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These wildlife highlights include far more than just the Big 5, as there is a plethora of species big and small to be found. On tour we typically book comfortable national park accommodation and semi-luxury private lodges, but more luxury private lodges are plentiful and also available in select world-class reserves.
Mammal species include:
Caracal, Serval, African Wild Dog, African Striped Weasel, Aardvark, Aardwolf, Leopard, Lion, African Elephant, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Common Hippopotamus, Brown Hyena, Cheetah, Honey Badger, Giraffe (Southern), Plains Zebra, Temminck’s Ground Pangolin, African Wild Cat, Side-striped Jackal, Black-backed Jackal, Suricate (Meerkat), Southern African Hedgehog, Striped Polecat (Zorilla), Cape Clawless Otter, Spotted-necked Otter, Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, Red Hartebeest, Tsessebe, Common Eland, Blue Wildebeest, Black Wildebeest, Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope, Greater Kudu, Common Waterbuck, Nyala, Southern Bushbuck, Impala, Klipspringer, Southern Reedbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Grey Rhebok, Sharpe’s Grysbok, Suni, Steenbok, Blue Duiker, Red Duiker, Common Duiker, Natal Red Rock Rabbit, Hewitt’s Red Rock Rabbit, Scrub Hare, Southern African Springhare, Cape Porcupine, Common Bushpig, Common Warthog, Water Mongoose, Large Grey Mongoose, Selous’ Mongoose, Meller’s Mongoose, Banded Mongoose, Common Dwarf Mongoose, White-tailed Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, Yellow Mongoose, Eastern Rock Sengi (Elephant Shrew), Four-toed Sengi, Bushveld Sengi, Small-spotted Genet, Rusty-spotted Genet, Chacma Baboon, Samango (Syke’s) Monkey, Vervet Monkey, Thick-tailed Bushbaby, Lesser Bushbaby, Rock Hyrax, Southern African Ground Squirrel, Humpback Whale, Orca (Killer Whale), Long-beaked Common Dolphin, Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, numerous mice, dormice, bat, shrew, mole, mole-rat, and rat species.
Other species of interest include:
Southern African Python, Black Mamba, Green Mamba, East African Gaboon Adder, Forest Cobra, Snouted Cobra, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Rinkhals, Boomslang, Vine Snake, Puff Adder, Rhombic Night Adder, Bibron’s Stiletto Snake, Leopard Tortoise, Natal Hinged Tortoise, Southern Flame-bordered Charaxes, Mottled-green Nymph, Gold Banded Forester, Pickersgill’s Reed Frog, Natal Cascade Frog, Kloof Frog, Banded Rubber Frog.
The Sabi Sand Reserve is the birthplace of sustainable wildlife tourism in the Greater Kruger region, and this lead to a burgeoning of ecotourism and conservation in Africa.
Adjacent is the 13,000ha Kapama Reserve, the Timbavati Reserve, and the Balule Game Reserve, and all share unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park, allowing the free movement of animals.
Nowhere in South Africa can you find a wildlife experience quite like this. The immense and diverse tracts of land are home to the Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant), and several endangered species.
Three rivers – the Sand, Sabie, and Klaserie – supply water to the reserves, sustaining their ecosystems and contributing to one of Africa’s most biodiverse wildlife populations. Over 200 species thrive here, while the ever-changing birdlife and rarities offer significant interest even for the most experienced ornithologists.
Mammal species include: Caracal, Serval, African Wild Dog, Aardvark, Leopard, Lion, African Elephant, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Common Hippopotamus, Spotted Hyena, Cheetah, Honey Badger, Giraffe (Southern), Plains Zebra, Temminck’s Ground Pangolin, African Wild Cat, Black-backed Jackal, Cape Clawless Otter, Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, Common Eland, Blue Wildebeest, Black Wildebeest, Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope, Greater Kudu, Common Waterbuck, Nyala, Southern Bushbuck, Impala, Klipspringer, Southern Reedbuck, Sharpe’s Grysbok, Steenbok, Common Duiker, Scrub Hare, Southern African Springhare, Cape Porcupine, Common Warthog, Selous’ Mongoose, Banded Mongoose, Common Dwarf Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, Four-toed Sengi, Bushveld Sengi, Small-spotted Genet, Rusty-spotted Genet, Chacma Baboon, Lesser Bushbaby.
Other species of interest include: Southern African Python, Black Mamba, Snouted Cobra, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Boomslang, Puff Adder, Rhombic Night Adder, Leopard Tortoise.
Spanning 19,685km², the Kruger National Park is the tenth largest game reserve in the world. It supports the widest variety of wildlife species on the African continent, including the Big 5 and another 140+ mammal species.
