Where to Go in Johannesburg: the 9 Best Zoos

1.Johannesburg: Lion & Safari Park Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 384 reviews · 5 hours · from $167Our pick

Travel from Johannesburg or Pretoria with an English-speaking guide such as Thapelo, Dusty, or Ceepo, then join a one-hour open vehicle drive at Lion and Safari Park. Expect close views of lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, and possibly a rare white lion.

“Our tour guide for the safari park (Dusty) was absolutely amazing! She was so knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour. Our transportation guide was also great! He so so polite, and professional!!! Would highly recommend for everyone!”

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2.Half Day Lion and Safari Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $103Best value

Travel from your Johannesburg or Pretoria hotel to Lion and Safari Park with a local guide, then spend two hours in a specialized safari vehicle. Look for more than 85 lions, including a rare white lion, plus cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs. Groups are limited to three people.

“It was canceled by the tour company on the day...very disappointing, would never use them in the future”

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3.Elephant Sanctuary Tour from Johannesburg

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · from $274

Travel by air-conditioned minivan with guide Jason from Johannesburg, Sandton, or Pretoria to Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeespoort Dam. Spend two hours learning about African elephant anatomy, habits, rescue, and rehabilitation, with chances to feed, touch, and photograph the animals.

“Feeding and touching an elephant, seeing the animal up close. Learning about their anatomy and habits was fascinating.”

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4.Cradle of Humankind and Lion and Safari Park Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · from $167

Travel from Johannesburg or Pretoria to Lion and Safari Park for a game drive with lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, and more. Then explore Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind with a guide, lunch, and hotel transfers included.

“The caves were very interesting the guide was great and our driver was awesome . Very interesting human history”

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5.Elephant Sanctuary Tour From Johannesburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4 reviews · from $226

From Johannesburg, travel by air-conditioned minivan to an elephant sanctuary for a six-hour small-group visit. Walk through the forest area, meet rescued elephants, learn about anatomy and care, see their stables, and possibly watch them swim. Pickup is offered at selected hotels, with groups capped at seven.

“I thought all of the animals could roam freely, but basically they're all trained to do something, or behind fences. Tanzania's motto is "there are no fences" so the animals can go anywhere. Not so at this "sanctuary".”

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6.Lion safari park tour(Half-day)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $111

Spend about five hours traveling from Johannesburg to Hartbeespoort for a guided open-vehicle drive through a lion park. Expect white and brown lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, antelopes, and possibly a black leopard, with transport, entry, water, and WiFi included.

“This was an awesome experience. The lions were a treat, and the icing on the cake was the black leopard. Overall its a must, if you like wildlife and visiting Johannesburg. Extremely satisfied.”

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7.Pilanesberg Nature Reserve & Safari Park Lion Private

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4 reviews · from $205

Leave Johannesburg at 06:00 for a private, 10-hour wildlife day. Explore Pilanesberg National Park for four hours, then take a game drive at Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve. A guide, round-trip transport, park fees, and lunch are included, though lunch arrangements should be confirmed.

“The driver was very nice and knew his way around very well. However, the promised services such as lunch and various stops during the tour were not kept. The driver apologized for this but nothing was done about it. After five hungry hours, we paid for lunch ourselves”

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8.De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre Private Safari (Private)

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3 reviews · from $199

Spend about five hours visiting the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre from Johannesburg. Your private vehicle, guide, hotel pickup, bottled water, and snacks are included. Expect a scenic drive through the Magaliesberg mountains, close views of cheetahs and wild dogs, and a clear look at conservation work.

“It was a fascinating experience to understand the work of the research centre and that the animals are released into the wild to start their own families. It was amazing to see the cheetahs at so close proximity - their beauty is sublime. The staRead more”

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9.Lion and Safari Park tour.Pick up and drop off Privately

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews · from $111

Travel from your Johannesburg address in a private, air-conditioned vehicle, then join a field-guided safari drive through lion, hyena, leopard, cheetah, and wild dog camps. The four-hour outing includes pickup and drop-off, but park admission, lunch, and drinks cost extra.

“That the pick up spot is great if the hotel you are picked up at are aware that they are a pick up spot. Mine was not.”

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