Best Game Reserves in SA. The school holidays are upon us and our children could not be more excited to take a break after the year that we have had. The next few days are a fantastic opportunity to get away as a family and appreciate our country’s boundless beauty in one of the best game reserves in South Africa. Also, the first Monday of October is #WorldHabitatDay so what better way to celebrate our environmental diversity than during a family road trip to our beloved national parks.
Bear in mind that many of these reserves are far from built-up cities and modern safety amenities so it makes sense to have extra security and peace of mind en route to your destination. As you travel to your safari lodge in any of these breathtaking reserves, you can take the Secura panic app with you to use in the event of an emergency on the road. With your safety concerns covered, you can explore the endless wildernesses of the following best game reserves in South Africa.
1. Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga & Limpopo
The Kruger National Park is the most popular game reserve in the country among locals and international tourists alike. The sweeping bushveld is home to all members of the Big Five and the collection of smaller private reserves and parks within the Greater Kruger Area give visitors unique experiences in the South African wilderness depending on which region they wish to explore. You can navigate the grasslands in your own vehicle, veer off the beaten track along 4×4 dirt roads, or join an experienced ranger on guided game viewing drives in the mornings and afternoons. Sunset over Kruger will showcase the quintessential safari silhouette of buffalo and giraffe grazing the pastures as the blinding African sun paints the sky with orange and golden hues.
For accommodation information and entrance fees, click here.
2. Pilanesberg National Park, North West
Regarded as South Africa’s number one family-friendly national park, Pilanesberg is the perfect choice for a school holiday getaway in the wilderness. Reasonable accommodation options scatter the bushveld and give visitors unbridled access to the surrounding plains and the fascinating wildlife that crosses them. You will venture to lofty observation points with panoramic views of Pilanesberg and keep a keen eye open to spot lumbering elephants, lounging lions, leaping springbok, and more. If you’re lucky, you will catch a glimpse of the rare adult black rhino as it saunters across the grassy plateaus paying no attention to predators that cower in the face of a rhinoceros.
For accommodation information and entrance fees, click here.
3. Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape
If you and your family are yet to enjoy the thrill of spotting a massive herd of elephants then there are few better places to do so than Addo Elephant Park. As its name aptly suggests, this is the best game reserve in South Africa to view the colossal creatures as they traverse the semi-arid plains in abundance. The graceful giants are also known to pay visits to travelers picnicking in the park. This can be a memorable experience but one should be very careful around the large land mammals and pay close attention to the directions of your guide or park ranger.
For accommodation information and entrance fees, click here.
4. Shamwari Game Reserve, Eastern Cape
For a glamorous safari experience with your family, choose to book into the luxe lodges of Shamwari Game Reserve. Thatched and tented accommodations sit perched above the trees overlooking the sprawling greenery and feature private plunge pools to soak in after a day of safari exploration. When deciding to set off on a wilderness adventure, you will be rewarded with stunning game viewing spectacles and a chance to visit the Animal Rehabilitation Centre and Born Free Big Cat Sanctuaries inside of the reserve.
For accommodation information and entrance fees, click here.
5. Madikwe Game Reserve, North West
Last but certainly not least is another North West wilderness jewel around the corner from Pilanesberg, Madikwe Game Reserve. This park is particularly unique as it is former farmland turned wildlife sanctuary where all sorts of indigenous animals and local flora thrive in the region. Boasting several child-friendly safari activities, Madikwe is a phenomenal park to visit with young kids. You will cross the grasslands, head through the forest, and climb the rocky Tshwene Tshwene hills as you search for lions, leopards, wild dogs, and more during guided safaris at dusk and dawn.
For accommodation information and entrance fees, click here.
Visit the Best Game Reserves in South Africa with Secura
Regardless of where you and your family decide to spend the school holidays and what you choose to do, you can stay safe as you travel with Secura’s armed response in your pocket. Connecting you to a network of private armed security teams in your area, you can enjoy the benefit of geo-security at the push of a button with this mobile panic app.
You keep your eyes peeled for the Big Five while we take care of your safety.
