South Africa · GAME DRIVES

The 15 Best Game Drives in South Africa

74 tours  ·  ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5 average  ·  from $28

From Cape Town: Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch - The 8:20 AM pickup and the 9:00 AM start: how the day stays on track
Big 5 Safaris, Big 5 Safaris in Cape Town, Cape Town Tours, Game Drives, Game Drives in Cape Town, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews

From Cape Town: Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch

1.Big Five Game Reserve with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,409 reviews · 9 hours · from $236Our pick

Big Five safari day trip from Cape Town to Aquila with an open-vehicle drive, lunch included, and serious birdwatching.

“Great trip. Nice game reserve. 100% chance to see animals. Good lunch. Some welcome and intermediate sparkling drinks are great.”

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Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive - Meeting at Gonnakraal Road, and getting your gear right
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Little Brak River: Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

2.Botlierskop Guided Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 589 reviews · from $40

3-hour guided game drive at Botlierskop near Mossel Bay. Spot rhinos, lions, elephants, and 200+ bird species in an open vehicle.

“Although we were a bit unlucky with the weather (rain + fog) we were offered to be booked for a later tour - which we declined - we still got to see a lot. Our guide shared lots of information and answered all our questions with us. In general all the staff is very friendly and the entire reserve and estate is great. Highly recommend ! We had a great time :)”

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Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town - The drive from Cape Town: comfortable coach, long day energy
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Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

3.Big Five Game Reserve Wildlife Safari from Cape Town

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

Big Five safari day trip from Cape Town to malaria-free Aquila Game Reserve, with hotel pickup, 3-hour open vehicle drive, and lunch.

“We are not really animal friendly but the whole experience of this safari was amazing, from the friendly and helpful driver/tour guide to the guide on the safari bus. Had an amazing day”

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Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive - Cape Town pickup and the 9-hour reality check
Aquila Game Reserve Safaris, Cape Town Tours, Evening Experiences, Game Drives, Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews

Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

4.Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 508 reviews · 9 hours · from $168

Sunset safari from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve with wine tasting, lodge snacks, and a Big Five search from an open truck.

“Luc was a great guide and driver. Safari was also very cool and a great experience. Especially if you wanna do one and you just around Cape Town like I was. The included Lunch buffet was nice. It’s just not really much time to hangout at the pool (you have only 30min in total).”

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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive - Arrival at the reserve, welcome drinks and time to reset
Aquila Game Reserve Safaris, Cape Town Tours, Evening Experiences, Game Drives, Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews

From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

5.Aquila Game Reserve Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 350 reviews · 9 hours · from $167

Sunset Big Five safari at Aquila from Cape Town, with pickup, welcome drinks, open 4x4 drive, and ranger spotting for $167.

“The day was fantastic! Our driver, who drove us to and forth Aqulia, Jean-Claude was funny, helpful and so friendly! He made sure the drive was pleasant and even though it was raining, he kept a positive attitude and said it will stop which it did. The experience at Aqulia was also amazing. We got to see 4/5 of the big Five, as well as giraffes, zebras, hippos and ostriches up close. We didn’t see the giraffes inside Aqulia but on our way home, Jean-Claude spotted them and stopped the car so we could go out and see them! We would recommend the trip!”

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Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive - The 2-Hour Game Drive: How The Timing Really Works
2-Hour Experiences, Game Drives, Garden Route Tours, Tour Reviews

Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive

6.Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve: 2-Hour Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 267 reviews · 2 hours · from $55

A 2-hour safari drive at Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve, aiming for the Big Five, with chances to spot rhinos, leopards, hippos, and crocs.

“Excellent, saw lots of animals, elephants, giraffe, lion, buffalo, springbok, rhino & baby, crocs, tortoise, ostrich and more. Our guide was very good, very informative”

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Port Elizabeth: Schotia Game Reserve Safari with Port Pickup - Harbor Pickup to Reserve Gate: How the Timing Really Works
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Port Elizabeth: Schotia Game Reserve Safari with Port Pickup

7.Schotia Game Reserve Safari with Port Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 263 reviews · 5 hours · from $233

Half-day safari from Port Elizabeth Harbor into Schotia Private Game Reserve, chasing the Big 5 in an open vehicle with snacks included.

“Norman the Tourguide did a phantastic job . All the best for him , he is such a friendly guy , and he knows a lot about the animals in the Park . Thank You very much .”

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Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive - Key Things To Know Before You Go
Evening Experiences, Game Drives, Garden Route Tours, Private, Tour Reviews

Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive

8.Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: 3.5-Hour Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 227 reviews · from $64

3.5-hour sunset game drive near Mossel Bay: guided open-vehicle spotting, snacks, big animals, and 200 bird species at Botlierskop.

“We had a tour with Madeline and she was really great. We were able to see buffalos, cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, one elephant and one lion. Would recommend to arrive early enough to have lunch at the restaurant at the same location. The food was great.”