The Kruger forms part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, and offers varied terrain from mountains and bush plains to forests. Its extensive infrastructure includes 3 000km of road, 23 rest camps, many excellent picnic sites, walking trails and 4×4 routes. It also features hides and dams, optimizing sightings.
Big-game viewing in the Kruger rivals that of any reserve in Africa, with large populations of African Elephant, Cape Buffalo and Lion easily spotted. While there are many other mammals present, other target species include: African Wild Dog, Cheetah, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Spotted Hyena, Honey Badger, Cape Clawless Otter, African Wild Cat, Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, Sable and Sharpe’s Grysbok.
The Kruger is also a birding paradise. Every year, over a million visitors tally up around 520 species. Birders are also challenged to spot the “Big 6”: Saddle-billed Stork, Kori Bustard, Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, and Southern Ground Hornbill.
While birding peaks during the summer months (November to March) with the influx of migratory species, the Kruger remains a rewarding destination year-round. Even in the winter months (May to July), a great number of birds can be seen.
This 96,000ha reserve is the oldest in Africa, having been established in 1895. Situated about 250km north of Durban in the Zululand region of KwaZulu-Natal province, the park is recognized for its rich biodiversity and significant conservation achievements.
Caracal, Serval, As the home of Operation Rhino in the 1950s and 60s, it has played a crucial role in preserving both black and white rhino populations. It’s also famous for being the royal hunting grounds of past Zulu kings.
As one of only two state-managed parks in KwaZulu-Natal and home to the Africa’s large and dangerous megafauna, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi also hosts other notable mammal species, such as:
African Wild Dog, Leopard, Lion, African Elephant, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Common Hippopotamus, Spotted Hyena, Cheetah, Honey Badger, Caracal, Serval, Giraffe (Southern), Plains Zebra, African Wild Cat, Black-backed Jackal, Side-striped Jackal, Blue Wildebeest, Greater Kudu, Common Waterbuck, Southern Bushbuck, Nyala, Impala, Southern Reedbuck, Common Duiker, Scrub Hare, Cape Porcupine, Common Bushpig, Common Warthog, Banded Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, White-tailed Mongoose, Small-spotted Genet, Rusty-spotted Genet, Chacma Baboon, Samango (Syke’s) Mongoose, Vervet Monkey, Thick-tailed Bushbaby.
With a varied terrain of hills and river valleys, the park is also a prime birding destination home to over 340 bird species, including several endemics and specials, as well as many raptors, from large eagles to vultures and accipiters to owls.
Other species of interest include: Southern African Python, Black Mamba, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Boomslang, Puff Adder, Rhombic Night Adder, Leopard Tortoise and Natal Hinged Tortoise.
This 80,000 hectare premium game reserve is home to rich biodiversity, with the “Big Five” and a thriving population of 86 mammals, 350 birds, and 104 trees all existing in a malaria-free environment.
This semi-arid reserve stretches north from the small town of Groot-Marico up to the Botswana border.
Madikwe is the fifth-largest game reserve in South Africa. The reserve ranges from the Dwarsberg mountains in the south to the Inselbergs in the west and the Marico River in the east, with vast open plains in between. Here, the famous Big 5 – Lion, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, African Elephant, and both Black and White Rhino – roam, along with African Wild Dog, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Cheetah, Giraffe, African Civet and Caracal.
The reserve is also home to several antelope species, as well as other mammals ranging from Aardvark to Plains Zebra, Cape Porcupine, Common Warthog, Lesser Bushbaby in between.
More than 650 species of birds have been recorded too, including Martial Eagle, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Short-toed Rock Thrush, Kori Bustard, Common Ostrich, Southern Pied Babbler, Crimson-breasted Shrike, White-throated Robin Chat, Barred Wren-Warbler, White-throated Robin Chat, Temminck’s Courser.
Welgevonden Private Game Reserve comprises 37,000 hectares of diverse landscapes and geology and a plethora of South Africa’s most stunning wildlife in the heart of the rich ecosystem of the Waterberg District in Limpopo.
Aptly, Welgevonden translates as ‘well found’. The reserve is malaria free and an easy 2.5-hour drive from Johannesburg, making it one of the most accessible premier wilderness reserves in South Africa.
Overall, more than 129 mammal, 350 bird and 2,000 plant species can be found here. The mammals including the Leopard, Lion, African Elephant, Cheetah, Brown Hyena, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Honey Badger, Greater Kudu, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Plains Zebra, Common Warthog, Cape Porcupine, Black-backed Jackal, Greater Kudu, Klipspringer, Common Warthog, Impala, Klipspringer and Blue Wildebeest. and close to 300 bird species and a whole lot more.
The savanna areas consist of rolling grasslands and a semi-deciduous forest with trees such as mountain syringa, silver-leaf terminalia and lavender tree. The canopy is mostly leafless during the mid-year dry winter.
