What Is Safari Park?
A Safari Park, sometimes known as a wildlife park, is a zoo-like commercial drive-in tourist attraction where visitors can drive their own vehicles or ride in vehicles provided by the facility to observe freely roaming animals. A safari park is larger than a zoo and smaller than a game reserve.
What Are The Objectives Of Safari Park?
The main objectives of the establishment of a safari park are the protection, rehabilitation, and conservation of biodiversity.
What Are The Characteristics Of Safari Park?
A safari park, sometimes known as a wildlife park, is a zoo-like commercial drive-in tourist attraction where visitors can drive their own vehicles or ride in vehicles provided by the facility to observe freely roaming animals. A safari park is larger than a zoo and smaller than a game reserve.
Why Do People Go To Safaris?
An African safari is the only way you can track wild animals and marvel at their beauty and power. Going on a walking safari offers a unique chance to see the animals up close and personal. The guides’ experience ensures that you get a wealth of knowledge about the animals and get a chance to spot them.
Top Safari Park In South Africa?
- Pafuri Walking Safaris, Kruger National Park
Getting back to basics, Pafuri Walking Safaris is based in the northern Kruger, which has a different environment to the southern park, what with its huge baobab trees and large fever tree forest. The big game isn’t as dense up here, but there’s a fraction of the tourists you’ll encounter further south. The walking safaris are at least two nights in length and involve camping in the bush (you’ll still have proper beds, so this is far from roughing it).
- Samara Karoo, Samara Karoo Private Reserve
In the Great Karoo semi-desert, Samara offers a different kind of safari from the Kruger bush. The striking semi-arid landscape is rippled with flat-topped mountains on which the team sometimes set up alfresco lunches. Previously used as farmland, the reserve has recently been rewilded with the big five and is a conservation area for cheetahs, who are so relaxed you can approach them on foot. During winter (June to September), this is one of the few places where it’s relatively easy to see aardvark (“earth pig” in Afrikaans), because it’s cool enough for them to be out during the day.
- Singita Lebombo, Kruger National Park
Singita is arguably the best luxury safari company on the continent, so it would be remiss not to mention at least one of its South African lodges. Lebombo is in Kruger National Park and has a contemporary style that doesn’t detract from its spectacular setting, overlooking the N’wanetsi River. You’re pretty much guaranteed to see the big five and much more as well as enjoying excellent food (think fine-dining dinners) and top South African wine. Lebombo is also home to a cooking school for people who live around Kruger; guests can book a cooking class to support the project.
- Camp Figtree, Addo Elephant National Park
Camp Figtree is an affordable lodge just outside Addo Elephant National Park — a safari that fits snugly onto the end of a Garden Route road trip from Cape Town to Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth). As the name suggests, Addo is famous for its elephants, but a recent reintroduction of lions gave it the full big five certification. Game drives are an extra charge (as reflected in the cheaper room rate; most high-end safaris are all-inclusive) and other activities include bush walks with giraffes and horse riding. Addo is also malaria-free.
- Royal Malewane, Thornybush Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger
Another one of South Africa’s best and most elegantly designed luxury lodges, Royal Malewane is in the private Thornybush reserve on the edge of Kruger National Park, with two lodges the main lodge with eight suites and the Africa House villa; the other, the Farmstead, with three suites and the Farmhouse villa. The two villas are ideal for those, such as larger families or groups, who want a bit more privacy. And being in this area of the Kruger means exceptional wildlife viewing not just the big five, but hundreds of species of bird. Photography enthusiasts (no need for a fancy lens, you can hire gear from the lodge) can book a specialist photographic safari to get the best shots of your trip.
- Motswiri Private Safari Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe is an excellent option for families. It’s malaria-free, has great game (big five, cheetah and more than 350 bird species) and the drive from Johannesburg airport in Gauteng is about four hours, so it’s not necessary to fork out on expensive light-aircraft flights. There are a bunch of options for different budgets, but Motswiri is a good mid-range lodge with five thatched-roof suites and a family villa all tucked among leadwood trees. Drinks aren’t included, but everything else is.
- Lion Sands, Greater Kruger
There are four lodges and two villas in the Lion Sands reverse next to the Kruger it’s the only private reserve with access to the perennial Sabie River, which attracts game all year round. The luxurious Ivory Lodge has private plunge pools in each of its eight suites, while the two villas are ideal for families. But the aces up Lion Sands’ sleeve are its three beautiful treehouses after a picnic dinner and sundowners, retire to your four-poster bed on a lantern-lit platform for a night under the stars.
- Muluwa Lodge, White River
A cheaper option for those on a budget, Muluwa Lodge is about 30 miles outside Kruger National Park and a four-hour drive from Johannesburg via the scenic Panorama Route, which includes Blyde River Canyon. Muluwa is based in the Likweti Estate, which is home to animals such as impalas, kudus, giraffes, and zebras. As there are no predators, you can cycle, walk or run the trails around the lodge. To spot the famous big five, it’s easy to do Kruger day trips, leaving early in a 4×4 open-sided safari vehicle with a guide (self-driving is also possible) and returning in time for dinner.
- Bonamanzi Game Park Camp, Hluhluwe
A 30-minute drive from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, Bonamanzi has an array of accommodations from chalets to tents the campsite also has access to the lodge’s pool, bar, restaurant, and kitchen facilities. Although many people stay here to access Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, which has the big five, the Bonamanzi Game Park itself is home to leopards, buffalos, rhinos, and elephants, plus a rich array of birdlife. Guests can also take part in conservation activities, such as rhino dehorning (to deter poachers), setting up camera traps, or fitting tracking collars to leopards.
- Becks Safari Lodge, Karongwe Game Reserve
Five-star Becks Safari Lodge is in the private Karongwe Game Reserve. It’s less than an hour’s drive from the Kruger National Park, but there’s no need to visit if spotting big game is the aim — Karongwe is home to the big five and other wildlife including hyenas and giraffes. And, being a private reserve, it doesn’t suffer from the Kruger’s high-season crowds. Birders can spot some of the 365 bird species and there’s also a chance to see cheetahs on foot. The ten tented suites are set around the banks of the Makhutswi River, all with private decks, and there’s a communal 20m pool and a spa. Although it’s family-friendly, the lodge does have a 12-plus age limit.
- Guernsey Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger
With several lodges and camping facilities, Guernsey Private Game Reserve is just outside Hoedspruit one of Kruger National Park’s hub towns and close to Kruger’s Orpen gate. An early start avoids the morning traffic heading into the Kruger and allows you to spend a full day in the park, either guided in an open-sided 4×4 or self-driving, spotting lions and elephants, before returning for the evening. Within Guernsey, you can take sunrise bush walks to learn about the ecosystem on a more intimate level a relaxing activity to slot in before checkout.