Safari in South Africa: The most beautiful parks for the Big 5

The most beautiful national parks and game reserves for a safari in South Africa

Here you will find the most beautiful parks for a safari in South Africa! After eight trips to South Africa, I have the best tips for newcomers. Unique adventures and experiences are guaranteed.

There are 24 national parks (SANParks) in South Africa. In addition, there are numerous game reserves in South Africa that are privately run and have a large animal population. Here, the focus is primarily on observing the "Big Five" (elephant, rhino, Cape buffalo, lion and leopard),

For me, tracking and observing animals in the wilds of Africa is and remains one of the most unique experiences. Preferably on foot or also as a self-drive.

South Africa's 5 most beautiful national parks for safari & wildlife

• Kruger National Park

• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

• Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

• Addo Elephant Park

• Pilanesberg National Park

The ultimate encounters of the Big 5 take place in the Kruger National Park or during a taster training to become a ranger with Eco Training. take place.

The vast savannah or the dense thorny bushes give you an insight into a special and wild habitat of the national parks. For most tourists, the sighting of the BIG 5 (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant) is the absolute highlight. The chances of this happening in South Africa are very good.

Did you know that the Big 5 were originally named so because they are the most difficult animals to hunt on foot?

Besides tracking animals, you will experience breathtaking sunrises as well as sunsets. You will never forget them, because in Africa the sun hangs on the horizon like a giant fire-red ball. It's as big as I've rarely seen it anywhere else. After the first journeys and the sighting of animals, you will be infected with the "Bush Bug" in the future, just like me. Wanna bet?

When planning a safari there are a few things to consider. The type of accommodation, which game reserve or national park to go to and especially when is the best time to go on safari.

Since all beginnings are hard for South Africa newbies, I have summarised my best places from more than eight South Africa trips. My best tips for the most beautiful national parks for wildlife sightings in South Africa.

Find more tips for safaris in Africa here:

• Experiences: Botswana as a self-drive (top destination for wildlife).

Tanzania with Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Mkomazi National Park (animals galore)

• Namibia: ideal destination for self-drivers, national parks and animals

• Adventures in Uganda, also with mountain gorillas

• Travelogues for Rwanda, road trip and safaris in the land of a thousand hills

• Eswatini: Away from the crowds to the Mkhaya Game Reserve

• 14 days EcoQuest in the Masai Mara (Kenya)

Here comes the answer to the question:

What are the best national parks and game reserves for wildlife?

Note: These places are my recommendation and experience. I have not visited all the parks, or visited them all several times.

Kruger National Park (Mpumalanga & Limpopo)

The largest and most famous national park in South Africa is the Kruger National Park. The park is the most famous safari destination and is known for its rich wildlife. The Big Five, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, hippos and over 500 species of birds impress every visitor.

The Kruger National Park measures 19,485 km2 and stretches from the border with Mozambique into the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

You have different options for the Kruger National Park. There is a suitable accommodation for every budget. The park is part of the South African National Parks (SANParks). Private farms and game reserves, known as Greater Kruger, border the park to the west.

These include Sabi Sands and Lion Sands, which offer particularly exclusive and luxurious accommodation. I myself have been to the following private reserves: Timbavati, Klaserie, Pridelands, Selati and Karongwe.

SANParks (Rest Camps) accommodation in the park is cheaper. The most budget-saving option is to stay outside the park and do a self-drive in a rental car.

• Your first time in Kruger National Park? You need to know!

• Ranger training and taster course with Eco Training

Getting to Kruger National Park

The best option is to fly to Johannesburg. Alternatively, you can fly to Nelspruit or Hoedspruit and then rent a car from there. A detour to the Panorama Routewhich you can drive in 1 to 2 days.

If you have booked one of the luxurious accommodations, you will be offered an airport transfer.

I have written down and summarised all the detailed information in my comprehensive travel guide to the Kruger National Park.

Cheetah - wonderful. White Rhino can also be found in the (Greater) Kruger National Park. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Northern Cape)

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was Africa's first transfrontier national park. Actually, the term "Kalahari Desert", home of the Bushmen and legendary desert, is enough. The park stretches from the north of South Africa to the south of Botswana.

So you can go on safari in two countries at once. The open and vast landscape offers the ideal opportunity to find the animals.

