Taking a safari in South Africa is the best wildlife tour to take because of the comfy accommodation and spectacular infrastructure that are in every wildlife park. Accommodation in these places is quite affordable as compared to that in other countries.
But with further research or inquiry, you will discover that some parks are better as compared to others.
Basing on reports from African Safari journal website, my more than 20 years experience in safari, magazines, industry forums and universal consent of experts; below is a list of the top best ranking parks and Game Reserves.
Ranking as the number one destination in South Africa is Kruger National Park going after Serengeti and Masai Mara. Because of the dense vegetation in this park, viewing wildlife over a longer distanc can sometimes be very hard.
The diversity in ecosystem, birds and animals that you enjoy in this place is incomparable to any place else where in Africa. The very affordable accommodation and facilities with well maintained roads is quite a wonderful experience.
Now and again you will sight at lions, elephants, wild dogs, leopards, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, buffalos, antelopes, reptiles and a variety of species of insect in a single tour.
Among the various bird species you will be able to spot the very many eagles, water birds, hawks and numerous indigenous and migrating species that all total up to about 510 different species.
There is also an option to spoil your with a self drive tour to view a descent number of wildlife particularly in the Southern and Central regions of this enormous park which is actually large than Ireland. The north part of the park has very few animals because of the dry condition and few tourists who visit that part of the park thus making it an isolated place.
Because variety spices up life, then a safari in South Africa taken in Kruger national Park is an ideal option.
2. Sabi Sands GR
Sabi sands game reserve lays on the west side of Kruger National Park and the two parks boarders are not defined by a fence. The reserve has many worldwide renowned concessions that include Sabi Sabi, Londelozi and Mala Mala.
The elimination of a fence between these two parks enables the animals to move freely and make game viewing in the reserve a wonderful experience as it is in Kruger National Park with only a single difference. Since the park is privately managed, you are allowed to track game off-road thus providing a better plat form to find hard to find big cats, rhinos, large parks of wild dogs, elephants and buffalos. Available in the safari vehicles are radio calls which are used to communicate between the safari cars such that if someone finds significant, they can alert the others.
The intersecting river sabi and river sand in the reserve form a central point which attracts a number of wildlife in this place particularly during the dry season.
In the whole of South Africa, viewing elusive big cats is highly in this reserve guaranteed and the accommodation offered here in places such as Singita Lodge is one of the best worldwide. In the history of Conde Nast Gold List Reader Poll, this lodge was the only and first accommodation to attain a perfect score of 100 and keep the honor for three consecutive years. This reserve has almost thirty different high class lodges.
Facilities in this reserve are quite costly so unless you have traveled with enough money, this place may remain out of reach for you. For this reason, it doesn’t rank as the Nr one among the South African Safari National reserves and parks.
3. Hluhluwe Umfolozi NP
For those who would love to view the endangered white and black rhinos, this reserve is the right place to visit, and not to forget it is the place where the relentless wave of extinction through south of Africa state from.
Today it prides of having the biggest population of white rhinos in the whole world with a total of over 1600, and a steadily increasing 400 in total population of the black rhinos.
In this reserve too tou will catch sight of lions, buffalos, cheetahs, leopards and elephants. In addition, you will view over 400 different species of birds that have so far been brought to book. Because of the vast number of inhabitant elephants, you may crisscross with them as you go through the park.
In the presence of armed Prk rengers, you may treat yourself to a walk through park or opt for an extended trek in the southern Umfolozi region.
4. Madikwe GR
This place’s history is more like the Noah’s Ark tale because majority of the wildlife in this park was relocated from different areas in the year 1991.
About twenty seven various species totaling to more than 10,000 heads of animals were relocated into this place but with time, the numbers were cut down because of hunting and destroying of the natural environment.
The advantage of having a safari in this park is that this south African region is not located in the malaria zone, thus you needn’t worry about prescribing malaria doses as it is required in other parks.
You will be spoilt at the sight of the Big Five, packs of wild dogs and cheetahs. The numerous dogs are commonly seen now and again patrolling their territories. Chances of catching sight of these wild dogs are more guaranteed in this park than all other parks.
Unque antelope species like the gemsbok, sable and eland will be seen here too. Game viewing in this place is a serene and lonely activity because very few tourists are aware about this spectacular game reserve.
5. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
The occupants of this area appreciate that this place is a superb game park and it falls in the category of a country’s “best kept secret” that many countries have for reasons unknown, so the reserve does not get the popularity it deserves among tourists.
Probably since this park is located in the Kalahari Desert and many people don’t associate with desert wildlife, although there are options to this rule, thus this park meets the requirements.
You will be aable to view some rare and spectacular game such as gemsbok antelopes which can survive for months without water, blue wildedeests, red hartebeest, springbok and the eland.
Remember, where ever you find numerous antelopes, there is always predators in the nearby surrounding such as black-maned lions which are quite few in this area, cheetahs and leopards which always make use of the open landscape to chase after their prey.
The meerkat –suricate is commonly seen in addition to the bat-eared foxes and all these do their hunting in this park.
This park is famous for birds of prey like the sociable weaver and sociable weaver which build their nest that are an equivalent of bird apartment blocks that are usually too big that they break tree branches on which they r built.
Agulhas National Park
The park lies in the far Southern part of the Africa Continent, where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Oceans meet creating one of the early explorer’s feared places.
Addo National Park Safari
The park was proclaimed to protect the remaining Elephants in Addo area in 1931 since they where less than 15. At one time, it hard the largest herd in the Eastern Cape with 140 Elephants.
Augrabies Falls National Park
Augrables waterfalls roars only 56 meters. The sound of the waterfalls is deafening when the Orange river is full.
The Khoi-Khoi renamed the Falls “Aukoerebis”, which means place of great noise.
Bontebok National Park
Bontabok National Park provides a real holiday destination experience inform of natural beauty and colour with doors to diverse idyllic relaxation spots and adventures.
Golden Gate Highlands National park.
Golden Gate is situated in the Free State Province in the North Eastern, 360Km South of Johannesburg. This Golden Gate highland lies in the hills that make up the base of Maluti mountains.
Karoo National Park
Karoo National park offers you a chance to experience dusk and dawn. Any traveler visiting S. Africa has to experience the colors, which illuminate the beauty of Karoo, with hope to witness the natural splendor of the country.
Knysna National Lake Area
Knysna’s holiday destination is well-known for its forest friendly people lagoon. The park provides an excellent and beautiful atmosphere for planning your gateway and well-known for its friendly people.
Mountain Zebra National Park.
Cape mountain zebras faced extinction in the early 1930’s and a few were left in Cradock district. This led to the proclamation of Mountain Zebra National Park in July 1937, by the Trustees of the National Park’s board.
Richter’s Veld National Park.
This is a mountain desert park located in the north by Orange River curve. The terrain is undulating and rugged and differ in form of wind sculpted rock formations.
Tsitsikamma National Park (Garden Route).
The National park is located in the middle of the Golden Route in the Southern Eastern East area of the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Wilderness National Park
Wilderness National Park is situated in the heart of the Garden route. Through the wilderness Nature trails and relaxing rivers are provided and also a home to King fisher species
West Coast National Park.
To protect the migratory birds that once were seen at the park and the wetland area, measures to proclaim the park area were raised in 1985.
