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South Africa

A safari to South Africa can not only bring you close to the big cats and the big five, but also lead on to exploring the incredible cities and coastal experiences of South Africa.

Our favourite South Africa adventures

  • Cape Town Marine Big Five Adventure

    Explore Cape Town's exciting coastline, getting on and in the water for some incredible marine experiences – spot whales, swim with seals, paddle with penguins, snorkel in Olympic-sized rockpools and track wild otters with a marine biologist on this salty sea adventure.

  • Cape Town, Wildlife & Victoria Falls Safari

    History, culture, wildlife and the world's largest waterfall await travellers embarking on this 10-day safari, an itinerary that takes in everything from game drives in search of the Big Five to a tour of Robben Island, where the legendary Nelson Mandela spent 18 years as a political prisoner.

  • Into the Tshwene Tshwene Hills: Exploring Madikwe

    On this safari, you'll travel through the diverse landscapes of South Africa's fifth-largest game reserve, Madikwe, searching for an array of wildlife – including sable, kudu, lion, leopard and painted dog – on expert-led game drives and bush walks.

  • Beach & Bush Adventure in the Eastern Cape

    The hidden gem that is the Sibuya Game Reserve serves as the venue for a number of exciting safari activities on this trip, while days spent either in your luxury coastal resort or exploring the Eastern Cape make this a fantastic trip for those seeking both adventure and relaxation.

  • Lions and Lemurs Safari

    Spot the biggest of Africa’s big cats in the famous Sabi Sands game reserve in South Africa, then head to unique Madagascar in search of lemurs, and other endemic wildlife. A beautiful, wildlife focussed journey, and you can add beach onto the end too...

  • South Africa Safari: Cape Town & Tswalu

    A city and safari adventure exploring Cape Town and Tswalu, some of the best holiday areas in South Africa.

  • Big Game, Coastal Forests & Turtles

    Combine classic safari drives through South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park with trips to the country’s eastern coastline, taking in lakes, beaches, forests and nesting sea turtles.

  • Kwandwe, Winelands & Adventure Safari

    Immerse yourself in South Africa’s natural beauty without compromising on luxury. Spend a week in the company of expert guides while exploring idyllic winelands and a private game reserve, all while staying in private villas.

  • Ocean Safari and the Great Sardine Run

    A spectacular safari to witness and even dive alongside the great sardine run where you may spot dolphins, sharks and much more.

  • Ultimate Icons of Africa Safari

    This 17-day international trip combines the icons of Africa into one epic safari: from Table Mountain and Victoria Falls to the wildlife of the Virunga Mountains, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.

  • Secrets Of The South Atlantic: South Africa & St Helena Family Safari

    Perfect for those seeking a family-friendly holiday with a difference, this trip begins with Big Five game drives in South Africa's famous Kruger National Park before moving on to remote St Helena, a fascinating island rich in cultural history, picturesque landscapes and rich marine life.

Why South Africa holidays and safaris are truly unique

The sheer size of South Africa alone means the habitat varies from thick coastal forests to dry sandy deserts and everything in between. Although at the very tip of the continent it still shares international borders with six African countries and is nestled between both Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

South Africa’s charms are certainly magnetic and have been so for thousands of years, encompassing historic battlegrounds, cosmopolitan cities and iconic scenery, which makes it one of the world’s most beguiling and popular destinations for exploration.

South Africa Holiday Highlights

Cape Town and Table Mountain

Explore one of the world’s most enigmatic cities; expect stunning scenery, wonderful restaurants and overwhelming hospitality.

Cape Town
1 / 5

Night drives

Meet the rarer, nocturnal wildlife species on a night-time adventure.

South Africa Wildlife
2 / 5

Walking safaris

A great way to get up close with the wildlife of Africa.

Explore Safaris
3 / 5

Lots of wildlife

Kruger National Park has more wildlife species than anywhere in Africa, and the park itself is about the size of Wales.

Kruger NP
4 / 5

Wine & food

Drink some of the best wines alongside delectable cuisine in the winelands on longest wine route in the world, approximately 1,000km.

Explore the Winelands
5 / 5

Why we like South Africa

South Africa has a bit of everything; amazing wildlife, incredible walks and wines, adrenaline fuelled activities and more.

Magical accommodation

Throughout South Africa you will find some of the most wonderful safari and city accommodation.

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Amazing wildlife

South Africa’s national parks are home to the big cats, the big five, and some of Africa’s most impressive predators.

View South Africa's wildlife

A fantastic family destination

With malaria free zones, perfectly adapted accommodation, and a great mix of culture and wildlife, South Africa is one of our favourite family safari destinations.

