AFRICA · GAME DRIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA

15 Game Drives in South Africa to Build a Day Around

22 tours  ·  from $40 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 game drives in South Africa worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

From Cape Town: Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch - Arriving at Aquila Private Nature Reserve
Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in Cape Town, Game Drives in South Africa, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Tours in South Africa

From Cape Town: Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch

1.Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch

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

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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Kruger National Park Full Day Private safari - Searching Kruger for the Big Five
Full-Day, Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in South Africa, National Parks, Private, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours in South Africa

Kruger National Park Full Day Private safari

2.Kruger National Park Full Day Private safari

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

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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Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour - The boat ride and the search for five species
Cruises & Boat Tours, Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in Cape Town, Game Drives in South Africa, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Tours in South Africa

Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour

3.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
Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in South Africa, Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours in South Africa

Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

4.Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

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

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
Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in Cape Town, Game Drives in South Africa, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Tours in South Africa, Wildlife

Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

5.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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Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip - Du Toitskloof Pass and the first mountain views
1-Day Tours, Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in Cape Town, Game Drives in South Africa, Guided, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Tours in South Africa

Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

6.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
Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in Cape Town, Game Drives in South Africa, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Tours in South Africa

Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

7.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 Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive - Arrival drinks, food, and time at the reserve
Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in Cape Town, Game Drives in South Africa, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Tours in South Africa

From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

8.Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 350 reviews · 9 hours · from $167

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve for a sunset safari in an open 4x4 truck. Your English- or French-speaking guide may be joined by an experienced ranger such as Elda, Yannick, or Jean-Claude. Expect welcome drinks, snacks, close wildlife sightings, and a long but scenic day.

“Absolutely brilliant day! We were picked up by our lovely guide Mr Yannick. He was brilliant, really responsive via messaging, picked us up in a lovely car, told us lots of information about Cape Town. The safari / game drive was brilliant! Would highly recommend. Again Yannick was fab, waiting for us post game drive to take us back to the hotel , would highly recommend Emily”

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Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: Big 5 Full or Half-Day Safari - The 5:00 AM departure from St Lucia
Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in South Africa, Half-Day, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours in South Africa

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: Big 5 Full or Half-Day Safari

9.Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: Big 5 Full or Half-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 280 reviews · 390 - 510 minutes · from $87

Start from St Lucia at 5:00 AM or meet at Nyalazi Gate at 6:00 AM for a small-group safari in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. Your ranger, possibly Sifiso, Kyle, Theo, Jabu, or another experienced guide, leads you through rolling savannah in search of lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs. Full-day trips include breakfast and a traditional barbecue lunch.

“It was amazing We saw so many animals and our tour guide was phenomenal and enthusiastic.”

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Cape Town: Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari from V&A Waterfront - Cape Town’s Atlantic coast from the water
Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in Cape Town, Game Drives in South Africa, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Tours in South Africa

Cape Town: Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari from V&A Waterfront

10.Marine Big 5 Ocean Safari from V&A Waterfront

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 278 reviews · 1h 30m · from $68

From the V&A Waterfront, you’ll join an English-speaking crew aboard a luxury catamaran for a 90-minute search for Cape Town’s Marine Big 5. Expect Table Mountain and 12 Apostles views, seasonal wildlife, binoculars, muffins, hot chocolate, and a professional crew including guides such as Leslie, Bennie, and Patrick.

“Great tour, great guys. 10/10 tour. Love the sunfish and muffins”

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Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive - What you may see on the drive
2-Hour Experiences, Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in South Africa, Tour Reviews, Tours in Plettenberg Bay, Tours in South Africa

Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive

11.Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 267 reviews · 2 hours · from $55

Meet at the Safari Center for a 2-hour open-air game drive through a 2,200-hectare reserve below the Tsitsikamma Mountains. An English-speaking ranger leads the search for rhinos, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, antelope, birds, and possibly leopard or other Big Five animals. Bring warm clothing, arrive 30 minutes early, and plan your own transport.

“Really nice facility and park. Game Driver was very friendly and knowledgeable. For the price, it really is a great deal. We had the opportunity to see a good variety of animals. Visiting from Canada, we wanted to do a Safari near Kruger but couldn't make it work. This obviously wasn't that, but it was a great first experience and helped fill the void until next time. Highly recommend if you're in Plett - for the price you might as well try it.”

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Port Elizabeth: Schotia Game Reserve Safari with Port Pickup - Five hours of wildlife searching in an open 4x4
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Port Elizabeth: Schotia Game Reserve Safari with Port Pickup

12.Port Elizabeth: Schotia Game Reserve Safari with Port Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 263 reviews · 5 hours · from $233

From Port Elizabeth Harbor, travel by bus to Schotia Private Game Reserve for a five-hour open-vehicle safari. Guides such as Norman, Donald, Marilyn, Tim, and Robert work hard to find elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalo, hippos, giraffes, and more. Snacks, drinks, conservation fees, and port transfers are included.

“Our pick up for the tour was at the cruise port, and meeting information was communicated extremely well Our guide at the safari was Norman, and he was amazing He went above and beyond what we expected to make sure our experience was one of fun & enjoyment. Also, trying to capture everything we could see - which he most certainly achieved with the lions being a true finale to the tour. Thank you very much”

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Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive - Why the late-afternoon departure works well
Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in South Africa, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours in South Africa

Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive

13.Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 227 reviews · from $64

Join a 3.5-hour late-afternoon game drive at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve near Mossel Bay. Ride in an open vehicle with an English-speaking guide, watch for rhinos, lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hippos, zebras, and cheetahs, and pause for snacks and drinks inside the reserve. The drive suits children aged six and older.

“Bumpy ride but the most comfortable ride and our guide Mel was fantastic and a very safe driver. the afternoon teas was a great treat and good chance to ask questions. Highly recommend this experience!”

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From Sun City: Pilanesberg National Park 3-Hour Game Drive - Key points before you book
3-Hour Experiences, Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in South Africa, National Parks, Tour Reviews, Tours in South Africa

From Sun City: Pilanesberg National Park 3-Hour Game Drive

14.From Sun City: Pilanesberg National Park 3-Hour Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 216 reviews · from $49

From Sun City, ride into Pilanesberg National Park for a 3-hour game drive in a 25-seater open safari vehicle. A registered English-speaking guide searches for elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, and other wildlife inside an extinct volcanic crater. Guides such as Jeremy, Peter, MK, and BY are praised for sharp animal spotting and lively explanations.

“Our guide, BY was amazing. He was so knowledgeable, helpful and skilled at finding where the animals were hiding. He was fabulous and our experience was unforgettable.”

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From Hazyview: Kruger National Park Full-Day Safari - The 5:00 AM start and first light at Phabeni Gate
Full-Day, Game Drives & Big Five Safaris, Game Drives in South Africa, National Parks, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours in South Africa

From Hazyview: Kruger National Park Full-Day Safari

15.From Hazyview: Kruger National Park Full-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 205 reviews · 10 hours · from $105

Leave Hazyview before sunrise for a 10-hour Kruger National Park game drive through Phabeni Gate. Your English-speaking guide, possibly Bradley, Stephen, Remember, Sipho, or another experienced ranger, helps you search for the Big Five from an open safari vehicle. Breakfast and lunch are bought separately, while hotel transfers and bottled water are included.

“We had a great day in Kruger. Our guide, Stefan, was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and fun. We managed to see 4 of the Big 5 and a whole host of other animals.”

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New in Game Drives in South Africa

★ 4.7Marloth Park: Kruger National Park Safari Game DrivesFrom $61115 reviews

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