Wildlife Safaris in South Africa: Our 15 Favourites

Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Full-Day, National Park Safaris, National Park Safaris in South Africa, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

1.Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 872 reviews · 9 hours · from $186Our pick

Review of Addo Elephant National Park’s 9-hour safari, with elephants, Big 5 wildlife, lunch, hotel pickup, and expert guides.

“Unforgettable safari with an outstanding guide! Our safari at Addo National Park was absolutely incredible, and a huge part of that was thanks to our amazing guide, Freddy. From the very start, Freddy’s deep knowledge of the park, its history, and its wildlife made every moment fascinating. He didn’t just point out animals - he shared stories, fun facts, and insights about the ecosystem, turning each sighting into something truly special. We were thrilled to see almost the entire Big Five, an unforgettable highlight of our trip! Freddy’s sharp eye and experience meant we spotted animals we would have easily missed on our own. He also knew the best routes…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Cape Town Safaris, National Park Safaris, National Park Safaris in Cape Town, National Park Safaris in South Africa, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Wildlife Safaris in Cape Town, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

2.Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 576 reviews · from $184

Review of Aquila Game Reserve safari from Cape Town, with Big Five sightings, lunch, transport, costs, comfort tips, and honest drawbacks.

“Excellent activity and we saw the 5 Big Animals. Well organized and lunch was great at a very nice lodge on a 10,000 acre property.”

Check availability →Read our full review

1-Day Tours, Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Cape Town Safaris, Guided, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Wildlife Safaris in Cape Town, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

3.Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 526 reviews · from $155Top rated

Review of a Cape Town Big Five day trip with Aquila safari, Breede Valley views, wine tasting, lunch, transport, costs, and practical tips.

“It was my very first safari ever and it was absolutely amazing. Mike went above and beyond! He managed everything extremely well and thanks to him I did not have to que a single time. Also his knowledge about the area is huge. You can Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

2-Day Experiences, Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Cape Town Safaris, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife Safaris in Cape Town, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

From Cape Town: South African Wildlife and Safari 2-Day Tour

4.South African Wildlife and Safari 2-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 411 reviews · 2 days · from $322

Review of the 2-day Cape Town safari to Oudtshoorn, including Big Five game drives, accommodation, costs, long drives, and elephant encounters.

“We had an amazing trip with our Guide Maudi! Everything was planned and organized perfectly! We could enjoy our whole Trip with no waste of time! We saw so many animals and i'm so happy that i was on this Tour! Thanks again to Maudi for making this Trip so special!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Half-Day, Johannesburg Safaris, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife Safaris in Johannesburg, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

From Johannesburg: Lion & Safari Park Half-Day Tour

5.Lion & Safari Park Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 384 reviews · 5 hours · from $167

Review of Johannesburg’s Lion and Safari Park tour, with lions, cheetahs and wild dogs, transport details, value advice and practical tips.

“The Park Ranger was very informative with insights into the animals behaviours. She found as many animals possible to see and made the tour an absolute delight. I am so glad I went and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Full-Day, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park Full Day Big 5 Safari Tour

6.Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park Full Day Big 5 Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 310 reviews · from $96

Review of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Big 5 safari from St Lucia, with early pickup, ranger-led drives, meals, pricing, and practical tips.

“It was a fantastic day! Without going into the animals we saw, as that depends on luck, let me share the good and bad points of this tour. Arnaud, our guide, always had a smile on his face, answered every question, and provided a lot of inforRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Half-Day, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: Big 5 Full or Half-Day Safari

7.Big 5 Full or Half-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 280 reviews · 390 - 510 minutes · from $87

Review of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Big 5 safari from St Lucia, with sunrise drives, expert guides, barbecue lunch, wildlife, pricing, and practical tips.

“Thanks to Theo, we had a magical moment spotting the cheetahs — he never gave up searching for them, and yes, we were lucky! We also saw many rhinos and elephants up close, but what stood out most was how deeply Theo respects the animals and their space. His love and passion for wildlife are truly inspiring. It was an unforgettable experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Cape Town Safaris, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Wildlife Safaris in Cape Town, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

Cape Town: Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari from V&A Waterfront

8.Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari from V&A Waterfront

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 278 reviews · 1h 30m · from $68Best value

Cruise Cape Town’s Atlantic coast on a luxury catamaran, spotting seals, penguins, dolphins, whales, and sunfish when conditions allow.

“Unfortunately we didn’t see any whales, but we had a very fun time, and for that price it was absolutely worth it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Full-Day, National Park Safaris, National Park Safaris in Port Elizabeth, National Park Safaris in South Africa, Port Elizabeth Safaris, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Wildlife Safaris in Port Elizabeth, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

9.Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 256 reviews · from $147

Review of Addo’s full-day safari from Port Elizabeth, with elephants, expert guides, lunch, pickup, honest tips on wildlife sightings and value.

