Safaris in South Africa

Many guests ask us: when is the best time to travel for safaris in South Africa?

South Africa can be visited all year round, and the best time to travel for your South Africa safari tour depends on the activities you would like to do.

December – February (summer):

This is the hottest and probably most popular time to travel for a South Africa holiday overall, especially for the beaches and Cape Town. It can get very hot in the north and east, and this is when it rains the most. The rain turns the national parks green, which makes wildlife viewing somewhat more difficult. It is therefore not the best time to travel for a South Africa safari.

March – May (autumn):

If you are looking for pleasant temperatures and fewer tourists, the South African autumn is a good time to travel. The landscape is still very green, which makes wildlife viewing somewhat more difficult, but from May the landscape gradually dries out.

June – August (winter):

Best time to travel for safaris in South Africa, as it is the dry season in the north and on the east coast of South Africa. The animals gather around the remaining waterholes and are easy to spot thanks to the sparse vegetation. It is colder in Cape Town now and it may rain.

September – November (spring):

In spring it gradually gets warmer and it is an excellent time for safaris, as the animals are still around the waterholes and there are many newborns. September is also a good time to combine a safari with whale watching.

South Africa is very large and you should allow at least three weeks to travel through large parts of the country. If you have less time, you should choose either the north and east of South Africa or the south.

If you have any further questions about your South Africa trip with safari, we are happy to help.

Many of our German-speaking travel experts live in South Africa themselves and share their personal experiences and tips. This way we can plan your South Africa safari tour entirely individually.

Book a personal consultation here!

Yes, South Africa is a great safari destination for families with children, as it offers a wide choice of family-friendly activities, adventure and relaxation. Here are our top recommendations:

• Madikwe Game Reserve: located in the north of South Africa on the border with Botswana, it is one of the most family-friendly reserves, as it is classified as malaria-free and offers shorter game drives.
• Addo Elephant National Park: known for great wildlife viewing, safe routes for self-drivers and child-friendly accommodation.
• Pilanesberg National Park: located near Johannesburg, it is home to the Big Five, well suited to self-drive safaris and offers child-friendly accommodation.
• Kruger National Park: Although there is a risk of malaria in Kruger National Park, it is suitable for families with children, because South Africa's most popular national park has excellent infrastructure that makes a family holiday safe. There is plenty of child-friendly accommodation, and the experienced guides know how best to cater for holidaymakers of every age

Compared with many other countries, South Africa also has more fenced safari accommodation, which provides extra safety when travelling with children.

Instead of a self-drive tour, you can book a guided South Africa safari – an experienced guide takes the wheel, and the whole family can enjoy the wildlife in a relaxed way. Parents and children experience unforgettable adventures without having to worry about navigating on the left-hand side of the road or safety in national parks. Perfect for a stress-free family holiday!

A South Africa holiday with safari can also be combined with other activities, for example a trip along the Garden Route or a visit to Cape Town.

If you would like to learn more about travelling with children in southern Africa, and perhaps are not quite sure whether Namibia or South Africa is the right destination, we recommend our blog on this topic.

Yes – the special thing about a safari holiday in South Africa is that it can easily be combined with other activities, which is very popular with our guests.

A South Africa safari holiday has a lot to offer in terms of scenery and culture and can be designed entirely according to your wishes.

Particularly popular with visitors to South Africa is combining a safari trip with Cape Town and the Garden Route. A perfect balance for relaxing, indulging and unwinding after exciting days in the national parks.

The great advantage of South Africa is its good infrastructure, so you can get from A to B without any problem – either with a short domestic flight, on your own by rental car, or together with an experienced guide.

For example, you can visit Kruger National Park, fly from Johannesburg to George the next day and then explore the Garden Route all the way to Cape Town. If you would like to know more about what you can do in addition to your South Africa safari, we are happy to help.

From hiking in the Drakensberg and exploring the South African cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban to a breathtaking coastline. Between adventure, relaxation and activities, you are free to choose.

With our local subsidiary we know the country inside out.

Simply contact us and we will be happy to help you book your South Africa safari.

For a South Africa holiday you should plan at least two weeks. However, the ideal duration for safaris in South Africa depends greatly on which national parks you would like to visit, which activities you would like to do outside the safari, what your interests are and how you would like to travel.

How many days you need for a South Africa trip with safari is explained in detail here in this blog

South Africa has a lot to offer and most of our guests want to visit more than just one national park and combine their trip with other activities, such as a road trip along the Garden Route.

Given the size of the country and the long journey there, we recommend a duration of two to three weeks.

If you have less time available, you should choose either the north and east or the south of South Africa. You can always come back to explore other parts of this extraordinary country.

Minimum duration for a safari

The minimum duration of the safari part of a South Africa holiday is 3 to 4 days. Madikwe Game Reserve or Pilanesberg National Park, for example, are suitable for this; both are easy to reach from Johannesburg and offer Big Five sightings.

With a domestic flight you can continue to Cape Town and round off your holiday with a stay in the coastal city.

For a classic safari in Kruger National Park and its private reserves such as Sabi Sands, you should allow at least five days to enjoy the game drives and activities to the full.

