AFRICA · GAME DRIVES & BIG FIVE SAFARIS

The 15 Best Big Five Game Drives in Africa

53 tours  ·  from $36 a head

Animals move at dawn and dusk and sleep through the middle, so a reserve day is two short drives around a long breakfast. These 15 compare Kruger, the Eastern Cape, the Serengeti and the reserves near Cape Town on price, transfer time and whether flights are included.

Serengeti Balloon Safari and authentic bush breakfast - The one-hour flight over the Serengeti
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Serengeti Balloon Safari and authentic bush breakfast

1.Serengeti Balloon Safari and authentic bush breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,480 reviews · from $550Our pick

You’ll lift off around dawn for about an hour above the Serengeti, guided by pilots such as Paul, Jeff, Kevin, Mohamed, or Derek. After landing, celebrate with bubbly and a full English breakfast beneath an acacia tree. Flights run year-round in Seronera, with seasonal options in Kogatende, Ndutu, and Kiwarira.

“Ballooning over the Serengeti is a must do experience. The pilot Kevin and all the support staff were highly professional making the entire event, pre and post flight thoroughly enjoyable. The post flight breakfast under an acacia tree was top notch with great food and excellent service. Thank you!”

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From Cape Town: Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch - Arriving at Aquila Private Nature Reserve
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From Cape Town: Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch

2.Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,409 reviews · 9 hours · from $236

Leave Cape Town by air-conditioned minibus for Aquila Private Nature Reserve, about 2.5 hours away. After a welcome drink and buffet lunch, join a two-hour open-vehicle safari with an English-speaking ranger. Expect close views of lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and more, with guides such as Trevor, Aiden, or Kayim leading the drive.

“What a great trip! First, our driver, Denver, was amazing and even came back after I left my hat in his van! The resort is BEAUTIFUL! Be aware that while the food is free, any drinks you order with lunch does have a charge (but it’s VERY minimal). Our safari guide Trevor was AMAZING! We saw 4/5 Big Five animals and he made sure to turn our jeep so we all got great views and great pictures. The animals all seem very happy and while contained, have so much room to roam. The presence of babies for several species indicates they are happy and living life. The ride is BUMPY…”

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Balloon Safari & Bush Breakfast in Serengeti - Miracle Experience - Before sunrise at the launch site
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Balloon Safari & Bush Breakfast in Serengeti – Miracle Experience

3.Balloon Safari & Bush Breakfast in Serengeti – Miracle Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,646 reviews · from $599

Leave your Serengeti camp before dawn for a hot-air-balloon flight with Miracle Experience. Meet your pilot, watch the balloon inflate, rise over the plains for about an hour, and use provided binoculars to look for lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest. Land for a Champagne toast, bush breakfast, and completion certificate.

“This was the highlight of our trip to The Serengeti and an experience we’ll never forget. The views and vast expanse of The Serengeti are truly amazing. The experience was extremely well organised and we felt totally safe with our pilot, Ed. The champagne breakfast was delicious and a lovely ending to our flight.”

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From Zanzibar: Day Selous Game Reserve Safari with Flights - Coffee, cake, and a table in the bush
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From Zanzibar: Day Selous Game Reserve Safari with Flights

4.Day Selous Game Reserve Safari with Flights

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,025 reviews · from $470

Fly from Zanzibar to Selous/Nyerere National Park for a full-day 4x4 safari with an English-speaking guide, coffee break, and warm bush lunch. Guides such as Eli, Herman, Dennis, and Songoro are praised for spotting lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and more. Return flights and hotel transfers are included.

“Steven was a lovely guide friendly and informative. The jeep was slightly battererdand uncomfortable though. But everything went like clockwork.”

