Discover the many types of safaris in South Africa, find
the one that meets your wants and needs
The range and variety of safaris in South Africa
that you can choose from has never been larger or more attractive. Choosing one of the multitude of
wildlife safaris on offer in South Africa is a daunting task.
The countless options covering a large variety of wildlife experiences and many
different levels of luxury, adventure, comfort and budget can be overwhelming if you are not sure
what you are looking for.
Before we start getting into the nitty-gritty of checking and comparing the
different types of safaris, it is important to keep in mind that they all can be divided into
either permanent base safaris or mobile base safaris. In both cases the guided safari is recognized
as the most common form of safari.
Permanent base means, that on these safaris you are based in a permanent
location which can either be in a Lodge or in a permanent Tented camp, from which all your safari
activities such as game drives and game walks will take place. This type of safari is usually
all-inclusive, with all your needs such as accommodation, meals and activities fully catered
for.
In the case of mobile base safaris, you travel from the one location to the
next by road or by air, visiting different camps and lodges or even different game reserves,
staying in a different one each night (or number of nights). Comfort and luxury on these safaris
varies from basic to luxurious, depending on your wants and choices.
For the budget traveler and those who like to get as close to nature as possible,
there is often a participation option, where safari participants take part in setting up camp and
preparing meals etc.
Choosing the safari that is best for you, is largely in YOUR hands. Everything
depends on what YOU want to see, what YOU want to do, the kind of experiences that YOU want,
etc...etc. This may take a considerable amount of research, but that is part of the planning and
preparation of your safari tour and a pleasurable foretaste of all the excitement and enjoyment
that your once in a lifetime safari adventure is going to give you.
The first step to finding the safari that will match your interests, preferences
and budget, is to do some soul searching by considering and evaluating your expectations, likes and
dislikes and ask yourself questions such as:
Am I passionate about nature?
Do I want to indulge myself with a luxury safari vacation?
Do I have an adventurous nature?
Which special interests would I like to pursue.
Maybe you are all of the above.
The next step will be to orientate yourself about the different types of safaris
that are available in South Africa, how long you want to go and what kind of budget you have
available.
Use the menu below to learn more about the
diversity of South African safaris.
Once you have established what kind of safari experience you are looking for,
use the comparison guides below to compare and evaluate 40+ major wildlife parks and reserves, 500+
safari tour operators and 450+ safari tours in South Africa and find the one that will match your
criteria as best as possible.
Africa's National Parks in general are a paradise for the wildlife enthusiasts, far more
affordable and at the same time almost as good as private game reserves. As part of a wide range
of attractions and activities they offer game drives mornings, afternoons and at night, the one
in the picture below is in the Kruger National Park.
Africa's National Parks in general are a paradise for the wildlife
enthusiasts, far more affordable and at the same time almost as good as private game reserves.
As part of a wide range of attractions and activities they offer game drives mornings, afternoons
and at night, the one in the picture below is in the Kruger National Park.
A safari in a Private Game Reserve is in most cases a luxurious event, including for
example enjoying sundowners during an afternoon game drive like here in Phinda private game
reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
A safari in a Private Game Reserve is in most cases a luxurious event,
including for example enjoying sundowners during an afternoon game drive like here in Phinda
private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Meeting these giants of the African Savannah on foot is undoubtedly a breathtaking
experience. The game rangers accompanying you on a walking safari or a game walk are highly
trained and know exactly what to do to ensure your safety. Risks are minimal if you follow their
instructions carefully.
Meeting these giants of the African Savannah on foot is undoubtedly
a breathtaking experience. The game rangers accompanying you on a walking safari or a game walk
are highly trained and know exactly what to do to ensure your safety. Risks are minimal if you
follow their instructions carefully.
Just imagine..., here you are on a Fly-In safari. You have just landed and the
airplane has come to a stop at the end of the airstrip. A reception committee is waiting for
you, but not the one you expected. An awesome encounter.
Just imagine..., here you are on a Fly-In safari. You have just
landed and the airplane has come to a stop at the end of the airstrip. A reception committee is
waiting for you, but not the one you expected. An awesome encounter.
Getting onto a boat and putting out to sea is one thing but to subsequently worm
yourself into a diving suit and lower yourself into a steel diving cage hanging from the side of
the boat below the surface of the sea, is quite something different. It is called a Great White
shark cage diving safari. Getting eye to eye up close with the Great Whites is a thrilling
experience.
Getting onto a boat and putting out to sea is one thing but to
subsequently worm yourself into a diving suit and lower yourself into a steel diving cage hanging
from the side of the boat below the surface of the sea, is quite something different. It is called
a Great White shark cage diving safari. Getting eye to eye up close with the Great Whites is a
thrilling experience.
Video Gallery
Video clip taken by Anthony Milotic of Positive World Travel. His words were:
"I traveled to Kruger National Park in South Africa and I was so excited to be living out a
childhood dream of mine. I couldn't believe that I was going on a safari in Africa and was going
to be face to face with the Big 5".
If you want to indulge yourself in some luxurious pampering on your safari,
then the Mala Mala Private Game Reserve might well be what you are looking for. It is the largest
private Big Five game reserve in South Africa. Comprising 13,300 ha (33,000 acres), Mala Mala
shares a 19 km (12 miles) unfenced border with the world-renowned Kruger National Park, and lies
strategically sandwiched between the National Park and the Sabi Sand Reserve.
Spine-tingling and awe-inspiring, there is no better way to experience the
African bush then on a walking safari. Watching Africa's wildlife from a vehicle may never be
the same again. The following is a short video of Robin Pope safaris, a well known walking safari
tour operator in Zambia. It shows a typical mobile walking safari where you move to a different
location each day. A support team takes care of logistics and moving the
camp.
Did you know that next to the South Africa's Animal Big Five (Lion, Elephant,
Buffalo, Rhino and Leopard) there is also the Marine Big Five and where the Lion is king over
the animal kingdom, the Great White Shark is the undisputed king of the marine kingdom.
The following is a short video about getting into the water (inside a submersible cage) on a
Great White shark safari, taken by Michael Harman
This is what he said: "As a part of our tour of South Africa, we couldn't help but jump in
the water with the Great White Sharks. Scary? Not really. If I were a seal on Dyer Island, then
I'd be a little worried".