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From Sun City: Pilanesberg National Park 3-Hour Game Drive - From Sun City Check-In to a Real Game Drive
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From Sun City: Pilanesberg National Park 3-Hour Game Drive

9.Pilanesberg National Park 3-Hour Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 216 reviews · from $49

3-hour open-vehicle game drive from Sun City into Pilanesberg crater country, led by top guides to spot the Big Five and more.

“The activity was fantastic and the guide, Jeremy, was outstanding. the only unpleasant thing was the poor road conditions that caused a bumpy and uncomfortable ride. otherwise, the activity was worth every penny.”

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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch - Welcome Drink and Buffet Lunch: Where the Day Gets Real
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From Cape Town: Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour with Lunch

Aquila Game Reserve: Afternoon Safari - Getting to Aquila in Touws River, Then Getting Set
Aquila Game Reserve Safaris, Game Drives, Safari, Tour Reviews

Aquila Game Reserve: Afternoon Safari

11.Aquila Game Reserve: Afternoon Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 166 reviews · from $109

Afternoon safari at Aquila: welcome drink, 4-star buffet lunch, 2.5-hour drive, Eco Synergy Tour, and Big Five sightings.

“Our guide was super nice, taking time and giving opportunities for pictures. He had a great knowledge. The reserve is nice and for sure does a good thing for animals!”

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Aquila Private Game Reserve: Sunset Safari with Entry Fee - Welcome Drinks, Park Entry, and the Waiting-Game Routine
Aquila Game Reserve Safaris, Evening Experiences, Game Drives, Hermanus & Whale Coast Tours, Private, Safari, Tour Reviews

Aquila Private Game Reserve: Sunset Safari with Entry Fee

Kruger National Park: Full-Day Game Drive with Pickup - Morning pickup and getting into Kruger early
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Kruger National Park: Full-Day Game Drive with Pickup

13.Full-Day Game Drive with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 136 reviews · 1 day · from $109

Full-day Kruger game drive with hotel pickup, open 4x4 views, Big 5 chances, and two rest camp stops (food not included).

“Jerry picked us up at 6am from Skukuza in his 9-passenger safari truck. Being the only guests made for a personalized experience. The morning was chilly, but he provided blankets for comfort. Throughout our 9-10 hour tour, Jerry was friendly, patient, and knowledgeable. We saw 4 of the Big 5: elephants (up close), lions, buffalo, and rhino. Watching curious hyena pups was a highlight. Jerry tracked animals well and used WhatsApp to coordinate with other guides to find lions. The truck was comfortable, though windy in the back (dress warmly for mornings). We stopped for breakfast and lunch at the same rest area with good, reasonably priced food. This tour…”

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Aquila Game Reserve Safari with Park Fees, Transport & Lunch - Paarl and the Cape Winelands on the N1: the fun part of the long drive
Aquila Game Reserve Safaris, Cape Town Tours, Game Drives, Game Drives in Cape Town, Lunch Experiences, Safari, Safaris in Cape Town, Tour Reviews

Aquila Game Reserve Safari with Park Fees, Transport & Lunch

14.Aquila Game Reserve Safari with Park Fees, Transport & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · from $238

Cape Town to Aquila Safari in a day: roundtrip transfers, buffet lunch, and a 3-hour open-vehicle game drive with Big Five odds.

“The organization of the tour was seamless, though I would have appreciated slightly better communication from the tour company. Since we were arriving on a cruise ship, I sent a message and an email after booking to request more specific directions regarding pickup. However, I did not receive a reply until the day before the tour, and even then, it was only a generic response. Fortunately, our driver, Collen Booi, reached out to us early in the morning via WhatsApp to confirm the meeting place and pickup time. Pickup was prompt and straightforward. Collen was pleasant, attentive, and friendly, ensuring that we had a great experience—and we certainly did. The…”

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Marloth Park: Kruger National Park Safari Game Drives - From Marloth Park toward Crocodile Bridge gate: where the sightings improve
Game Drives, Game Drives in Kruger & Mpumalanga, Kruger & Mpumalanga Tours, Kruger Park Safaris, National Parks, Safari, Safaris in Kruger & Mpumalanga, Tour Reviews

Marloth Park: Kruger National Park Safari Game Drives

15.Marloth Park: Kruger National Park Safari Game Drives

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 115 reviews · 6 hours · from $61

Sunrise game drives from Marloth Park to Kruger, with Big Five chances, expert English guiding, and comfortable open vehicles, plus handy wildlife breaks.

“Our tour guide Jerry was an awesome guide and even greater person! it was a pity it was a hot day so we didn't get to see many animals, Jerry was very knowledgeable and made sure to make our safari the best as possible! everybody knew Jerry and he was friendly with everyone! I would definitely recommend!”

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