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What are the best Safari experiences in South Africa

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We are so often asked, where is the best safari in South Africa? The question is subjective, of course, as it entirely depends upon you as an individual and what is best for you, along with what your likes and dislikes are! However, with specialists from South Africa we are in the best position to give you the most accurate advice!

It also very much depends upon how much time you have and particularly in the case of South Africa, what else would you like to do in addition to your safari?

Coming from Europe or the USA, many people will access South Africa via Johannesburg. From here it is a short flight to the Kruger National Park.

Here, there are a number of places that offer world class game viewing and the greatest chance to see the big 5 in all of Africa. The big five was named after the five animals considered the most difficult animals to hunt on foot - being the elephant, the lion, the leopard, the Cape buffalo and the black rhino.

Nowadays, many safari goers are keen to see this list whilst on safari. Whilst we can never guarantee seeing all of the big 5, there are camps we use whose success rate of finding all of these creatures is very high and so in fact, many of our clients do indeed see the big 5 on one safari to South Africa!

So, looking at an overall safari, I think the combination of the Timbavati and the Limpopo regions offer one of the best South African safaris. The Sabi Sands region is also very rich in wildlife, but it tends to be far busier although it comes into its own at certain times of year.

There are only a couple of lodges based in the Limpopo Region which are probably the finest, most luxurious lodges in South Africa. However, for those who want a more rustic experience, there is a fabulous camping safari out of this park too, for those who really want to 'feel' this area.

In the Sabi Sands, we have a couple of lodges which offer supreme game viewing based on large tracts of land where the experience is far more pristine. Two of these lodges have the finest children's programmes, where they can become a ranger for the day, too.

There are also some fantastic walking safaris in this region, one from a real favourite of mine, where the camps are styled in the old colonial style of the 1920's - real, authentic Africa with just hurricane lamps. Beautifully romantic, but quite frankly, simply gorgeous and despite offering walking safaris only - we saw the most astounding wildlife, including rhino!

We can also offer this experience in Timbavati, where you can combine both walking and game viewing and you can have your own private vehicle and professional guide.

In Kwa-Zulu Natal, there are a couple of game reserves that offer phenomenal big 5 game viewing too in the Phinda reserve. This is especially good when coupled with whale watching or seeing turtles laying and hatching, in the Maputaland region closeby.

Then you have the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains to combine with this experience too and for those interested in history, there is the moving tour of the battlefields with South Africa's top historians which shouldnt be missed! It really gives an insight into the history of the country.

For those searching for non malarial regions, then the Eastern Cape has one truly beautiful, private reserve which is wonderful both for couples as well as family safaris to South Africa which can be again, combined with whale watching and shark cage diving, or even wine tasting in the western Cape. They also have rhino safaris which, as part of the conservation of rhino, for a donation, one can be part of a fabulous and exciting initiative, where you can watch the rhino being darted by a complement of vets and the horns being tagged as part of an anti poaching and research project.

Marakelele is one of our favourite reserves as there is only one lodge here - which is also perfect for family safaris. This lodge is situated just 3.5 hours away from Johannesburg and offers the big 5 experience in a completley pristine environment. You can then always end up on the coast, if it is the right time of year in some of the most spoiling lodges.

Then, we have the Kalahari Desert where one of the most beautiful lodges exists and here one can see both incredible wildlife, alongside desert adapted species which you wont find elsewhere! Again this region offers non malarial safaris.

And finally, some of our guests would love to view wildlife from horseback. This is perfect too - and we have some fabulous riding safaris in South Africa where one can get close to wildlife! Contact us now to arrange the best safari in South Africa for you!

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