These reserves offer first-class guides and experiences that make your South Africa safari unforgettable.

Kruger National Park can usually be combined with a short stay in the South African metropolis of Johannesburg, from where you can easily continue by domestic flight to other destinations such as Durban or Cape Town.

If you would like to visit more than one national park, you should allow at least 10 days. This way you can explore the many facets of this wonderful country with more time and calm.

You could, for example, start with Kruger National Park and then continue to iSimangaliso Wetland Park or Hluhluwe-iMfolozi to experience different landscapes and activities.

The number of people in a group on a safari in South Africa depends on whether you book a private safari, a group safari or a self-drive safari.

Self-drive

On a self-drive safari it is only you and your family or friends. This probably makes it the most private experience of all the options.

Since you are travelling on your own, you can also do the game drives alone in your rental car. Alternatively, you can add guided game drives with a professional guide from your lodge as an activity on your self-drive tour.

Of course, we will help you with trip planning and choosing a rental car for your self-drive safari in South Africa.

Private safari

On a private safari you fly or drive to a game reserve and the game drives are run directly from the lodge ("Game Package"), as the lodges have their own vehicles. Other lodge guests may also join you, depending on how many fit in the vehicle.

If you book your South Africa safari with us, you can also travel from place to place in a Mercedes Sprinter with the guides of our subsidiary and do the game drives together with them. In this case, only the participants of the private safari are on board. A truly unique experience.

Group safari

On a South Africa group safari, the group size depends on the type of trip. At Elefant-Tours we offer either small-group tours in a tour vehicle with up to ten participants or larger group safaris in an overland truck with up to 16 participants.

Sharing such experiences with a group of people can be truly unique and who knows, perhaps you will even make a new friend or two.

Whether self-drive, private or group safari – which option you choose depends entirely on your preferences, interests and budget, as this of course also affects the cost of your South Africa safari. Each option has its advantages, and from privacy and freedom to togetherness and fun, you can experience it all on a safari in South Africa.

South Africa is one of the best countries in all of Africa for self-drive safaris. Most national parks practically invite you to explore them on your own.

South Africa scores with a well-developed infrastructure, including good road conditions and appropriate signposting. This makes it possible even for first-time visitors to South Africa to travel on their own.

In national parks such as Kruger, Addo Elephant Park and iSimangaliso you will find well-maintained gravel or tarmac roads, and for certain sections of the parks you don't even need a 4x4 vehicle.

Self-drive safaris in South Africa are ideal for anyone who values freedom and flexibility and would rather decide their own route than have to take others into account. It is often also the more affordable choice, as you save the cost of a guide and a 4×4 vehicle.

But of course you are not alone in the planning: you tell us what you would like to experience, and we put together your itinerary and book your accommodation and a car with a reliable provider. Everything according to your wishes.

Self-drive safaris are also ideal for families and/or friends who like to travel together and are looking for a private experience.

Please note, however, that private reserves in particular (such as Sabi Sands) do not allow self-drivers. If you want exclusivity and luxury, you should consider a guided safari – which can also be private.

Some national parks such as Kruger are partly accessible to self-drivers and partly not. Talk to us beforehand about exactly where you want to go. It can have many advantages to have an experienced guide at your side and benefit from his or her expertise. And sometimes it doesn't hurt to simply let your soul unwind on holiday.

Whether a self-drive safari in South Africa is the right choice for you therefore depends on your priorities and preferences.

We are happy to advise you! You can book your safari in South Africa with us.

On a safari in South Africa you can choose from a wide variety of accommodation, depending on your preferences and what your budget allows. From luxurious lodges to self-catering chalets, every type of accommodation can make your safari trip in South Africa an unforgettable experience.

Private reserves such as Sabi Sands or Madikwe in particular are known for their first-class accommodation. Here you enjoy not only unforgettable views, world-class cuisine and personalised game drives, but also a spa and infinity pool.

There are also mid-range safari lodges as well as tents in national parks such as Kruger, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi or Addo Elephant Park. These invite you to rest and relax and offer everything you need. There are either restaurants or you can opt for self-catering.

Do you have questions about which accommodation is right for you?

Then contact us and we will be happy to help. With us you will receive an individual, non-binding offer with the costs for your safari in South Africa.

On most of our tours, and when you are staying in the classic safari lodges, you will usually enjoy half board on a South Africa safari tour.

In the morning there is a hearty breakfast buffet to fortify you before or after the first game drive. From pancakes to muesli to savoury options, there is something for every taste. Of course there is also coffee, tea and freshly squeezed juices.

Depending on the route, lunch can be taken along the way as a packed lunch or in a restaurant, and dinner usually takes place again at the lodge or at the accommodation.

Unlike in other safari destinations, lunch on guided South Africa tours is often "optional". This means that you can buy a snack along the way as you wish.

Drinks can be purchased at the lodges or along the way. There is usually a good selection of soft drinks and water as well as alcoholic drinks and a good choice of South African wines.

You don't need to worry about the food, because South Africa is known for its excellent cuisine and above all for its particularly good value for money. Foodies will definitely get their money's worth.