Kgalagadi is especially famous for predators. Leopards, cheetahs, lions, spotted hyenas and the black-maned Kalahari lion make this the best safari experience ever.

Kgalagadi is also known for animal migration of large herds of wildebeest, springbok and oryx.

If you ask me: my secret tip. The reason? Not as crowded as the official part of the Kruger National Park in the south. Because that's where you'll find most of the park's animals.

• More information in the travel report on the road trip from Cape Town to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Getting to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

As with the Kruger, the journey is usually via Johannesburg. You can get there by rental car from here. A domestic flight to Upington is much better. There are also plenty of car rental agencies there. Besides the Winlands in the south, the region around Upintgon is known for its wine and brandy production.

Black Back Jackal in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (Kwazulu-Natal)

Even though this park only has 20% of the area of the Kruger, I liked the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park very much. You always read that there are fewer animals and less diversity here. However, we did see a few (white) rhinos on foot during several bush walks.

Until today, I have seen my only black rhino here. These are really very rare and above all shy.

We also had rare wild dogs and of course elephants, giraffes and several antelopes.

The park is also a "Big Five" national park. Theoretically you can find all of these animals. Only one thing: the rest of the camp is without a fence. The park is also known and loved by South Africans for hiking. They say it has the best hiking trails in South Africa.

Getting to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Durban is the ideal starting point to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Theoretically, you could also do a day trip from Durban, which I don't recommend. We drove to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park via Johannesburg, Panorama Route, Kruger National Park and Swaziland. Ideal for a road trip to Durban. You can also visit St Lucia and the iSimangaliso-Wetland Park. Hippos and mighty crocodiles can be found in this national park.

....and it doesn't turn off. The wind is not in our favour. Addo Elephant Park (Eastern Cape)

I definitely recommend this park if you only want to visit Cape Town and the Garden Route. Addo has the largest elephant population in South Africa.

In addition, this park and the surrounding game reserves are malaria-free. If you are afraid of it and want to avoid the Kruger, this park is ideal. I don't believe in malaria prophylaxis. If you spray yourself with bug spray and don't wear black clothes, you will not be bitten by mosquitoes. Besides, there hasn't been a case in the whole of South Africa for a long time. That's why I don't worry about it.

Lions and hyenas have been re-established in the park. The lions are rarely seen, hyenas as well. We also only saw elephants, warthogs, buffalo and various antelope species.

As the bush is denser than in other parks, sighting animals is much more difficult.

• Detailed tips with information about Addo Elephant Park

Getting to Addo Elephant Park

The closest town is Port Elizabeth. Either fly here to pick up your rental car or drive along the Garden Route from Cape Town to Addo.

Addo Elephant Park - Zebra You will see many elephants in the Addo Elephant Park. Madikwe Game Reserve (Northwest Province)

Close to the border with Botswana is the Madikwe Game Reserve. Few visitors stray into the northwest of South Africa. I have not made it here yet either.

However, Madikwe also offers excellent accommodation and great wildlife spotting opportunities. The Madikwe Game Reserve is also a Big Five Park, has cheetahs, hyenas, various antelopes and is also home to over 350 bird species.

Families will find this national park in South Africa interesting, as Madikwe is also malaria-free. It is one of the largest national parks, unfortunately also quite exclusive. There is no possibility for self-drivers. Day visitors are not allowed either. Only guests of one of the more than 20 lodges are allowed into the park and experience its diverse wildlife. If you are looking for an exclusive experience without many other people, this is the place for you.

For me, the game reserve is definitely still on the "must see" list.

Getting to Madikwe Game Reserve

The journey via Johannesburg takes about 4 hours (360 km). There are only a few flights and they are a bit overpriced in my opinion.

Pilanesberg National Park (Northwest Province)

Also popular with locals and South African friends is Pilanesberg. The park is situated on Lake Mankwe, an artificial reservoir. Here you will also find the Big Five. The ideal thing about this park is that it is only a 2-hour drive from Johannesburg. It is also opposite the Madikwe Game Reserve, which is shared with Botswana.

It also has cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wild dogs, hippos and crocodiles. Unfortunately, I haven't made it to this park yet either. The chances of sightings are quite good, if I go by my friends.

Other national parks in South Africa

Of course there are numerous other national parks - but without the chance of seeing the Big Five.