Find out more

Reviews

  • David was very flexible and responsive to our requests for modifications to our agenda. NWS have knowledgeable agents and their documents were very informative. The in-country staff were also very responsive and helpful, and our accommodations were wonderful. We didn’t worry about a thing!
    5 out of 5
  • Everything was well organised, and even in a problem situation things were solved immediately. Oliver knew exactly what we wanted and made the safari experience happen even better than we knew it could! In particular, Idube lodge was even better than we ever imagined it to be. We saw so many animals, while our amazing ranger and tracker taught us about life on safari. The food was amazing – some of the best we've ever had! We fully loved our time there and the staff were super helpful and lovely. Would 100% recommend.
    5 out of 5
  • We had a wonderful time - the Welgevonden is just a magical place, the undisputed highlight of our 19 days in South Africa, and our lodge was perfect for us too. I am SO emotional when it comes to animals that I am still welling up daily as I think of them all - their incredible markings, textures on skin, coats, eyes and lashes and those ever so slightly discernible noises, e.g. a baby rhino asking for mother’s milk and her obliging. Chris and I will remember our special time in the Welgevonden for many years to come. Thank you for all your help in making it all happen.
    5 out of 5
  • We couldn’t have had a better Destination Specialist than Arabella. She put together the trip I was looking for, did not overpromise anything and was very honest! Her suggestions were on point! Thank you! Furthermore, she was always available and dealt with any request very quickly!
    5 out of 5
  • Very good and well-planned itinerary. I had a great time in St Helena and my guides, Anthony and Maria, were great. I enjoyed all my trips around the island and had good interactions with the whale sharks. As for South Africa, I have never seen so many leopards on one trip before! I didn't see a chameleon unfortunately but the leopard overdose made up for that!
    5 out of 5
  • Incredible. Don't think we could have done anything to make it better. Oliver's attention to detail was very good and every day we had a new highlight. From our helicopter ride over Victoria Falls and the animal reserve, to our amazing safari camps in Botswana where all our needs were taken care of and we saw every animal possible in those areas, to our winery tours and museums in Cape Town. I've been asked how we will top this trip and I can honestly say I don't know how.
    5 out of 5
  • Our trip to S. Africa was amazing. Carina our agent did a fantastic job. Everything ran perfectly. We would definitely recommend NWS to our friends and would not hesitate to use NWS to plan another trip for us.
    5 out of 5

South Africa wildlife highlights

SAFARI in south Africa WITH EASE

Safari holidays in South Africa are usually concentrated in private game reserves around the Kruger National Park. These elegant and luxurious lodges offer first class game viewing and with regular ‘Big Five’ sightings you are likely to be on the edge of your seat with awe-inspiring wildlife experiences.  Great infrastructure, regular air connections, superb accommodation, malaria-free zones and a focus on service quality make South Africa perfect for family safaris, as well as a fantastic honeymoon destination.

For further information on when's the best time to go to South Africa, what currency to take to South Africa, is it safe to drink the tap water, contact our Southern Africa specialist who can help you design your perfect safari.

DIVERSE SOUTH AFRICA

Due to its scenic and cultural diversity, plus some of the best wildlife viewing anywhere in Africa, South Africa has something to offer every type of visitor. Be it wildlife viewing, wine tasting, beach relaxation or cultural interaction, there is something to please all tastes. If your main aim is to swim with penguins on Boulders Beach or walk with lions in the Kruger National Park, we can put you in the right place at the right time to maximise your enjoyment of your South Africa holiday 

You will also experience one of the friendliest and most welcoming nations in Africa and are bound to be greeted with broad smiles everywhere you go.  Generally the weather on the east coast is tropical with hot summers and mild winters with most of the rain falling between October and March. Cape Town, with its enticing mix of modern vibrancy and fascinating history, is almost opposite to this with warm dry summers and cold wet winters, and the areas around the Kruger National Park are generally the same as Durban with less humidity in the air. 

With 11 official languages, South Africa is rich in culture, supporting several tribes including the mighty Zulus of the east coast.

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GREAT FOR FAMILIES

South Africa provides an excellent experience for families, from learning bush skills to more adrenaline pumping activities; we’ve outlined some of our favourite family activities below:

  • Visit the ostrich farms on the garden route.
  • Head to De Zeekoe to meet the meerkats.
  • Explore Addo Elephant Park via a self-drive safari or enjoy the hiking trails.
  • Venture through private nature reserves and meet the elephants at Knysna.
  • We can arrange family safaris including accommodation with safari kids clubs so they can learn bush survival techniques, track animals and take part in conservation projects.
  • Enjoy Boulders Beach in Cape Town, home to about 3,000 penguins on their own sandy beach.

Why book with us

We are destination specialists

Our team of specialists have extensive on-the-ground knowledge and have all lived, guided or explored in great detail the destinations that they sell. They will design your journey around you, at the right place at the right time.

We are wildlife specialists

As a leading specialist operator we have excellent partnerships with naturalists and conservationists. We know our wildlife and do what we can to preserve its natural habitat.

We really care about our destinations

At Natural World Safaris we frequently monitor the social, economic and environmental impact of our travel operations to ensure we are at the forefront of a sustainable and ethical tourism industry. 

Talk to one of our specialists for further details on travelling to South Africa.

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