa’s outstanding natural wetland and coastal sites, and includes a wide range of pristine marine, coastal and wetland environments which are naturally beautiful and untouched.
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Where: KwaZulu Natal
Ideal for viewing: hippo, Nile crocodile, loggerhead turtle, leopard, white rhino
Despite this giant arid region being a harsh environment, scored with the beds of dried up rivers and vast salt pans, it not only provides the setting for fine wildlife-viewing but also for encountering San bushmen, hunter gatherers who precariously cling to their traditional ways of life throughout this region.
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Where: Southern Africa
Ideal for viewing: blue wildebeest, cheetah, eland, ostrich, springbok
This private and exclusive reserve is a thriving example of healthy Kalahari landscape with rare and endangered species such as pangolin, aardwolf, brown hyena and wild dog living alongside Africa's iconic animals including elephant, cheetah and the black maned lion of the Kalahari.
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Where: Kalahari
Ideal for viewing: aardwolf, ground pangolin, wild dog, cheetah, brown hyena
Situated in South Africa's Eastern Cape along the Garden Route, Kariega Reserve is a family-owned private safari reserve with some excellent accommodation. The reserve is home to a variety of iconic African wildlife as well as more elusive species, such as aardvark and caracal.
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Where: Eastern Cape
Ideal for viewing: lion, black rhino, caracal, goliath heron, African flamingo
Excellent for: Wildlife photography, Vehicle safaris, River safaris
Khoisan Karoo Conservancy includes the Karoo Gariep Nature Reserve and the Hanover Aardvark Nature Reserve, spanning over 8,000 hectares of the Nama Karoo biome. The reserves offers opportunities to see a variety of elusive nocturnal species, and a large number of endemic birds.
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Where: Northern Cape
Ideal for viewing: aardvark, aardwolf, Cape fox, blue crane, Cape porcupine
Supported by the Klaserie River and easily accessed from the town of Hoedspruit in the north-east of South Africa, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve covers 60,000 hectares of pristine wilderness and offers exceptional game viewing, over 350 bird species and so much more.
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Kosi Bay is located on the remote KwaZulu Natal north coast, and is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The bay is formed by four interconnected lakes and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its palm-fringed reed channels, beautiful beaches and lush vegetation; a pristine wealth of beauty.
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Where: KwaZulu Natal
Ideal for viewing: loggerhead turtle, hippo, palmnut vulture, Nile crocodile, Cape clawless otter
Officially established in 1926 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, Kruger is today a world leader in environmental management techniques and unrivalled in the diversity of its wildlife, supporting 147 mammal species including many of Africa’s most iconic animals amongst a wealth of other species.
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Where: Mpumalanga Province
Ideal for viewing: wild dog, African elephant, lion, white rhino, leopard
One of the oldest family-owned private game reserves in South Africa, Londolozi is a world-famous private reserve located in the heart of Sabi Sands. Renowned for the infamous leopards of Londolozi, the reserve enjoys an expansive traversing area, presenting some of the best game viewing in the Greater Kruger.
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Where: Mpumalanga Province
Ideal for viewing: leopard, lion, wild dog, white rhino, African elephant
Excellent for: Wildlife photography, Wildlife for families, Vehicle safaris
Madikwe Game Reserve, located along the border with Botswana, is made up of vast plains of open woodland and grasslands, ideal for the abundant wildlife. It experienced one of the world's largest translocations in the 1990's and now hosts over 300 bird and 66 mammal species, including a good wild dog population.
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Where: Northwest South Africa
Ideal for viewing: African elephant, black rhino, brown hyena, cheetah, Cape buffalo
Excellent for: Birdwatching, Wildlife for families, Self-drive
Boasting a superb location between Sabi Sands Game Reserve and Kruger National Park, wildlife viewing here is consistent and prolific. A protected area for a century, it is home to the Big Five and much, much more. Venture out and explore this prestigious wilderness by vehicle and on foot.
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Where: Mpumalanga Province
Ideal for viewing: leopard, lion, African elephant, wild dog, white rhino
Mlilwane is a pioneer conservation area in Estawini (formerly Swaziland); a beautiful, secluded sanctuary situated in the Ezulwini Valley. Home to some rare and wonderful species such as the vervet monkey, African wild cat and blue wildebeest, major predators here are few, making nature walks a good option.
