South Africa · WILDLIFE
Good wildlife trips fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Review of Cape Town’s 90-minute marine wildlife cruise, with dolphins, seals, penguins, whales, sunfish, Table Mountain views, and practical tips.
“love the small boat experience....you get more interaction with the crew who were friendly and very informative...saw lots of marine life too”
Spend a full day from Cape Town at malaria-free Aquila Reserve, with a Big Five drive, buffet lunch, hotel pickup, and an easy safari introduction.
“The guide was wonderful. We had a wonderful lunch got to taste different wine. It was worth the money”
See Big Five wildlife on two 4x4 drives, meet rescued elephants, explore Oudtshoorn, and cross the Klein Karoo from Cape Town in two busy days.
“I really appreciated the knowledge our guide Ulrich has about history and culture. I really enjoyed the experience due to this - thank you! And l would like to thank the guide, Austin, in the second park we visited - his knowledge about animals is impressive and he helped us slowly observe their habits and ways they do things.. :-)”
Race from Cape Town’s waterfront in search of dolphins, seals, penguins, whales, and sunfish, with Table Mountain views and a passionate guide.
“Great boat and very worthwhile way to spend a couple hours. Paul was a friendly and knowledgeable guide and knew where to find all the marine life. Can’t believe the concentration of species we saw in just a couple hours: whales, dolphins, sunfish, penguins, jellyfish, and seabirds. And all with great views of Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles from the ocean. Highly recommended!”
Review of a fast-paced two-day safari from Cape Town to Botlierskop and Buffelsdrift, with 4x4 drives, elephants, Route 62, and Oudtshoorn.
“Excellent add on to a Cape Town adventure. The drive is long but our driver was informative and accommodating. The landscape is unforgettable. And the animals so wonderful to see.”
Meet rescued lions, leopards, cheetahs, servals, and caracals on a guided Tenikwa wildlife tour near Plettenberg Bay.
“the guide was excellent giving a lot of information on the individual animals and how they came to be in their care.”
Trade Port Elizabeth’s cruise terminal for a 4x4 safari at Schotia, with four hours of wildlife viewing, local guides, snacks, and water.
“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…”
Paddle Cape Town’s Atlantic coast for dolphins, penguins and seals, with Table Mountain views, expert guides, showers and a garden café.
“Must do experience in Cape Town. We managed to see dolphins, seals and penguins from a very short distance, which was amazing. Guides were lovely and clearly knew what they were doing. Definitely worth it!”
Explore the Western Cape on a fast-paced two-day safari with 4x4 game drives, luxury glamping, Route 62, and optional elephant viewing.
“The trip, itinerary and guide were excellent. The 2 safari park locations we visited were a very special experience. 2 of our group had sickness the day after visiting Buffelsdrift and both ate the same thing (the venison burger) Our guide made extra toilet stops throughout day 2 to help us through the day.”
See rescued lions, tigers, leopards, and more on a 90-minute guided walk at Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa.
“Greeted the reception staff who were friendly and polite. The young lady told us to get a bite and start the 2:30 tour as they usually get the animals ready to be fed. We went to the overpriced quaint cafe in a beautiful setting close to the farm animals, which we did not go sRead more”
Photograph South Africa’s wild cats on a private Tenikwa tour, with close viewing, conservation talks, meerkats, and a chance to revisit a favorite animal.
“This is a working conservation establishment so what you see depends on what they are caring for at the time. We saw more animals than anticipated. All looked well cared for & our guide clearly has a love of animals. He was knowledgeable and informative.”
Combine Port Elizabeth sights, rescued penguins, coastal views, wine, and a two-hour 4x4 safari in one useful day tour.
“Nina made our day, everything was so perfect. We saw the Hotspots of Port Elizabeth, Had an exiting Safari, nice wines to try, and the beautyful Beach at the Lighthouse. We had so many awesome impressions and a lot of fun.”
Explore South Africa’s wild cats, ancient Tsitsikamma forest, native birds, and a relaxed lunch platter at Tenikwa for $63.
“The guide was excellent and truly passionate. He was incredibly knowledgeable and answered all our questions fully. Lots of laughter too!”
Combine a West Coast game drive with olive, wine, toffee, and craft beer tastings on a small-group day trip from Cape Town.
“Ian is a great guide and driver. This was a fun trip to a game reserve close to Cape Town followed by an amazing olive tasting and finished in the Darling brewery beer garden. 100%!”
Review of a full-day Pilanesberg safari from Johannesburg with open-vehicle game drives, lunch, hotel pickup, and Big Five viewing.
“Nosso transporte feito pelo sr. Jason foi tranquilo e pontual, ida e vinda. Muito atencioso e solícito. Nosso tour pelo parque foi muito legal, não vimos os Big Five, apenas w deles, mas vimos muitos outros animais. E o mais divertido foi a briga de girafas e os elefantes invadindo a rua, passando ao lado do carro e até indo atrás. O motorista Peter foi muito bem nas explicações.”
Pick a park, a coastline or a valley.
