Popular cities & destinations in South Africa

The cities, coastlines and great reserves most of our guests combine with a safari — what each is known for, how to get there and how long to stay. Add any of them to your trip and we’ll plan the rest.

City or region · Game reserve · tap a place to read more

Where to go

Build a trip around the safari

Region	Places
Western Cape	Cape Town · Cape Winelands · Hermanus & the Whale Coast · Garden Route
Gauteng & North West	Johannesburg · Pretoria · Sun City
KwaZulu-Natal	Durban & Umhlanga · Drakensberg
Eastern Cape	Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
Kruger & the Lowveld	Panorama Route
Top reserves	Kruger National Park · Sabi Sand & Greater Kruger · Addo & Eastern Cape reserves · Hluhluwe-iMfolozi & iSimangaliso · Waterberg (Welgevonden & Marakele) · Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Not sure how to fit it together? Start with one of our packages, or pick places in the trip builder and our team will suggest the route.

Western Cape

Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles lit up at dusk

City · Western Cape

Cape Town

Table Mountain, the Atlantic beaches and the V&A Waterfront — South Africa’s most-loved city.

Cape Town wraps around Table Mountain between two oceans. Most visitors spend three or four nights here before heading to the Winelands, the Garden Route or a safari — and the Big 5 reserves of the Karoo are only two to three hours away.

Table Mountain cableway and Lion’s Head
Cape Point and the penguins at Boulders Beach
V&A Waterfront and the Robben Island ferry
Camps Bay, Clifton and the Atlantic seaboard
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Fly into: Cape Town International (CPT)
Getting there: 20 min from the airport
Stay: 3+ nights · Boutique and five-star hotels, Waterfront hotels, guesthouses and self-catering apartments
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Cape Winelands Hermanus & the Whale Coast Garden Route Cape Town Safaris

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Region · Western Cape

Cape Winelands

Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl: wine farms, Cape Dutch towns and some of the country’s best restaurants.

Less than an hour from Cape Town, the Winelands mix historic towns, mountain valleys and hundreds of wine estates. Stay on a wine farm for a night or two, or visit on day trips from the city.

Wine tasting in Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl
The Franschhoek Wine Tram
Award-winning restaurants on the estates
Cape Dutch architecture and mountain passes

Fly into: Cape Town International (CPT)
Getting there: 45 min–1 h 15 from Cape Town
Stay: 2+ nights · Wine-estate hotels, country guesthouses and boutique lodges
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Cape Town Cape Town Safaris Garden Route

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Region · Western Cape

Hermanus & the Whale Coast

Some of the world’s best land-based whale watching, an easy drive from Cape Town.

Southern right whales come close to the cliffs of Walker Bay from about June to November. Outside whale season, Hermanus has fynbos walks, beaches and the Hemel-en-Aarde wine valley.

Whale watching from the cliff path (about June–November)
Boat-based whale trips
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley wine estates
Fynbos reserves and the Overberg coast

Fly into: Cape Town International (CPT)
Getting there: ≈ 1 h 30 from Cape Town
Stay: 2+ nights · Sea-view guesthouses, boutique hotels and self-catering
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Cape Town Cape Winelands Garden Route

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Region · Western Cape

Garden Route

Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Wilderness: lagoons, forests and beaches along the N2.

The Garden Route runs east along the N2 from Mossel Bay to the Tsitsikamma. Fly into George, or drive from Cape Town (5–6 hours to Plettenberg Bay) with stops on the way. Gondwana and Garden Route Game Lodge add malaria-free Big 5 to the trip.

Knysna lagoon and the Heads
Robberg Nature Reserve in Plettenberg Bay
Tsitsikamma and the Storms River suspension bridge
Bloukrans Bridge bungy
Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves over the Outeniqua Pass

Fly into: George (GRJ)
Getting there: Knysna ≈ 45 min, Plettenberg Bay ≈ 1 h 15 from George
Stay: 3+ nights · Beach and lagoon hotels, forest lodges, guesthouses and self-catering
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Cape Town Cape Town Safaris Addo & Eastern Cape reserves Hermanus & the Whale Coast

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Gauteng & North West

City · Gauteng

Johannesburg

South Africa’s biggest city and the gateway for Pilanesberg, Black Rhino, Madikwe and Kruger.

Most safaris start or end in Johannesburg. A night or two here gives you time to see Soweto and the Apartheid Museum, recover from a long flight, or catch the Federal Air shuttle to Madikwe in the morning.

The Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill
Soweto, Vilakazi Street and the Mandela House
Maboneng and the inner-city art scene
The Cradle of Humankind (about 1 hour away)
Sandton for shopping and dining

Fly into: O.R. Tambo (JNB) or Lanseria (HLA)
Getting there: ≈ 30 min from O.R. Tambo to Sandton
Stay: 1+ night · Airport hotels, Sandton and Rosebank hotels, boutique guesthouses
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Pilanesberg Game Reserve Black Rhino Game Reserve Madikwe Game Reserve Kruger National Park Pretoria

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City · Gauteng

Pretoria

The administrative capital: the Union Buildings, the Voortrekker Monument and jacaranda-lined streets.