A few birds of keen interest include: Verreaux’s Eagle, White-bellied Bustard, Blue Crane, Coqui Francolin, Red-headed Weaver, Bushveld Pipit, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Freckled Nightjar and more.
Pilanesberg is a 68,000 hectare Big Five reserve located 2 hours north-west of Johannesburg adjacent the Sun City entertainment complex in the North West Province of South Africa.
Pilanesberg is a Big 5 game reserve nestled within a fascinating alkaline complex crater of one of the largest extinct volcanos on the continent. It is the 4th largest game reserve in South Africa.
The reserve exists within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation, commonly referred to as “Bushveld”.
In 1979, Operation Genesis was launched to reinforce the homegrown game population with 110 kilometres of game fence erected, 188 kilometres of roads established, and the introduction of 6,000 animal species.
The reserve is home to the Big 5 – Lion, Leopard, African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, and both Black and White Rhino – as well as Brown Hyena, Cheetah, Serval, Sable, Eland, Giraffe, African Wild Cat, Caracal, Honey Badger, Plains Zebra, Cape Porcupine, Common Warthog.
Birds of interest include: Common Ostrich, Blue-billed Teal, Orange River Francolin, Shelly’s Francolin, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Shaft-tailed Whydah.
Manyoni Private Game Reserve lies in the heart of Zululand, an area that is world renowned for its spectacular game viewing, rich cultural traditions, and conservation history.
Initially formed as part of the WWF black rhino range expansion project, Manyoni has become one of the premier big five safari destinations in KwaZulu-Natal with a strong focus on endangered species conservation. This 23,000 hectare reserve is located 3 hours north of Durban.
The area falls under the Mkuze Valley Lowveld vegetation type, varying from open Savanna thornveld, bushveld to riverine woodland, characterized by Acacia and Marula tree species. The reserve has over 70 mammal species and an exceptional diversity of birdlife.
Mammal species include: Temminck’s Ground Pangolin, Cheetah, Leopard, Lion, African Elephant, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Honey Badger, Serval, White-tailed Mongoose, Common Hippopotamus, Giraffe (Southern), Plains Zebra, Black-backed Jackal, Side-striped Jackal, Blue Wildebeest, Greater Kudu, Common Waterbuck, Southern Bushbuck, Nyala, Impala, Common Duiker, Scrub Hare, Cape Porcupine, Common Bushpig, Common Warthog, Banded Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, Small-spotted Genet, Rusty-spotted Genet, Chacma Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Thick-tailed Bushbaby.
Target birds: Pink-throated Twinspot, Green Twinspot Neergard’s Sunbird, African Broadbill, Black Coucal, Gorgeous Bush Shrike, Bushveld Pipit, Shelly’s Francolin, Rudd’s Apalis.
Other species of interest include: Southern African Python, Black Mamba, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Boomslang, Puff Adder, Leopard Tortoise, Natal Hinged Tortoise, Bell’s Hinged Tortoise.
Babanango Game Reserve, located in the heart of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, is a showcase for one of the most ambitious rewilding projects in Southern Africa.
Set among the breathtaking topography of the upper White Umfolozi River Valley, the reserve occupies a vast wilderness area of over 20,000 hectares that is steeped in Zulu history and layered upon geological features that date back to the beginning of time.
The landscape of Babanango, with its rugged mountains and serene valleys, serves as a sanctuary for an incredible variety of birds, plants, insects, reptiles, and mammals. This is a malaria free Big 5 reserve.
Mammal species include: Cheetah, Leopard, Lion, African Elephant, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Brown Hyena, Honey Badger, Serval, Aardvark, Aardwolf, White-tailed Mongoose, Common Hippopotamus, Giraffe (Southern), Plains Zebra, Black-backed Jackal, Side-striped Jackal, Blue Wildebeest, Greater Kudu, Common Waterbuck, Oribi, Southern Bushbuck, Nyala, Impala, Common Duiker, Scrub Hare, Cape Porcupine, Common Bushpig, Common Warthog, Banded Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, Small-spotted Genet, Rusty-spotted Genet, Chacma Baboon, Vervet Monkey.
There are also 327 bird species, including: Secretarybird, Blue Crane, Southern Ground Hornbill, Common Ostrich, Verreaux’s Eagle, White-backed Vulture, Malachite Sunbird, Half-collared Kingfisher.
Tembe Elephant Park, covering 30,012ha, is notable for its diverse inhabitants, ranging from Africa’s largest land mammal, the African elephant, to one of its smallest antelopes, the suni.
Established as a protected area in 1983 by Chief Mzimba Tembe, the park is situated in Maputaland, approximately 405km north of Durban, a journey of about 4.5 hours by road.
