Where to Experience a Family Safari in South Africa

South Africa is one of the world’s best safari destinations for families. It’s mostly malaria-free and offers excellent infrastructure and relatively good road networks. There are also a number of parks that offer self-drive safaris, making it ideal for families wanting to holiday in the African bush.

Cheetah's in the Kalahari Cheetah’s in the Kalahari| Image by Ready Set Safari[/caption]

  • Amongst the best family-friendly parks is Pilanesberg National Park in the North-West province. Not only does it neighbor the famous Sun City entertainment resort, but it’s malaria-free, an easy two hours’ drive from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and hosts the Big Five.
  • Addo Elephant National Park is not only overflowing with elephants, but the rest of the Big Five can also be sighted in the park. The beauty of the park is that it’s close proximity to the coast, allows families to see whales at the right time of the year. Once inside the park, there are a number of excellent, affordable camps and self-catering options with good roads.
  • The Kruger National Park is the crown jewel in South Africa’s wildlife crown and is the most accessible – an easy four-hour drive from Johannesburg makes it a great option for families. Within the park itself, there is an abundance of affordable accommodation options which are surrounded by the Big Five.
  • Madikwe Game Reserve in the North-West is also 100% malaria-free and is regarded as South Africa’s best private game reserve. They cater for families of all sizes and ages, with their “Jungle Drives” for children under the age of four and the “Children’s Safari” for slightly older kids. The latter teaches them about the bush, how to track and use bush medicine.

Most travelers opt for car rental to accommodate their travel plans.

Related Posts

Cape Town Water Crisis: What You Need to Know

2018 Cape Town Water Shortage In 2018 there was massive panic in Cape Town because of a water shortage caused by a drought. The drought was caused by 3 consecutive wet seasons which did not produce enough rainfall from 2015 to 2017, resulting in low dam water levels as low as 22%.  The local government […]

Read More

Watch: A Breeding Herd of Elephant in the Madikwe Game Reserve

Extending over 750 square kilometres of North West Province, Madikwe Game Reserve was created from former ranchland in the early 1990s and is now home to over 8,000 individual animals belonging to 28 different large mammal species (including all the Big Five). Closed to daytime visitors, it now functions much like the private game reserves […]

Read More

10 of the Best Snorkelling Spots in South Africa

Snorkelling is one of the best ways to experience South Africa’s incredible marine diversity. From the warm, inviting waters of KwaZulu-Natal to the icy chill of the Atlantic Ocean in the Western Cape, the South African coastline is ideal for snorkelling. Whether you’re a beginner or a certified scuba diver, you’ll find something exciting on […]

Read More