8 Big Cat Encounters Worth Flying For

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.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!”

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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🤌🏿”

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4.Lions 360 Experience and a Day at Monarto Safari Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 76 reviews · 1 day · from $91

Spend a full day at Monarto Safari Park with admission, unlimited Zu-Loop shuttle rides, walking tracks, keeper talks, and a one-hour Lions 360 experience. You will enter a tunnel beneath one of Australia’s largest lion prides. Feeding is not included, and children under 16 need a paying adult.

“Put up notice that taxi/Uber won't pick you up from location and supply bus number and schedule to take.”

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5.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”

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6.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”

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7.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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8.Monarto Safari Park: Cheetah Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3 reviews · 1 hour · from $113

At Monarto Safari Park, join a dedicated English-speaking keeper for one hour behind the scenes with cheetahs. Watch them enjoy treats, communicate with chirps and purrs, and learn about their coalition and wild cousins. Your $113 ticket also includes park entry, Zu-Loop rides, walking tracks, keeper talks, and parking.

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