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Where: Ezulwini Valley
Ideal for viewing: brown hyena, leopard, Cape clawless otter, black-backed jackal, greater galago
The succulent spring flowers of Namaqualand blossom in August and September, covering the usually dry west coast and North Cape with beautiful colours. More than 4,000 plants species, including over 1,000 endemics, can be seen in Namaqua National Park, Goegap Nature Reserve or the Knersvlakte.
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Located along the coast of KwaZulu Natal, this award-winning reserve has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and community involvement. Home to giant leatherback and loggerhead turtles which lay their eggs on the pristine beaches, its lakes and river floodplains hold Nile crocodiles, hippos and flamingos.
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Where: KwaZulu Natal
Ideal for viewing: black rhino, leopard, spotted hyena, African elephant, South African giraffe
The fourth largest park in South Africa, Pilanesberg National Park is malaria-free and set in the crater of a long extinct volcano with a unique geological structure. Standing high above the surrounding bushveld plains, it hosts a healthy population of lion, elephant, both black and white rhino, buffalo, and leopard.
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Where: North West Province
Ideal for viewing: brown hyena, cheetah, black rhino, lion, meerkat
Royal Natal National Park’s main feature is the world-famous Drakensberg Amphitheatre, a rock wall 5 kilometres long and 500 metres high. Standing above the rock face is Mont-aux-Sources peak where the Orange River starts its incredible journey west across South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean.
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Sharing an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a Big Five safari destination well known for its high leopard population. With wild dog, cheetah, hyena, a variety of plains game and over 300 bird species too, its prestigious reputation is thoroughly justified.
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Where: Mpumalanga Province
Ideal for viewing: leopard, lion, African elephant, wild dog, white rhino
Somkhanda is one of the largest and most successful land restitution based community projects in KwaZulu Natal. The reserve forms part of an important conservation corridor for the endangered black rhino and wild dog, and it is also home to an extraordinarily high density of leopard.
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Where: KwaZulu Natal
Ideal for viewing: white rhino, black rhino, leopard, wild dog, nyala
The vast Table Mountain National Park, a UNESCO Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site, stretches from north of Cape Town down the Cape Peninsula to Africa’s south-western extremity, the Cape of Good Hope. It is home to Silvermine Nature Reserve, Boulders beach penguin colony and Table Mountain.
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Where: Western Cape
Ideal for viewing: African penguin, southern right whale, Verreaux’s eagle, rock hyrax, Cape baboon
The remote Tembe Elephant Park lies in Northern Tongaland, on the border of Mozambique, deep in an area of sand forests, pans and wetlands. The park has a great diversity of habitat and spectacular wildlife density; it is home to the last remaining indigenous elephant herd in KwaZulu Natal.
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Where: Northern Tongaland
Ideal for viewing: African elephant, lion, white rhino, Cape buffalo, suni
Thornybush Game Reserve is one of the oldest reserves in the Greater Kruger ecosystem and dropped its fences with the Kruger National Park as recently as 2017. This influx of wildlife has only enhanced the reserve's reputation and paired with some fantastic lodges, Thornybush has become a top-class wildlife destination.
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Where: Limpopo Province
Ideal for viewing: African elephant, wild dog, leopard, lion, South African giraffe
Excellent for: Wildlife for families, Vehicle safaris
The Timbavati is a reserve renowned for its abundant wildlife, spanning an area of over 53,000 hectares of pristine wilderness and sharing a fenceless boundary with the Kruger National Park, allowing wildlife to move freely between the two. Lucky visitors stand a chance of catching a glimpse of rare white lions.
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Where: Limpopo Province
Ideal for viewing: lion, African elephant, white rhino, greater kudu, Cape buffalo
Located in the foothills of the Korannaberg, one of the few mountain ranges that run through the Southern Kalahari, Tswalu is a landscape of rolling dunes and expansive grasslands broken sporadically by patches of thicker vegetation. It is also a haven for some of Africa’s rarest mammals.
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Where: Kalahari Desert
Ideal for viewing: aardvark, aardwolf, cheetah, ground pangolin, wild dog
The town of Wakkerstroom and its wetland reserve is on the KwaZulu-Natal border, 27 kilometres east of Volksrust. Surrounded by mountains with springs, vleis (irregular wetlands), dams, and numerous conservation and heritage sites, it has become internationally renowned as a birders' paradise.
