South Africa presents a number of various packages for a holiday safaris. It has numerous national parks and game reserves which give the opportunity to come close to the wild beasts as they meander in their natural environment, and also explore the it’s different landscapes. Because of this wide range of attractions, making a choice may be overwhelming at times. But if your time of visiting is limited, below is a list of destinations that you could opt for.
Addo Elephant National Park
Unlike other pack that have the big five, Addo National Park prides in the big seven which include leopards, rhinos, lions, elephants, buffalos, the white sharks and whales. These make this park both a marine and land adventuring platform for holiday travelers. Addo Elephant National Park is popularly known for having the biggest population of elephants in the whole world; so if you fail to catch sight of an elephant in this park you won’t be able to see any other anyplace in South Africa.
Hluhuwe-Imfolozo Game Reserve
Situated in KwaZulu Natal, Hluhuwe-Imfolozo is a natural wilderness that is part of the well-known rhino conservation program. It is comprised of rising and falling hills covered with sub tropic forests and acacia woodland. Taking a safari holiday in this Game Reserve will enable you to see the resident rhino which include the black and white rhinos.
Being a sanctuary for the Big Five, Hluhuwe-Imfolozo provides a unique view in its grass-covered hills and foggy forests of wildlife. It shelters the hardly seen bataleur eagle and the nyala antelope. You will be able to view zebra, spotted hyena, giraffes, and blue wildebeest; and with the rapidly flowing river, you will miss out on seeing the hippos.
Kruger National Park
Being the most admired park in South Africa, Kruger National Park offers the finest game viewing for those on a holiday safari. It is a haven to more than 147 mammals, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 species of birds and different species of plants. You will enjoy a guided tour and view the large antelopes- Kudu, sable antelopes, the roan antelopes which are under extinction, large herds of Zebras, giraffes, and not forgetting the Big Five: lions, leopards, buffalos, elephants and rhinos.
Pilansberg National Park
Pilansberg National Park is best known for its large population of birds. Among the resident birds are the kori bustards which remain the heaviest flying bird species in the world. You will catch sight of secretary birds, weavers, ostriches, golden and red bishops, and widows. Pilansberg not only boasts of the many birds but also offers a game viewing package that includes elephants and rhinos for holiday travelers. Since 1994, there has been a spectacular increase in the population of lions, leopards and hippos. There is a popular game drive through the park in the night to catch sight of the black rhino, spotted eagle owls, Jameson’s red rocket rabbits, the rare bush-baby and genets. You will also see Africa’s biggest rodent; Cape Porcupine.
In South Africa, Spending your holiday in a lavish lodge in the Sabi Sand Reserve which neighbors Kruger National Park will enable you to experience the interesting and memorable night game drives. For a safari to be complete in South Africa, it must include this unique adventure of watching the wild beasts as they go about their nocturnal activities.
Night falls
When the sun sets, holiday safaris in South Africa take on a very beautiful appearance beneath the veil of the fading sunrays and escalating sounds rising from typically African bushes! Various bird species that are not commonly sighted at will be seen with widely opened eyes looking in a surprise. During day time, many animals are usually sleepy and often spend the day lying under trees to shelter from the hot sunshine, and at night they become alive again. The cool evening are usually busied with animals trekking to water holes for a drink as other start on their nocturnal activities.
As a tradition in South Africa, before you depart for a night safari, you must participate in a ‘sundowner,’ (an aperitif) with your accompanying friends. As the day light fades away with the spectacular setting of the sun and the skies turn dark, you will feel the bushes in close proximity and hear the day’s silence gradually giving into the sounds of the night.
On the road
In South Africa, a safari taken at night is always carried out in safe open-topped vehicles in the presence of armed park rangers. These professional rangers are highly knowledgeable about the animals’ predatory night behavior, and give a detailed explanation on the animals’ hunting lifestyle, mentioning who eats who. There are two or three bright spotting lights fitted on these vehicles and you may be privileged to control one of them. At the notification of the ranger you will turn you light and if lucky you may come face to face with a panicky baboon, giraffe, hippo, zebra or a rhino.
As you drive across this South African park, you will hear the echoes and rustles of the numerous of animals in the park fill the air as they meander in search of waterholes. You may come to a halt as large herds of animals by pass just inches away from you as they head to their drinking places.
The unique and memorable experience of the night drive should never be missed when taking a holiday safari in South Africa. The pleasant-humming of bushes that will continually echo in your mind even long after you have gone, and a feel of the true African Magic, is quite a memorable experience.
