The top five for the Big Five

There are more safari destinations in South Africa than you may realise. From national parks to private game reserves, the nation offers a plethora of opportunities to spot the Big Five. Here are our top five South African safari picks.

Kruger National Park

When you hear the word safari, you can’t help but think of Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Africa. The two-million-hectare park was named after Paul Kruger, the 5th president of the South African Republic, and is recognised far and wide for its safari offering. The surrounding private game reserves are no longer isolated from Kruger Park, which means the animals here have an extensive domain and there’s a lot of them. The result is that there is a good chance of spotting the Big Five here.

There are many asphalt roads in the park, so it’s not a bad spot for a self-drive safari. There are still benefits to booking an experienced ranger, though, particularly if this is your first safari destination. A ranger will show you what to look out for when you are spotting animals and tell you more about their behaviour.

Kruger is basically a synonym for the word “safari”. Home to over 500 bird species, 100 reptiles, nearly 150 mammals, multiple archaeological sites, and a stunning diversity of flora, Kruger is the country’s flagship national park.

Sabi Sands

Sabi Sands is possibly the best-known private reserve near Kruger National Park and it’s easily accessible from Johannesburg. There are no fences between Sabi Sands and Kruger, so the Big Five and other animals move freely from one park to the next.

The original Sabie Reserve was founded in 1898 and became the Sabi Private Game Reserve in 1934. The land is still managed by descendants of the six families who were the original owners of the land. As cattle farmers, they drilled water holes to provide the cattle with sufficient water. These water holes mean there is always enough water for the wildlife in Sabi Sands, so large herds like to linger here. Even a brief, two-day visit at Sabi Sands is usually enough to see all of the flagship species. With a good population of highly habituated leopards, Sabi Sands is also one of the best places in Africa to see these elusive cats. Lions and cheetahs are also easily spotted.

As an extension of Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands has the same relatively thick vegetation consisting of woodland savannah. Two rivers run through the reserve, providing water. The riverine vegetation makes an excellent habitat for leopards and other wildlife.

MalaMala Game Reserve

MalaMala is an independent private game reserve that shares unfenced borders with Kruger National Park to the east and Sabi Sands Game Reserve on all other sides. Having pioneered the upmarket private game reserve experience in the 1960s, it offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa, with easy, quality sightings of the Big Five and leopards.

MalaMala offers some of the best wildlife viewing on the continent. The Big Five can usually be checked off in two days, and leopards are spotted on most drives. Unlike other parks, MalaMala doesn’t offer traversing rights to guests from other properties, making it exclusive and uncrowded.

MalaMala is sandwiched between Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Game Reserve with open borders on both sides. The vegetation consists of woodland savannah, dense riverine forest, acacia bushveld, open grassland and rocky outcrops. The Sand River flows north to south through the reserve and attracts abundant wildlife in the dry season.

Phinda Game Reserve

Phinda is KwaZulu-Natal’s favourite private game reserve, offering some of the best wildlife viewing in the country. All of the Big Five are easily spotted here. Phinda’s flagship species is the cheetah and sightings of this gracious cat are common. Both rhino species are also present and regularly seen.

The four lodges in the reserve have been positioned to experience the different habitats within the park. Forest Lodge is set deep in the heart of the rare, dry sand forest, while Mountain Lodge looks out over the reserve from the top of a koppie. Vlei Lodge overlooks the vast wetland, and Rock Lodge sits suspended over a deep valley below.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a rewarding destination for self-drive visitors; it is off the beaten track with great wilderness appeal and excellent wildlife viewing. Kgalagadi’s scenery is awe-inspiring, too. Think red sand dunes and endless vistas.

Kgalagadi is not a Big Five destination, as it has no elephants, rhinos or buffalo. Animal numbers are lower here than in the classic safari destinations, but the open terrain makes for good viewing. Predators are the park’s biggest attraction, including leopards, cheetahs, spotted and brown hyenas and smaller species, such as bat-eared foxes and Cape foxes. Lions are numerous, with the males known for their spectacular black manes.

Sandton, South Africa

This exceptional family home is situated on the riverbank of Dainfern Valley Estate, with uninterrupted views through frameless glass stacking windows to the Jukskei River. Featuring magnificent high ceilings throughout, the lower level of the home offers four opulently presented bedrooms, each with access to an individually inspired garden. An expansive family room with floor-to-ceiling glass stacked doors opens onto a heated pool, a picturesque garden, and then the riverfront. There is also a gentleman’s study with a fitted library, a cuttingedge designed cinema room, a fully equipped laundry room, and a gym. The kitchen, entertainment areas and guest suite are situated on the upper level.

Fine & Country Fourways

+2710 595 0181 fourways@fineandcountry.com

25,000,000 ZAR

Cape Town, South Africa

This spectacular penthouse apartment is situated in Camps Bay, offering spectacular uninterrupted ocean views. Architecturally designed to maximise natural light, this gorgeous, art-filled penthouse is marked by its striking layout and unique design. The penthouse offers three bedrooms, four bathrooms, and the perfect open-plan dining and lounge area for entertaining family and friends. The principal bedroom has a walk-in closet, an en suite bathroom and a private balcony with spectacular views. There is a glass pool overlooking Bali Bay, with plenty of outdoor entertainment space to host a traditional South African braai.

Fine & Country Paarl Winelands

+2768 281 3100 valdevie@fineandcountry.com

33,500,000 ZAR

Sandhurst, South Africa

Situated in one of Sandhurst’s most prestigious roads, this elegant and charming home is positioned within an enchanting garden. Designed in the mid-1990s by renowned architect Philip Watermeyer, the home has perfectly proportioned living rooms and a formal sitting room, dining room and family room, all with windows or doors opening out to the beautiful garden. The home has three bedrooms, each with their own full bathrooms. Outside, the garden has been meticulously landscaped and planted. There is also a tennis court with its own pavilion, a swimming pool and a vegetable garden. There is also staff accommodation, consisting of two bedrooms.

Fine & Country The Parks

+2711 036 9911 theparks@fineandcountry.com

19,750,000 ZAR