Pretoria is about 50 km from O.R. Tambo and a little closer to Pilanesberg than Johannesburg. In October and November thousands of jacaranda trees turn the city purple.

The Union Buildings and their gardens
The Voortrekker Monument and Freedom Park
Jacaranda season (October–November)
Church Square and the old city centre

Fly into: O.R. Tambo (JNB)
Getting there: ≈ 40 min from O.R. Tambo
Stay: 1+ night · City hotels, guesthouses in Hatfield and Brooklyn, country lodges nearby
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Pilanesberg Game Reserve Black Rhino Game Reserve Madikwe Game Reserve Johannesburg

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City · North West

Sun City

The resort at the edge of Pilanesberg: the Valley of Waves, golf, casino and the Palace of the Lost City.

Sun City sits right on the southern edge of Pilanesberg, about two hours from Johannesburg, so it is easy to combine resort days with game drives. Families love the Valley of Waves; golfers come for the Gary Player and Lost City courses.

The Valley of Waves water park
Gary Player and Lost City golf courses
The Palace of the Lost City
Game drives and hot-air balloon safaris in Pilanesberg next door

Fly into: Lanseria (HLA) or O.R. Tambo (JNB)
Getting there: ≈ 1 h 45 from Lanseria
Stay: 2+ nights · Four Sun City hotels, from the Cabanas to the Palace of the Lost City
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Pilanesberg Game Reserve Black Rhino Game Reserve Madikwe Game Reserve Johannesburg

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KwaZulu-Natal

City · KwaZulu-Natal

Durban & Umhlanga

Warm Indian Ocean beaches all year, a famous curry culture and the gateway to Zululand and the Drakensberg.

Durban has the warmest sea in South Africa and beach weather most of the year. Umhlanga, just north, is quieter and closer to King Shaka airport. From here, Zululand’s game reserves and the Drakensberg are about three hours away.

The Golden Mile beachfront
uShaka Marine World
Durban curry and the bunny chow
Umhlanga Rocks and its lighthouse
Day trips to the Valley of a Thousand Hills

Fly into: King Shaka International (DUR)
Getting there: ≈ 20 min to Umhlanga, 35 min to central Durban
Stay: 3+ nights · Beachfront hotels, Umhlanga resorts and coastal self-catering
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Hluhluwe-iMfolozi & iSimangaliso Drakensberg

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Region · KwaZulu-Natal

Drakensberg

South Africa’s highest mountains: a World Heritage Site with spectacular hiking and San rock art.

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protected for both its scenery and thousands of San rock paintings. It is about three hours from Durban and four from Johannesburg, so it fits between a city and a safari.

The Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls
San rock art sites with a guide
Day hikes from the resorts and lodges
Horse riding and trout fishing

Fly into: King Shaka International (DUR)
Getting there: ≈ 3 h from Durban, ≈ 4 h from Johannesburg
Stay: 2+ nights · Mountain resorts, country hotels and self-catering chalets
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Durban & Umhlanga Hluhluwe-iMfolozi & iSimangaliso Johannesburg

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Eastern Cape

City · Eastern Cape

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

A relaxed beach city and the end — or start — of the Garden Route, minutes from Addo.

Gqeberha’s airport is the closest to Addo Elephant National Park and the malaria-free Big 5 reserves of the Eastern Cape. Many Garden Route trips end here, flying home after a safari.

Beaches along Summerstrand and the beachfront
The Donkin Reserve heritage trail
Addo Elephant National Park nearby
A short hop to the Garden Route

Fly into: Chief Dawid Stuurman (PLZ)
Getting there: Minutes from the city centre
Stay: 1+ night · Beachfront hotels and guesthouses
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Addo & Eastern Cape reserves Garden Route

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Kruger & the Lowveld

Region · Mpumalanga

Panorama Route

Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window and waterfalls on the escarpment above the Kruger.

The Panorama Route follows the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment in Mpumalanga. It is a natural stop on the way from Johannesburg to the Kruger or the private reserves — about four to five hours by road.

Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels
God’s Window
Bourke’s Luck Potholes
Graskop, Pilgrim’s Rest and the waterfalls

Fly into: Kruger Mpumalanga (MQP) or Hoedspruit (HDS)
Getting there: ≈ 4–5 h by road from Johannesburg
Stay: 1+ night · Country hotels, guesthouses and lodges in Graskop, Hazyview and Sabie
Malaria: Malaria-free on the escarpment

Pairs well with Kruger National Park Sabi Sand & Greater Kruger Johannesburg

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Top reserves

Game reserve · Mpumalanga & Limpopo

Kruger National Park

South Africa’s flagship park: nearly two million hectares of Big 5 country, with rest camps and private lodges.