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Walvis Bay: Marine Big 5 Luxury Catamaran Tour - Crossing the Bay Toward Pelican Point
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Walvis Bay: Marine Big 5 Luxury Catamaran Tour

5.Marine Big 5 Luxury Catamaran Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,012 reviews · 3h 30m · from $76

Join guides such as Bertie, Steven, or Raymond for a 210-minute catamaran cruise from Walvis Bay Waterfront. Watch for dolphins, whales, sunfish, turtles, seals, and pelicans, then enjoy oysters, sparkling wine, snacks, beer, and soft drinks aboard. The tour runs in English, Afrikaans, or German and is wheelchair accessible.

“Great staff, great sightings, great variety of food & drink offered. Was way beyond my expectations. Every piece of communication we received said to arrive at 8:10 for a 8:30 departure, however when we arrived at 8:10, we were told it was a 8:45 arrival for a 9:00 departure.”

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Kruger National Park Full Day Private safari - Searching Kruger for the Big Five
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Kruger National Park Full Day Private safari

6.Kruger National Park Full Day Private safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 799 reviews · from $158

Start from Hazyview at 5:30 am for a private Kruger safari with a professional guide, bottled water, wildlife stops, breakfast at one rest camp, and lunch at another. Guides such as Senzo, Didi, and Patrick are praised for clear park and animal explanations. Food and conservation fees cost extra.

“Didi proved to be quite an awesome guide—he was very knowledgeable about so many things in the park, and was able to answer all of our questions. He also got us up close and personal with white rhinos, elephants, leapards, zebras, giraffes, and countless other small gaRead more”

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Nairobi National Park Half-Day Game Drive - Hotel pickup and the ride to the gate
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Nairobi National Park Half-Day Game Drive

7.Nairobi National Park Half-Day Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 738 reviews · 5 hours · from $36Best value

Spend about four hours tracking lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and birds in Nairobi National Park, then stop for coffee and Maasai crafts in Karen. Hotel pickup, bottled water, Wi-Fi, and an English-speaking guide are included. Guides such as Edwin, William, Francis, and David have earned strong praise for spotting animals and helping with photos.

“It was a wonderful trip. I really enjoyed my half day trip. The guide/driver, Frances, was very friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable of every animal and environment. He provided the best experience for the trip by taking us to places that maximised our chances for spotting the animals and for the best photos by being flexible on returning to a site or waiting for us to get the picture we wanted. Including providing a tour of the beads-making initiative and Maasai market also provided a great overview of the rules and responsibilities of tourists when in the park. He was also very helpful in sorting out the issues we had for…”

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Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour - The boat ride and the search for five species
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Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour

8.Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 593 reviews · 2.5 - 10 hours · from $155

From Gansbaai, cruise the Dyer Island ecosystem aboard a wheelchair-friendly whale-watching boat. A marine biologist explains the wildlife while you search for whales, sharks, seals, dolphins, and penguins. Expect coffee and muffins before departure, soup afterward, and optional Cape Town or Hermanus transfers. Weather, tides, and animal behavior determine the schedule and sightings.

“Amazing tour. We were very lucky when it comes to seeing animals. The crew was excellent and the soup afterwards delicious. Highly recommended”

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Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive - Riding in the Open Game Vehicle
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Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

9.Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 589 reviews · from $40

Spend three hours in an open game-viewing vehicle at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve near Little Brak River. Your English-speaking guide searches for rhinos, lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, zebras, and more across 4,200 hectares. Guides such as Chris, Neil, Rico, and Mandela are praised for sharp eyes, humor, and animal knowledge.

“Botlierskop is a wonderful, upmarket place for a game drive. Despite not seeing any lions (there had been lots the day before, we were told!), we had a great time and saw numerous other animals and birds, from giraffe to zebra to rhinos. We were confident that our driver/ranger wanted us to see as much as possible. And boy, did he work that bone-shaker four wheel drive to the max! Lunch was great too. Highly recommened and excellent value for three hours. Thank you.”

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Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town - The drive from Cape Town to Touws River
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Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

10.Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 576 reviews · from $184

Spend about nine hours traveling from Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve, a malaria-free private reserve in the Karoo. An open-vehicle drive lasts about three hours, followed by a buffet lunch. Guides such as Mike, Abriel, and Habibi have earned praise for their animal knowledge and warm style. Expect a scenic but bumpy day.

