South Africa · WILDLIFE

The 15 Wildlife Trips in South Africa That Earn Their Price

26 tours  ·  from $27 a head

Every South African trip has one free day too few. These 15 wildlife trips justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get on with the rest of it.

Cape Town: Marine Wildlife Tour from the V&A Waterfront - Finding the African Eagle Marine Kiosk
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town, Wildlife

Cape Town: Marine Wildlife Tour from the V&A Waterfront

1.Marine Wildlife Tour from the V&A Waterfront

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,118 reviews · 1h 30m · from $61Our pick

Cruise Table Bay from the V&A Waterfront on a 90-minute wildlife trip aboard a small, fast boat. Guides such as Francois share facts about local animals, Cape Town history, and conservation. Look for dolphins, seals, penguins, sunfish, seabirds, and seasonal whales. Hotel pickup is optional.

“We would like to thank our amazing guides. They were very careful, helpful, really enthusiastic about nature and very careful about animals‘ peace. The tour was wonderful, we saw a lot of animals and they did fantastic photos for us! We would recommend it to everyone!”

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Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town - The Cape Town pickup and two-hour road trip
Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Wildlife

Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

2.Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 576 reviews · from $184

Ride from central Cape Town to Aquila Game Reserve in the Karoo, then join a three-hour open-vehicle game drive. Look for lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, hippos, and more. An English-speaking ranger leads the drive, while lunch, a welcome drink, and hotel transfers keep this first-safari day simple.

“It was a great introduction to a safari. Not far from Cape Town, lovely setting, well organised and we saw the big 5.”

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From Cape Town: South African Wildlife and Safari 2-Day Tour - Botlierskop and the first Big Five search
2-Day Experiences, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town, Wildlife

From Cape Town: South African Wildlife and Safari 2-Day Tour

3.South African Wildlife and Safari 2-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 411 reviews · 2 days · from $322

Trade Cape Town for the Klein Karoo on a fast, scenic two-day safari with guides such as Nev, Denver, Dylan, or Ulrich. You get two shared 4x4 drives, one at Botlierskop and one at Buffelsdrift, plus an optional elephant observation, Oudtshoorn lodging, and a return via Route 62.

“Much more than I expected,extremely unbelievable. I highly recommend”

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Ocean Wildlife Encounter in Cape Town - Leaving Oceana Power Boat Club in Green Point
Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Wildlife

Ocean Wildlife Encounter in Cape Town

4.Ocean Wildlife Encounter in Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 307 reviews · from $80Top rated

Set out from Oceana Power Boat Club with skipper Paul or Rob for a two-hour search for Cape Town’s marine life. The route changes with the sea, wind, and wildlife. Expect an energetic ride, expert guidance, possible dolphin, seal, penguin, whale, or sunfish sightings, and broad views of Table Mountain and Robben Island.

“My airline cancelled the flight and I had to spend 2 days more in Cape Town. What a pity ;-) Now asking the difficult question how to make the best out of it. Easy answer: Going on a tour with Paul again. And I was lucky as there was one seat left on Sunday 11.30h. Perfect weather and the ocean was very different to the first trip. Much calmer and so we went out to and around Robben Island. It was amazing. You could just pick a direction and there were happy animals all over the place. Not even hunting - just enjoying the day with us. Now I´m back…”

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2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4x4 Safari from Cape Town - Botlierskop brings the strongest wildlife action
2-Day Experiences, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Sandboarding & Dune Adventures, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town, Wildlife

2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4×4 Safari from Cape Town

5.2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4×4 Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 251 reviews · from $279

Leave Cape Town early for two private reserves, traveling by minibus through Route 62 and the Klein Karoo. You’ll take a 4x4 safari at Botlierskop, sleep overnight in Oudtshoorn, then explore Buffelsdrift by open vehicle. Guides such as Neville, TK, Denver, or Isaac may lead the trip, and an optional elephant observation costs about R700.

“Our tour guide was stellar! He ensured we arrived on time to all of our events. The safari’s were memorable and the animals were very calm in their habitat.”

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Plettenberg Bay: Wild Cat and Wildlife Guided Tour - A one-hour walk through the animal habitats
Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife

Plettenberg Bay: Wild Cat and Wildlife Guided Tour

6.Wild Cat and Wildlife Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 206 reviews · 1 hour · from $27Best value

Walk through Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation & Awareness Centre with an English-speaking guide and see rescued lions, leopards, cheetahs, servals, caracals, meerkats, marabou storks and the Blue Crane. The one-hour tour includes close views from a walkway, a white lion, wildlife stories and time for photographs. Guides such as Wazi, Davidson and Bongiwe are known for their warm, clear explanations.