“A nice safari during which we saw elefants, zebras, buffalos, lions, warthogs, ostrich... We were 6 + driver in a minivan, so there was a good possibility to take pictures to both sides. We also had a nice lunch with out fellow guests. The driver waRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4x4 Safari from Cape Town - Buffelsdrift explains the smaller details of the bush

2-Day Experiences, Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Cape Town Safaris, Jeep & 4x4 Safaris, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife Safaris in Cape Town, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4×4 Safari from Cape Town

10.2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4×4 Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 251 reviews · from $279

Review of a fast-paced 2-day safari from Cape Town with Botlierskop, Buffelsdrift, Route 62, wildlife, and practical booking advice.

“This was a great experience. The safaris were well run, with education/conservation being on point. The accommodations were wonderful and beyond expectations. Denver was an amazing tour guide! He exceeded expectations to ensure we had the best experienRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Full-Day, Lunch Experiences, Port Elizabeth Safaris, Safaris, Safaris with BBQ Dinner & Live Shows, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Wildlife Safaris in Port Elizabeth, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

Addo Elephant Full Day Safari with a Traditional South African Braai (BBQ) Lunch

11.Addo Elephant Full Day Safari with a Traditional South African Braai (BBQ) Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 218 reviews · from $172

Review of Addo Elephant National Park’s full-day safari, with small-group drives, elephant sightings, a braai lunch, pickup, and practical tips.

“This full day guided safari in Addo Elephant Park was fabulous. We saw lots of elephants plus several other animals: Zebras; Buffalo; Kudu; Warthogs and even a Dungbeetle struggling to move it's ball of elephant do-do. The Braai at lunchtime was excellent and our guide, Sia, was very knowledgeable and helpful. As most of the roads in the park are unmade, it's much safer to use a local tour. A highly recommended experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Addo Elephant National Park Full Day Safari

12.Addo Elephant National Park Full Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 110 reviews · from $169

Review of Addo Elephant National Park’s full-day safari from Port Elizabeth, with wildlife, braai lunch, guides, pricing, transport, and practical tips.

“Super tolle tour. Alles perfekt organisiert. Einwandfreier Ablauf. Unglaublich was für ein spitzen BBQ. Guide und Fahrer top. Die Tour kann ich absolut empfehlen. DANKE für den tillen Tag”

Check availability →Read our full review

Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Port Elizabeth Safaris, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Wildlife Safaris in Port Elizabeth, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

Schotia Safaris: Best Wildlife Encounters in Port Elizabeth

13.Schotia Safaris: Best Wildlife Encounters in Port Elizabeth

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 89 reviews · 6 hours · from $227

Review of Schotia Safaris from Port Elizabeth, with wildlife highlights, pricing, transport details, honest drawbacks, and booking advice.

“Mir ist klar, dass es in einem Reservat keine "normalen" Straßen gibt, dass es eben einfache Wege sind. Aber in diesem Reservat sind die Wege dermaßen stark ausgefahren, dass riesige Löcher und Fahrrillen entstanden sind. OK - das kommt vor. Aber wenn dann der Fahrer mit Vollgas in diese reinfährt, damit er auf der anderen Seite auch wieder rauskommt, dann passiert es leider mehrfach, dass es einen aus dem Sitz katapultiert und man mit dem Kopf gegen das Dach des Fahrzeuges knallt. Das hätte ich nun wirklich nicht gebraucht. Wir haben mit anderen Besuchern gesprochen, die die Safari in diesem Reservat über einen anderen Veranstalter gebucht hatten - die hatten…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Full-Day, Lunch Experiences, National Park Safaris, National Park Safaris in South Africa, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

Addo Elephant National Park Full Day Safari with Braai Lunch

14.Addo Elephant National Park Full Day Safari with Braai Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 77 reviews · 9 hours · from $208

Review of Addo Elephant National Park’s 9-hour safari with Big 5 wildlife, braai lunch, drinks, and Port Elizabeth pickup.

“War fast eine private Tour mit nur 7 Leuten. Unser Guide Brian war super. Er hat sich viel Zeit genommen und alles genau und gut verständlich erklärt. Er hat alleine ein tolles, super leckeres Essen zubereitet. Elefanten haben viele gesehen, Giraffe, Zebras, Gnus uvm. Löwen leider nicht”

Check availability →Read our full review

Big Five & Wildlife Safaris, Port Elizabeth Safaris, Safaris, South Africa Safaris, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife Safaris in Port Elizabeth, Wildlife Safaris in South Africa

Addo Elephant Park:Safari Tour meet Big 5 to be satisfied

15.Safari Tour meet Big 5 to be satisfied

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 73 reviews · 6 hours · from $221

Review of a six-hour Addo Elephant Park safari from PE Harbour, with Big Five searches, lunch, transport, and practical booking advice.

“Otto hat hat sich super um uns gekümmert und versucht alle Tiere für uns zu sichten. Das Picnic war auch hervorragend. Alles in Allm empfehlenswert.”

Check availability →Read our full review