Augrabies Falls National Park (Northern Cape)

Augrabies Falls National Park is beautiful and ideally situated on the way to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Oryx, antelope, giraffe and even black rhino have been reintroduced. However, these are very shy. We therefore did not see a rhino.

Baboons and vervet monkeys can often be found around the Rest Camp, much to our chagrin. They like to steal the food.

This is the magnificent specimen with only one horn. Great oryx seeking the shade.

St. Lucia isimangaliso Wetlands (KwaZulu-Natal)

The park is situated north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. Thousands of hippos cavort in the St. Lucia lagoon. This is exactly the highlight of this place.

Check out the highlights of St. Lucia and the isimangaliso Wetlands (KwaZulu-Natal) here.

Hippos St Lucia iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Mountain Zebra National Park (Eastern Cape)

The park is situated north of the Garden Route in the Eastern Cape. In the semi-desert Karoo you will find the famous mountain zebras (My tip: Kagga Kamma).

Mountain Zebra in Kagga Kamma during the Sundowner Drive.a

Karoo National Park (Western Cape)

This national park is also located in the small Karoo north of the Garden Route in the Western Cape.

Best time for safaris in South Africa

Most people recommend coming to South Africa in the dry season. From May to October, rain almost never falls and the grass is yellow and low. You are supposed to be able to spot animals better because the bush is not as dense.

Spotting animals is then quite easy. They gather at the waterhole. The temperatures are not quite as hot as in summer, and it is also just dry.

The summers are lush green, trees and bushes have dense foliage. The grass stands tall and the days are very humid. At night, the temperatures are much more pleasant. Animals are much harder to find because there is plenty of water everywhere.

Therefore, the summer months are often more favourable (November to April). Another positive effect is that there are babies in the herds everywhere.

Since finding animals is more difficult and nature is lush and green, summer is my favourite time to travel.

Accommodation

Cheap to medium budget

The cheapest accommodation is outside the park. Not my thing to be honest. Nevertheless, there are plenty of cheap options and hostels at the gates. Still, a "cheap South Africa safari" is pretty much impossible. The cheapest other accommodation is that provided by SAN Parks.

These accommodations are much cheaper than those in private game reserves. You will also save money on a self-drive safari. There are also cheap tour operators that everyone can afford. SANParks also offers these.

Luxury

Do you fancy an exclusive all-inclusive safari experience with your own ranger and tracker? Then you have to book 1-2 nights in one of the numerous lodges in private game reserves.

Here you will meet few tourists who will share the road with you. The rangers are allowed to leave the roads in the park and the vehicles are comfortable 4x4 Land Rovers or Land Cruisers. The guides will give you much more information than on other drives.

The accommodation is always in spectacular locations, often unfenced but unfortunately quite expensive.

I stayed at Earth Lodge (Sabi Sabi), Rhino Walking Safaris (glamping in the Kruger), Fig Tree Lodge (Timbavati) and the now renamed Misava Safari Camp (Klaserie Drift).

Plains Camp of Rhino Walking Safaris in the Kruger National Park

My first choice

My first and most recent choice is Eco Training. Here you have the choice between 28- 55- and 1-year courses. ranger or nature or field guide or Nature or Field Guide, you can also book "tourist" stays of 7 - 14 days. "Eco Quest" is the name for this. You sleep in tents, but enjoy every advantage on game drives or bush walks that you would have in the luxury lodges. You get to drive 4x4s, guide, read tracks and sleep in unfenced camps. Simply the best and, for me, most authentic experience.

Eco Training also employs the best rangers and trackers in South Africa. I have learned as much as I did here on none of the other seven South Africa trips and numerous other safaris in Namibia, Botswana, Uganda and Rwanda.

Ranger training at EcoTraining. Nothing brings you closer to the wilderness!

Are you planning your South Africa holiday right now? Find more information and tips here

• My packing list: Safari gear for Africa

• Kruger National Park: 11 tips for your safari

• Ranger training in South Africa with EcoTraining

• South Africa: The most beautiful travel routes and top destinations

• Away from the crowds: Off to the Mkhaya Game Reserve in Eswatini

• The best South Africa travel tips for your individual South Africa round trip

• South Africa Sights: 21 wonderful places with insider tips

• Buying a Wild Card for South Africa's National Parks - when is it worth buying?

• Best time to visit South Africa: Climate & weather by region