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Where: Mpumalanga Province
Ideal for viewing: southern bald ibis, blue korhaan, yellow-breasted pipit, Rudd’s lark, Botha’s lark
Welgevonden, meaning ‘well-found’, is a private game reserve, lying on the vast plains of the Waterberg plateau and hosting the largest population of white rhino in Africa. The number of visitors to the reserve is limited, resulting in a truly intimate wildlife experience in a premier sanctuary.
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Where: Limpopo Province
Ideal for viewing: white rhino, aardwolf, African elephant, leopard, blue crane
Situated in KwaZulu Natal in Northeast South Africa, the Zimanga Private Game Reserve protects a swathe of pristine Zululand bushveld. Bisected by the Mkuze River, Zimanga covers an area of just over 70 square kilometres and features a network of specially-designed photographic hides.
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Where: KwaZulu-Natal
Ideal for viewing: leopard, white rhino, white-fronted bee-eater, brown-hooded kingfisher, cheetah
Set between mountains and ocean, Cape Town offers striking scenery alongside cultural heritage and easy access to nature. Explore the Cape Peninsula, visit historic neighbourhoods, sample wines in nearby valleys and enjoy a dynamic food scene, all within reach of beaches, hiking trails and abundant wildlife.
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Durban is South Africa’s most multicultural city, with strong Indian and colonial influences. The Golden Mile is a stretch of some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, ideal for watersport enthusiasts. Nearby Umdloti offers good diving and snorkelling opportunities, and whales and dolphins are frequently seen there.
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Established after the discovery of gold in the late 1800s, Johannesburg is now South Africa’s business, financial and cultural centre, and its most populated city. A vibrant and energetic metropolis, there’s plenty to see here for anyone interested in history, art, anthropology and wildlife.
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Thanks to the foresight of conservationists past and present, South Africa remains blessed with abundant wildlife. The bushveld and savannah areas remain home to large numbers of iconic African mammals, and the coastline attracts a spectacular array of marine species including migratory whales.
20 recommended trips.Our trip ideas are offered to inspire you and can be tailored to suit your requirements.
Some of the best game viewing in Africa can be experienced in the world-famous Kruger National Park and the surrounding private reserves, which share a fenceless boundary. Coupled with a vast range of accommodation options, this destination is an ideal option for both experienced and first time safari goers.
Find out more about Quintessential Kruger Safari
Explore the exclusive and wildlife rich reserve in the Kalahari bushveld whilst supporting its preservation with a range of conservation-based activities. Learn about the intricate ecosystem whilst enjoying sightings of wild dog, cheetah, and rare species such as caracal, pangolin, and brown hyena.
Find out more about Kalahari Conservation Experience
From beautiful coastal scenery and mountain backdrops, to expertly guided safaris and close leopard encounters, this customisable itinerary combines four nights in Cape Town and four nights in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, showcasing two of South Africa’s most compelling and contrasting destinations.
Find out more about Cape Town & Kruger Highlights
Led by an expert local naturalist this pioneering 13-day trip offers a chance to see some of South Africa’s most elusive mammals and sought after birds, alongside iconic predators and megafauna. Amongst the targets are aardvark, aardwolf, black-footed cat and a variety of bustards and blue cranes.
Find out more about South Africa’s Rare Mammals & Birds
Perhaps the perfect safari and beach holiday, start with the Big Five in a famous South African reserve renowned for its leopard population, followed by a Mozambique beach break in picture perfect surrounds. With the chance of marine mammal encounters too, this is a simply wonderful combination.
Find out more about South Africa & Mozambique - Safari & Beach
Accompanied by wildlife photographer and night sky photography expert Sean Weekly, join us on our extensive exploration of Zimanga Private Game Reserve to enjoy the wildlife and night sky photography opportunities that it has to offer from specially-designed hides and game drives.
Find out more about Zimanga – Wildlife & Night Sky Photography
The perfect combination of self-drive adventure and lodge-based luxury, this Kruger National Park itinerary visits two of the most wildlife-rich areas of the park, staying at stunning lodges in private concessions, with the option to embark on safaris in your hire car during the middle of the day.
Find out more about Kruger Explorer
Join us on this exclusive small group safari as we explore South Africa’s largest private game reserve, Tswalu. This pristine swathe of the Kalahari is famed as one of the best sites in Africa for encountering rare mammals including ground pangolin, aardvark, aardwolf, Cape fox and brown hyena.
