Sanbona is one of South Africa’s largest privately-owned nature reserves, spanning over 140,000 acres of land. The reserve offers big game viewing and some of South Africa’s most sought-after wildlife. Easily accessible by car along the scenic Route 62, just a few hours from Cape Town, Sanbona is an excellent addition to any Cape Town and Cape Winelands itinerary.

Spend your days exploring every corner of this immense reserve, with endless open plains and the sculpted Cape Fold Mountains. Hidden within these dramatic, rust-red rock formations are ancient rock art, some that date back more than 3,500 years. 4★+Sanbona Gondwana Family Lodge offers a curated programme of educational and recreational wildlife experiences ensuring a rewarding stay for couples, families, and groups alike.

Just two hours by road from Cape Town, Aquila provides an excellent introduction to the safari experience, offering a chance to encounter a diverse range of wildlife, including Africa’s iconic Big 5. Visitors can also meet Aquila’s rescued lions, which were saved from the hunting industry. Unable to be released into the wild, these lions are cared for in a large, secure, and natural enclosure designed to ensure their welfare and safety.

This fantastic and easily accessible reserve can be enjoyed on the Aquila Private Game Reserve Day Tour, or guests can extend their stay at 4★ Aquila Private Game Reserve's family friendly lodge, which features a playground, mini-golf course, and a variety of facilities for all ages.

Spanning over 24,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness and stunning landscapes, Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve offers an unforgettable escape in the Karoo region, just a few hours scenic drive from Cape Town. Home to a leading cheetah conservation project and dedicated Karoo land restoration initiatives, the reserve plays a vital role in wildlife protection and environmental stewardship.

Inverdoorn is not only home to the Big 5 but is also the perfect habitat for remarkable variety of bird species, making the reserve a rewarding destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiast alike.

Established in 1931, government maintained Addo Elephant National Park spans more than 400,000 acres and is home to one of the world’s densest elephant populations. Once reduced to just 11 elephants, the park has become a remarkable conservation success story, now protecting more than 600 of these magnificent animals. Beyond its famous elephants, the park also supports an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna across a variety of habitats. Located in the Eastern Cape, just a short drive from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), a visit to the park is a wonderful addition to any South Africa itinerary.

For those seeking an exceptional safari experience within the park, the exclusive 5★ Gorah Elephant Camp offers a unique blend of luxury and wilderness. Immaculately restored to its 19th Century splendour, the camp provides an authentic Big 5 safari experience, complete with elegant, tented suite accommodation overlooking the African bush.

As the only private game reserve within Addo Elephant National Park, Kuzuko offers an intimate safari experience. Perched high on a hilltop the reserve enjoys sweeping views across the vast Great Karoo plains and the rugged Zuurberg Mountains, creating a spectacular backdrop for wildlife encounters. Its remote location, far from urban light pollution, also makes Kuzuko an exceptional destination for stargazing. On clear evenings, guests can marvel at a dazzling canopy of stars stretching across the African sky.

At the heart of the reserve 4★ Kuzuko Lodge combines sustainable tourism with warm hospitality and exceptional service. Enjoy peaceful game drives led by experienced guides, before returning to the lodge for delicious Karoo cuisine served around a traditional 'boma' (an outdoor dining area featuring a central fire pit) – the perfect end to your safari adventure.

One of the youngest game reserves in the Eastern Cape, Amakhala has been steadily restoring its 15,000 acres of former farmlands, reintroducing wildlife to areas where they once roamed freely. Today, the reserve is home to an impressive variety of species. Guests are likely to encounter lions, elephants and buffaloes, in additional to cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests and antelope species. Its relatively compact size allows for excellent wildlife viewing and a relaxed safari experience.

The reserve offers a range of accommodation options that provide excellent value. The all inclusive 4★ Amakhala Hlosi Game Lodge is particularly popular with families, featuring a dedicated children’s program as well as a lounge stocked with games and books for younger guests. Set within peaceful grassland the lodge offers an authentic and fun stay.

Spanning nearly 65,000 acres in the heart of the picturesque Eastern Cape Province, award-winning Shamwari offers guests the opportunity to experience exceptional wildlife encounters while gaining insight into the world of successful, ethical conservation, with the reserve actively supporting a range of wildlife protection initiatives. One of the Shamwari’s most remarkable features is its extraordinary biodiversity, with five of South Africa’s seven biomes (large-scale global ecosystems defined by their distinct climate, vegetation, and wildlife) within its boundaries. This unique ecological profusion allows an impressive variety of flora and fauna to flourish.

The reserve offers a collection of luxury lodges, designed to immerse guests in nature without compromising on comfort. Renowned as Shamwari’s flagship property, 5★ Shamwari Eagles Crag enjoys a dramatic setting opposite a rugged cliff face where eagles soar overhead. This luxury lodge is an excellent choice for those celebrating a special occasion or seeking an unforgettable luxury safari experience.

Stretching across 24,000 acres of wilderness in the Eastern Cape, Kariega Game Reserve offers breathtaking landscapes and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. Unlike many inland game reserves, Kariega is uniquely nourished by both the Kariega and Bushman’s Rivers, offering guests the rare opportunity to experience the African bush on traditional game drives as well as from the water. Scenic river cruises provide a fresh perspective on the reserve’s wildlife and landscapes, while boat excursions to the coastal beaches of Kenton-on-Sea add another dimension to the safari experience.

Set on the banks of the picturesque Bushman’s River, the all inclusive 4★ Kariega River Lodge provides a peaceful and scenic retreat. Its prime riverside location allows guests to enjoy activities such as canoeing and fishing between game drives, while comfortable accommodation, excellent hospitality and the lodge’s stunning natural surroundings ensure a memorable stay.

Sibuya is one of the most unique safari destinations in the Eastern Cape, covering nearly 8,000 acres of pristine wilderness. What sets the reserve apart is its remarkable accessibility - guests reach Sibuya exclusively by boat, creating an unforgettable journey from the Indian Ocean into the African bush.

Along the way, travellers may encounter dolphins and sea turtles at the river mouth, offering a rare and magical introduction to the experience ahead. Once inside the reserve, visitors are immersed in a rich and diverse ecosystem, home to an abundance of wildlife and more than 400 species of birdlife.

Home to a wide variety of wildlife, including numerous predators, Pumba Private Game Reserve offers sweeping bushland and the rare opportunity to encounter magnificent white lions in their natural habitat. Set across 17,000 acres of diverse terrain, the reserve is celebrated for its rich biodiversity and strong commitment to conservation. In this Eastern Cape game reserve, guests can enjoy expertly guided game drives as well as peaceful moments at the reserve’s waterholes.

Perched above a scenic watering hole and overlooking the floodplains of the Kariega River, the 4★ Pumba Bush Lodge provides the perfect retreat after a day of unforgettable wildlife encounters. Its glass-enclosed chalets allow guests to fully immerse themselves in the surrounding wilderness, offering uninterrupted views of nature while maintaining comfort and privacy.

Deeply committed to conservation, protection and habitat restoration, Lalibela Wildlife Reserve is home to an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna. Spanning 19,000 acres in the Eastern Cape, this private game reserve encompasses five distinct ecosystems, creating a rich and varied landscape that supports a plethora of wildlife and plant species, including Africa’s iconic Big 5.

The reserve is home to a collection of lodges, each offering guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the wild beauty of the surrounding landscape. Set on a hillside among indigenous bush and overlooking an active waterhole, 4★+ Lalibela Lentaba Safari Lodge has been thoughtfully designed to complement its surroundings, creating a warm and inviting retreat where guests can relax, reconnect with nature and experience both the serenity and drama of the African bush.