The park is distinguished by its population of the largest elephants in Southern Africa, the most extensive tree diversity in South Africa and sand forest habitats. It is home to the Big 5 mammals (African Elephant, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Lion, and Leopard), African Wild Dog and numerous other species, including:
Common Hippopotamus, Spotted Hyena, Honey Badger, Caracal, Serval, Giraffe (Southern), Plains Zebra, African Wild Cat, Black-backed Jackal, Blue Wildebeest, Greater Kudu, Common Waterbuck, Southern Bushbuck, Nyala, Suni, Impala, Southern Reedbuck, Common Duiker, Scrub Hare, Cape Porcupine, Common Bushpig, Common Warthog, Banded Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, Small-spotted Genet, Rusty-spotted Genet, Samango (Syke’s) Mongoose, Vervet Monkey, Thick-tailed Bushbaby.
The park offers exceptional birding opportunities, with a recorded list of over 340 species, including many rarities and endemics. Its butterfly diversity is also unsurpassed.
Other species include: Southern African Python, Black Mamba, Green Mamba, East African Gaboon Adder, Forest Cobra, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Boomslang, Vine Snake, Puff Adder, Rhombic Night Adder, Leopard Tortoise, Natal Hinged Tortoise, Southern Flame-bordered Charaxes, Mottled-green Nymph, Gold Banded Forester.
This scenic reserve was established in 1912 and encompasses 40,000ha of many diverse ecosystems in northern Zululand. For its size, its species richness is unparalleled. The reserve forms part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first World Heritage Site.
Situated approximately 4 hours and 395km from Durban, Mkuze offers diverse game viewing opportunities, including the Big 5, wild dog and cheetah. It includes an exceptional variety of natural habitats, from the eastern slopes of the Lebombo Mountains to broad stretches of acacia savanna, swamps, a variety of woodlands, riverine areas and sand forests.
While mammal species on offer are: Cheetah, Leopard, Lion, African Elephant, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Common Hippopotamus, Spotted Hyena, Honey Badger, Caracal, Serval, Giraffe (Southern), Plains Zebra, African Wild Cat, Black-backed Jackal, Side-striped Jackal, Blue Wildebeest, Greater Kudu, Common Waterbuck, Southern Bushbuck, Nyala, Impala, Southern Reedbuck, Common Duiker, Scrub Hare, Cape Porcupine, Common Bushpig, Common Warthog, White-tailed Mongoose, Banded Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, Small-spotted Genet, Rusty-spotted Genet, Chacma Baboon, Samango (Syke’s) Mongoose, Vervet Monkey, Thick-tailed Bushbaby.
Mkuze is also renowned as a mecca for bird lovers, the most species rich in South Africa, with more than 420 species on record. Some include: Pel’s Fishing Owl, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Dark Chanting Goshawk, African Broadbill, Pink-throated Twinspot, Greater Honeyguide, African Pygmy Goose, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Eastern Nicator.
Other species of interest include: Southern African Python, Black Mamba, Forest Cobra, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Boomslang, Vine Snake, Puff Adder, Rhombic Night Adder, Leopard Tortoise, Natal Hinged Tortoise, Bell’s Hinged Tortoise.
The Eastern and Western Shores form the southern extent of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first World Heritage Site. This extraordinarily biodiverse park is the country’s third largest at 328,000 hectares.
iSimangaliso is situated 220km north of Durban in eastern Zululand and 3 hours by road. North of the popular tourist town of St Lucia, the reserve features a complex interlinked series of 5 ecosystems that provide diverse game viewing and birding opportunities.
The reserve is known for its Leopard, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, African Elephant and Common Hippo populations. While its north-western Mkuze section boasts Lion and Cheetah. Many other species on offer include: African Elephant, Spotted Hyena, Honey Badger, Serval, Giraffe (Southern), Plains Zebra, Black-backed Jackal, Side-striped Jackal, Blue Wildebeest, Greater Kudu, Common Waterbuck, Southern Bushbuck, Nyala, Impala, Tsessebe, Southern Reedbuck, Common Duiker, Red Duiker, Scrub Hare, Cape Porcupine, Common Bushpig, Common Warthog, White-tailed Mongoose, Banded Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, Small-spotted Genet, Rusty-spotted Genet, Chacma Baboon, Samango (Syke’s) Mongoose, Vervet Monkey, Thick-tailed Bushbaby.
A network of waterways provides excellent opportunities for spotting hippo and crocodile in their natural habitat. The scenic area includes a pristine beach and clear water ideal for snorkelling to observe the abundant marine mammals, which includes: Humpback Whale, Orca (Killer Whale), and Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin.
Other species of interest include: Southern African Python, Black Mamba, Green Mamba, East African Gaboon Adder, Forest Cobra, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Boomslang, Vine Snake, Puff Adder, Rhombic Night Adder, Leopard Tortoise, Natal Hinged Tortoise, Gold Banded Forester.