“We had a lovely tour in the Tenikwa Wildlife Center today. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgable because he‘s been working at the center for 12 years. He was able to answer all our questions and gave a lot of interesting information about the stunning animals. The animals are treated with great care. We will definitely come back and visit again if possible. Thank you so much, especially to our guide :-) Alina and Klaas from Germany”

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Schotia Safaris: Best Wildlife Encounters in Port Elizabeth - Four hours in an open 4x4
Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Port Elizabeth, Tour Reviews, Tours in Port Elizabeth, Wildlife

Schotia Safaris: Best Wildlife Encounters in Port Elizabeth

7.Schotia Safaris: Best Wildlife Encounters in Port Elizabeth

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 89 reviews · 6 hours · from $227

From Port Elizabeth, Addo, or Kirkwood, you’ll ride to Schotia Private Game Reserve for four hours in an open 4x4 vehicle. An English-speaking local guide leads the drive, with chances to spot elephants, lions, zebras, and giraffes. Pickup, return transport, water, snacks, and refreshments are included.

“Mir ist klar, dass es in einem Reservat keine "normalen" Straßen gibt, dass es eben einfache Wege sind. Aber in diesem Reservat sind die Wege dermaßen stark ausgefahren, dass riesige Löcher und Fahrrillen entstanden sind. OK - das kommt vor. Aber wenn dann der Fahrer mit Vollgas in diese reinfährt, damit er auf der anderen Seite auch wieder rauskommt, dann passiert es leider mehrfach, dass es einen aus dem Sitz katapultiert und man mit dem Kopf gegen das Dach des Fahrzeuges knallt. Das hätte ich nun wirklich nicht gebraucht. Wir haben mit anderen Besuchern gesprochen, die die Safari in diesem Reservat über einen anderen Veranstalter gebucht hatten - die hatten…”

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Cape Town: Dolphin & Ocean Wildlife Kayaking Adventure ⚓️ - Meeting at Truth Adventure HQ in Mouille Point
Dolphin Watching, Surfing, Kayaking & Paddling, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Wildlife

Cape Town: Dolphin & Ocean Wildlife Kayaking Adventure ⚓️

8.Dolphin & Ocean Wildlife Kayaking Adventure ⚓️

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · 2 hours · from $37

Meet guides including Vincent and Shanti at Truth Adventure HQ beside the Mouille Point Lighthouse. After a safety briefing, paddle stable surf skis along Cape Town’s Atlantic coast, watching for Heaviside dolphins, penguins, seals, whales, and sunfish. Return for showers and a smoothie, matcha, or coffee in the garden.

“Perfect! The guides were very experienced and the equipment was so high quality: both the paddles and the kayaks. As a former flatwater kayak athlete, I loved this experience! But I must say it's also perfect for beginners: it was my friend's first time in a kayak and she loved it too!”

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Cape Town: 2-Day Wildlife Tour with Safaris and Luxury Stay - Botlierskop: your first open-top safari
2-Day Experiences, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town, VIP, Wildlife

Cape Town: 2-Day Wildlife Tour with Safaris and Luxury Stay

9.2-Day Wildlife Tour with Safaris and Luxury Stay

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 51 reviews · 2 days · from $534

Leave Cape Town early for Botlierskop’s 4x4 safari, then sleep in a luxury canvas tent at Buffelsdrift Lodge near Oudtshoorn. Day two brings a bush drive, optional elephant observation, and a scenic Route 62 return. Small groups, English-speaking guides such as Maudi, Dylan, and Denver, and about 900 km of road make this best for active visitors short on time.

“Résultat mitigé. Dylan, le guide était top. Je le recommande vivement. Le programme est intense sur les 2 jours avec de longs trajets de 6h. Mais vous n’avez pas le choix si vous venez de Captown. Les van ne sont pas confortables. Concernant les 2 safari, cela me paraissait plus être un grand zoo sans enclos plutôt qu’un safari. J’ai moins apprécié le 1er safari Bufflesdrift car plus petit et beaucoups moins d’animaux. En revanche les lodges surplace et l’environnement étaient magnifiques. Il n’y avait pas de lions dans les 2 réserves. Suppléments éléphant cher, mais sympa car nous avons pu les approcher de très près et de les toucher.…”

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Plettenberg Bay: Private Guided Wildlife Photography Tour - Arriving at Tenikwa near Plettenberg Bay
Guided, Photography Sessions, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Plettenberg Bay, Wildlife

Plettenberg Bay: Private Guided Wildlife Photography Tour

10.Private Guided Wildlife Photography Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 49 reviews · 2 hours - 150 minutes · from $41

Spend about two hours with a private English-speaking guide at Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation & Awareness Center. You’ll photograph cheetahs, leopards, caracals, servals, meerkats, and a white lion, learn why some animals cannot return to the wild, and take part in an enrichment activity. Davidson is one guide specifically praised for giving photographers time and clear explanations.

“This is a working conservation establishment so what you see depends on what they are caring for at the time. We saw more animals than anticipated. All looked well cared for & our guide clearly has a love of animals. He was knowledgeable and informative.”