“Our driver to the safari was Denver. He was amazing. He was accommodating, personable and professional. I had terrible motion sickness and he stopped and allowed me to get a stomach remedy from a nearby pharmacy so my daughter and Read more”

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3 Days Serengeti & Ngorongoro Group Camping Safari - Day 1: the long road from Arusha to Seronera
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3 Days Serengeti & Ngorongoro Group Camping Safari

11.3 Days Serengeti & Ngorongoro Group Camping Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 574 reviews · from $815

Travel from Arusha to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in a small group capped at six in the tour overview, with a stated maximum of seven. Expect game drives, tent camping at Seronera and Simba campsites, included meals, and an experienced driver-guide. Guide Elias has earned special praise for his animal knowledge and route choices.

“The staff was knowledgeable and helpful Always on time The food was very good They made my first safari an unforgettable experience”

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Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip - Du Toitskloof Pass and the first mountain views
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Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

12.Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 526 reviews · from $155

Travel from Cape Town through Du Toitskloof Pass and the Breede River Valley to Aquila Private Game Reserve. A professional guide such as Mike, Werner, or Jamie handles the drive, while a reserve ranger leads the 2 to 3 hour safari. Expect a buffet lunch, champagne, optional wine tasting, and a busy but rewarding day.

“It was my very first safari ever and it was absolutely amazing. Mike went above and beyond! He managed everything extremely well and thanks to him I did not have to que a single time. Also his knowledge about the area is huge. You can Read more”

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Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive - Pickup, road time, and the first part of the journey
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Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

13.Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 508 reviews · 9 hours · from $168

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve for a sunset drive in an open 4x4 truck. Expect a long but scenic day, a 45-minute wine tasting, welcome drinks, snacks or buffet food, and a ranger-led search for lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, leopards, giraffes, and more. Guides such as Elda, Dona, Frank, and Josh are often praised for their local knowledge and warm style.

“The trip was amazing, both the driver to Aquila and the safari tour guide were amazing. They both explained things very well. On the way from CPT to Aquila our driver explained some history about CPT, the winefarms and the wars, it kept the drive entertaining. Shoutout to Dona (our driver) (with one a)😉. The safari tour guide was also very good. The park itself is beautiful aswell, it’s not the biggest, but it was big enough to see a lot of animals. We managed to see 4 out of the big 5. The leopard was the only one we didn’t see. Apart from the animals in the big 5…”

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From Nairobi: 3 Days, 2 Nights Maasai Mara Group Safari - Nairobi pickup and the long road south
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From Nairobi: 3 Days, 2 Nights Maasai Mara Group Safari

14.3 Days, 2 Nights Maasai Mara Group Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 394 reviews · 3 days · from $199

Join a 7 to 8 person safari from Nairobi to Maasai Mara for sunset and full-day game drives in a Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof. Sleep two nights in a private tent with a shower and toilet, eat included meals, and add a Maasai village visit or hot-air balloon ride if selected. Guides such as Sammy, Castro, and Paul are known for sharp animal spotting.

“It was a great safari, however, make yourself aware of the migration season to have the best experience.”

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Nairobi National Park 5-hour Guided Game Drive Free Pick up - Pickup from Nairobi hotels and the ride to the gate
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Nairobi National Park 5-hour Guided Game Drive Free Pick up

15.Nairobi National Park 5-hour Guided Game Drive Free Pick up

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 367 reviews · 5 hours · from $37

You’ll spend five hours exploring Nairobi National Park by Jeep or SUV with a guide such as Daniel, Linus, Willy, or Francis. Look for lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, ostriches, and more, then stop at KOBE TOUGH beads and leather. Hotel pickup, bottled water, Wi-Fi, and several language options are included, but park entry costs extra.

“I enjoyed every bit of it. The guide knew his way around the park and how to spot the animals. He responded well to the questions asked and dropped us off at our respective hotels/apartments.”

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