The 8 Best Safari Parks in South Africa

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!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Hartbeespoort: Lion and Safari Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 103 reviews · 3 hours · from $70

Ride in a small-group safari truck through Lion & Safari Park near Hartbeespoort. Your English-speaking guide takes you past lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, leopards, and antelopes before a relaxing stop beside the Crocodile River. Guides such as Dina, Dusty, and George have earned strong praise for their humor and animal knowledge.

“Simply amazing - guides were funny and entertaining as well as being very knowledgeable. Worth every rand!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Hartbeespoort: Lion and Safari Park Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 99 reviews · 2 hours · from $38

Join an English-speaking guide such as Thoko, Jabulani, or Mzi for a two-hour truck safari through Hartbeespoort’s Lion and Safari Park. You’ll see lions, antelopes, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards, and wild dogs, with time afterward for lunch, drinks, and souvenirs.

“Jabulani was the highlight of the the tour,his energy and fun facts on the animals was entertaining,we laughed alot,loved him,big ups to him🤌🏿”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Hartbeespoort: Self-Drive Lion and Safari Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 64 reviews · 8h 30m · from $24Best value

Drive your own vehicle through Lion & Safari Park near Hartbeespoort, visiting lion, wild dog, and cheetah enclosures before continuing on an extended game drive. No guide is provided, so you set the pace. Plan around the 12:00 PM or 3:00 PM lion feeding on weekends and public holidays.

“The restaurant and the vast amount of animals got to see all the animals”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Half Day Lion and Safari Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $103Top rated

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”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.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”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Half Day Durban City Tour and Phezulu Safari Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4 reviews · 6 hours · from $223

Spend six hours with an English-speaking guide exploring Victoria Street Market, the Zulu Medicine Market, Durban Botanic Gardens, and Phezulu Safari Park in the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Expect cultural dancing, Zulu huts, a game drive, short meal breaks, and pickup from your hotel, port, or airport.

“Besuch SheZulu Nationalpark zu empfehlen, ansonsten hätte es eine Taxifahrt oder Uber auch getan. Preis überhöht, wenn man bedenkt, dass Eintritt Nationalpark nur 25 EUR kostet und ansonsten nichts geboten wird außer Hin- und Rückfahrt. Botanischer Garten ist eintrittfrei.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve & Phezulu Safari Park from Durban

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $675

Travel privately from Durban to Phezulu Cultural Village and Hluhluwe iMfolozi Game Reserve. See Zulu dancing, healing traditions, and spear making, then take three game drives with an overnight stay, early coffee, biscuits, breakfast, and a braai.

“A great 2 days. So much wildlife at Hluhluwe. Amazing dances at Phezulu. A great tour Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve & Phezulu Safari Park from Durban”

Check availability →Read our full review