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Port Elizabeth: 4x4 Wildlife Safari & City Sightseeing Tour - Wezandla crafts and a first look at local life
City Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Port Elizabeth, Sandboarding & Dune Adventures, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Port Elizabeth, Wildlife

Port Elizabeth: 4×4 Wildlife Safari & City Sightseeing Tour

11.4×4 Wildlife Safari & City Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 41 reviews · 7 hours · from $199

Spend seven hours with an English-speaking guide such as Nina or Shaheedah, combining Port Elizabeth sights with SANCCOB penguins and a two-hour open-vehicle safari. You will visit Donkin Reserve, Wezandla craft market, Cape Recife Lighthouse, and a vineyard. Lunch, drinks, lighthouse entry, and souvenirs cost extra.

“Nina made our day, everything was so perfect. We saw the Hotspots of Port Elizabeth, Had an exiting Safari, nice wines to try, and the beautyful Beach at the Lighthouse. We had so many awesome impressions and a lot of fun.”

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Guided Wildlife Tour and Forest Walk with Lunch Platter - A Short Safety Briefing Before the Walk
Guided, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Plettenberg Bay, Walking Tours, Wildlife

Guided Wildlife Tour and Forest Walk with Lunch Platter

12.Guided Wildlife Tour and Forest Walk with Lunch Platter

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 40 reviews · 4 hours · from $63

Spend four hours at Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre with a private English-speaking guide. Walk the Tsitsikamma forest, look for orchids, fungi, loeries, and trogons, then visit the wild cats on raised walkways, including the white lion. A fresh lunch platter with wine, beer, or fruit juice is included.

“We loved both these activities! The guides were informative and generous with their time, and seemed very happy to answer our questions. It was especially great to learn about the medicinal uses of some of the indigenous plants and to be shown the hardwood forest trees of the area.”

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Wildlife Safari, Olive, Beer/Wine Tasting Day Tour from Cape Town - Darling Olives and the West Coast food angle
Drinking Tours, Food & Drink, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town, Wildlife, Wine Tours, Wine Tours in Cape Town

Wildlife Safari, Olive, Beer/Wine Tasting Day Tour from Cape Town

13.Wildlife Safari, Olive, Beer/Wine Tasting Day Tour from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · from $227

Join guide Ian of African Moon Adventures for a nine-hour small-group outing from Cape Town. Travel in an air-conditioned minivan to Buffelsfontein for a three-hour game drive, then visit Darling Olives, Darling Brew, and Darling Sweets. Tastings are included at some stops, while lunch and alcoholic drinks cost extra.

“You can´t go wrong with Ian and this amazing day trip that he offers. Highly professional from start to finish. A beautiful van, comfortable, clean. We enjoyed our day very much and everything went perfect. He pay lots of attention to details. I Read more”

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From Johannesburg: Pilanesberg Wildlife Safari - The open jeep and the closed minibus choice
Pilanesberg & Sun City Tours, Safari & Game Drives, Tour Reviews, Tours in Pilanesberg, Wildlife

From Johannesburg: Pilanesberg Wildlife Safari

14.Pilanesberg Wildlife Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 36 reviews · 12 hours · from $263

Travel from Johannesburg or Pretoria to Pilanesberg National Park for two game drives in an open safari vehicle, with a closed minibus option available. Your driver, such as Jason, handles the long transfer, while park guides including Peter and James explain the wildlife. Lunch, water, park fees, and hotel pickup are included.

“Nosso transporte feito pelo sr. Jason foi tranquilo e pontual, ida e vinda. Muito atencioso e solícito. Nosso tour pelo parque foi muito legal, não vimos os Big Five, apenas w deles, mas vimos muitos outros animais. E o mais divertido foi a briga de girafas e os elefantes invadindo a rua, passando ao lado do carro e até indo atrás. O motorista Peter foi muito bem nas explicações.”

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3 Day Wildlife Safari Tour - Garden Route Small Group Tour from Cape Town - Day 1: Bo-Kaap, Cape Point, and penguins
3-Day Experiences, Garden Route Tours, Garden Route Tours in Cape Town, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town, Wildlife

3 Day Wildlife Safari Tour – Garden Route Small Group Tour from Cape Town

15.3 Day Wildlife Safari Tour – Garden Route Small Group Tour from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · from $427

Travel from Cape Town to the Garden Route in a small group of up to 13 people. You will see Cape Point, penguins, Constantia, private game reserves, and Cango Caves, with a possible elephant bush walk. Guide Taariq is praised for flexibility and clear explanations. Shared dorm lodging is included, with private rooms available for a fee.

“We were lucky that we had a wonderful tour guide to help us. He was very energetic, jovial and took the time to explain everything in detail. He answered questions that we didn’t even know to ask. It was an excellent tour. Thank you, aviator.”

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New in Wildlife

★ 4.02-Day Schotia Safaris & Addo Wildlife ReserveFrom $7164 reviews
★ 4.8Full-Day Addo Elephant Park Wildlife TourFrom $1564 reviews
★ 5.0Wildlife-Watching SafariFrom $633 reviews
★ 5.0Guided Marine Wildlife Cruise and Cape Point TourFrom $1703 reviews
★ 4.315 Wine Tasting & Wildlife Small Group TourFrom $1123 reviews

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