The Kruger stretches about 350 km from north to south along the Mozambique border. You can self-drive between rest camps, join guided drives, or stay at a private concession lodge inside the park.

The Big 5 among around 150 mammal species
Self-drive safaris on tar and gravel roads
Guided sunrise, sunset and night drives
Rest camps from simple to luxurious

Fly into: Skukuza (SZK), Kruger Mpumalanga (MQP), Phalaborwa (PHW)
Getting there: ≈ 4–5 h by road from Johannesburg
Stay: 3+ nights · SANParks rest camps, private concession lodges and lodges outside the gates
Malaria: Low-risk malaria area — ask your doctor, especially for November–April

Pairs well with Sabi Sand & Greater Kruger Panorama Route Johannesburg Cape Town

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Game reserve · Mpumalanga & Limpopo

Sabi Sand & Greater Kruger

Private reserves without fences to the Kruger — Sabi Sand, Timbavati, Klaserie and Thornybush — famous for leopard.

The private reserves on Kruger’s western border share open boundaries with the park. Guided drives can go off-road to follow animals, and the lodges range from comfortable to some of Africa’s most exclusive.

Leopard sightings the Sabi Sand is known for
Off-road tracking with expert rangers and trackers
Guided bush walks
Fly-in lodges with their own airstrips

Fly into: Skukuza (SZK), Hoedspruit (HDS) or Kruger Mpumalanga (MQP)
Getting there: Lodge transfers from the airport or airstrip
Stay: 3+ nights · Private game lodges, usually fully inclusive of meals and game drives
Malaria: Low-risk malaria area — ask your doctor

Pairs well with Kruger National Park Panorama Route Cape Town

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Game reserve · Eastern Cape

Addo & Eastern Cape reserves

Malaria-free Big 5 close to the coast: Addo Elephant National Park, Shamwari, Amakhala and Kariega.

Addo Elephant National Park is home to hundreds of elephants and the rest of the Big 5, under an hour from Gqeberha. Private reserves nearby make it the natural safari to add to a Garden Route trip.

Large elephant herds at the Addo waterholes
Malaria-free Big 5 private reserves
Self-drive in Addo or guided drives at private lodges
Easy to combine with the Garden Route

Fly into: Chief Dawid Stuurman (PLZ)
Getting there: 45 min–1 h 30 from Gqeberha
Stay: 2+ nights · SANParks camps, private game lodges and guest farms
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Garden Route Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)Cape Town

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Game reserve · KwaZulu-Natal

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi & iSimangaliso

Africa’s oldest proclaimed game reserve and a World Heritage wetland, three hours north of Durban.

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, proclaimed in 1895, is famous for saving the white rhino. Nearby iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has hippos and crocodiles at St Lucia, coastal forest and beaches. Private reserves such as Phinda add luxury lodges.

Rhino and the Big 5 in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
Hippo and croc boat trips at St Lucia
iSimangaliso beaches, lakes and turtle season
Private reserves such as Phinda and Thanda

Fly into: King Shaka International (DUR)
Getting there: ≈ 3 h by road from Durban
Stay: 2+ nights · Park camps, private game lodges and St Lucia guesthouses
Malaria: Low-risk malaria area — ask your doctor

Pairs well with Durban & Umhlanga Drakensberg

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Game reserve · Limpopo

Waterberg (Welgevonden & Marakele)

Malaria-free Big 5 in the mountains of Limpopo, about three hours from Johannesburg.

The Waterberg is a UNESCO biosphere of cliffs, valleys and bushveld. Welgevonden is a private reserve with no day visitors; Marakele National Park is known for its large colony of Cape vultures.

Malaria-free Big 5 safaris
Dramatic sandstone cliffs and valleys
Cape vulture colony at Marakele
Small, quiet private lodges

Fly into: O.R. Tambo (JNB) or Lanseria (HLA)
Getting there: ≈ 3 h by road from Johannesburg
Stay: 2+ nights · Private game lodges and bush camps
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Johannesburg Pilanesberg Game Reserve Madikwe Game Reserve

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Game reserve · Northern Cape

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Red Kalahari dunes, black-maned lions, cheetah and birds of prey on the Botswana border.

The Kgalagadi is remote and wild — a park shared with Botswana where dry riverbeds draw predators and the light is extraordinary. Fly to Upington and drive about three hours to Twee Rivieren.

Black-maned Kalahari lions and cheetah
Raptors, including martial eagles
Red dunes and dry riverbeds
Wilderness camps in the dunes

Fly into: Upington (UTN)
Getting there: ≈ 3 h by road from Upington
Stay: 3+ nights · SANParks rest camps, wilderness camps and one private lodge concession
Malaria: Malaria-free

Pairs well with Cape Town

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Where we specialise

Our malaria-free Big 5 safari areas

Waves break over dark rocks in the foreground, with Table Mountain's flat-topped silhouette rising across the bay in hazy golden late-day light.

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