Find out more about South Africa’s Rare Mammals in Style
Sandwiched between Sabi Sands and Kruger National Park, MalaMala Game Reserve offers some of the most prolific game viewing in Africa. This is a predator paradise and photographic opportunities are endless, with fantastic light conditions, stunning varied terrain, and our expert tour leader on hand.
Find out more about MalaMala Photo Safari
Exploring Kariega Reserve, we aim to encounter and hopefully photograph some of the elusive mammals amongst South Africa’s wildlife, such as caracal and aardvark. Accompanied by wildlife photographer Emma Healey or Sean Weekly, we will spend eight nights in this pristine swathe of the Eastern Cape.
Find out more about Rare Mammals of the Eastern Cape
Following our popular conservation holiday to South Africa, we're delighted to offer a departure in the green season. Participating in several conservation activities, we enjoy morning and sunset game drives in search of wildlife and may also be fortunate enough to participate in pangolin monitoring.
Find out more about Kalahari Conservation Experience in Green Season
From the southern right whales of Hermanus on the Western Cape to the iconic mammals roaming the bushveld, this itinerary offers the perfect combination for experiencing South Africa's incredible wealth of wildlife in the company of Wildlife Worldwide team member Helen Bryon.
Find out more about South Africa’s Wildlife of Land & Sea
Spend seven nights at the stunning Serondella Game Lodge on an exclusive-use basis, the perfect escape for multigenerational families looking to go on safari. Benefit from freedom over your schedule, an electric fence to keep the children safe from wildlife entering camp and dedicated child-friendly activities.
Find out more about South Africa Family Safari
This superbly scenic birding and botanical safari to South Africa also explores the Greater Kruger area. Enjoy the Maluti and Drakensberg Mountains, bird in Wakkerstroom and watch wildlife in Big Five country. The tour culminates at a rainforested private nature reserve in the mountains.
Find out more about Flora & Fauna of the Drakensberg & Zululand
Appealing to first timers, seasoned safari-goers and families, visit four malaria-free national parks and game reserves across South Africa’s North West and Limpopo provinces. Visiting well known and off-the-beaten-track wildlife hotspots, enjoy incredible biodiversity in superbly scenic surrounds.
Find out more about North West Province & Limpopo Safari
From the flowers, birds and stunning scenery of the Cape, to wonderful flower-rich Namaqualand, this trip visits an astoundingly beautiful and varied land, rich in wildlife. All this at a time of year when the flowers and birds here are at their best, and when whales are displaying close inshore.
Find out more about Spring Flowers from the Cape to the Kalahari
This self-drive offers a perfect introduction to South Africa’s rich natural history, visiting the Cape, the Little Karoo, and the Garden Route. Fly to Johannesburg, and head to the world-famous Greater Kruger Area for safari time! Then, explore Blyde River Canyon and the Drakensberg Mountains.
Find out more about South Africa Self-drive Adventure
KwaZulu Natal is a true South African gem when it comes to wildlife, with a great mix of the country’s finest wildlife reserves and breathtaking scenery. Self driving allows you to follow the coast at your own pace and experience a diversity of wildlife away from the crowd.
Find out more about Zululand & Eswatini (Swaziland) Self-drive
Accompanied by award-winning photographer Bret Charman, this small group photo safari ventures to Tswalu Private Game Reserve in South Africa. This reserve is arguably the best destination in Africa to photograph several elusive mammals including ground pangolin, brown hyena and aardvark.
Find out more about Z) South Africa’s Rare Mammals Photo Safari
This 37-day comprehensive itinerary, which visits no less than seven countries, delivers the ultimate African safari experience and a wealth of contrasts. Travel to some of Africa’s best National Parks and stay in a range of classic lodges, hotels and tented camps on this wildlife trip of a lifetime.
Find out more about M) Classic Africa Explorer
Price
(inc. flights): 37 days from £16,495
Trip type:
Tailor-made Holiday
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When to go
Seasons
Cool season
Apr to Sep: The winter months see a drop in temperatures, particularly around Cape Town
Warm season
Oct to Mar: Summer brings warmer sea temperatures to Atlantic areas, but greater rainfall
Wildlife events
Jun to Oct: Humpback whales migration along KwaZulu-Natal coast
