South Africa Safaris & ToursFrom Cape Town to Kruger, discover South Africa on an escorted safari tour

Seeing the iconic Big Five in the wild is the main aim for the majority of travellers to South Africa. The Big Five are the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Most of our South Africa tours and safaris visit the Kruger ecosystem, which is South Africa's premier wildlife destination, home to all of the Big Five. Other reserves to explore include Addo Elephant National Park, Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park and Manyeleti Game Reserve. Our trips include numerous game drives and you'll be accompanied by a qualified safari guide who will help to point out the creatures you see. Of course, wildlife is unpredictable and no sightings can be guaranteed on tour, but our safaris give you the best chance possible to spot the Big Five and other wildlife.

The Garden Route is a famous 200km stretch of South Africa's coastline from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. It is widely regarded as being home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, with beaches, cliffs, lagoons, and charming towns such as Knysna and Hermanus. Many of our tours and safaris travel along some or all of the Garden Route.

South Africa is a year-round destination, but for wildlife viewing, the drier, cooler winter months of May - September are optimal. For exploring the Garden Route and hitting the beach in Cape Town, the summer months of November - April are considered the best time to visit.

If travelling on one of our camping safaris, we recommend you read our guide to overland camping safaris. You can also see a detailed packing list in the Trip Notes for each tour. Some of the important items to remember are: sleeping bag, travel pillow, towel, Mosquito spray (with active DEET ingredient), your own personal first aid kit, torch, antibacterial wipes, a photocopy of your passport data, and your Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate. Please note that on our comfort camping safaris, camp bed, mattress, sleeping bag and pillow are provided.

The local payment is a cost per person that needs to be paid in US Dollars cash only. It is this payment that in part covers the park fees and other inclusions such as meals as detailed on each tour page. The local payment also covers your arrival transfer and 1st night’s accommodation. Our comfort camping safaris also have a small local payment, to be paid in South African rand or USD (check each tour for details) at the start of your trip. Please note that due to exchange rate fluctuations in the US dollar, the local payment amount may be subject to changes. This payment will be collected by your tour leader at the Welcome Meeting on day 1 of your escorted tour. Our Reservations team can give you more information about the local payment, the cost of which can be found on each tour page.

On our overland camping safaris, you will be escorted by a qualified tour leader who will act as your guide, as well as a driver and cook. On our comfort camping tours you will be escorted by a three-person team including a qualified African guide. On our lodge accommodated safaris, you will enjoy the services of local qualified tour guides and safari guides for included sightseeing - as detailed on the tour pages for each trip.

According to the 2023 LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index, South Africa scores a B rating for LGBTQ+ traveller safety, ranking 21st out of 203 countries. Same sex marriage is legal, and there are constitutional and worker protections in place for people of all sexual orientations. 51 – 75% of consulted citizens consider South Africa a good place to live for gay and lesbian people. There are no legal punishments for same sex relations and most trips for LGBTQ+ travellers to South Africa are trouble-free. The LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index is designed to provide a good overall picture of attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community in each country and may not reflect the experience of foreign travellers to the country.

In the main cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg, the tap water is generally safe to drink. However, in rural areas, we don't recommend consuming the tap water as it can lead to stomach upsets. Stick to filtered and bottled water instead.

On our overland camping safaris (excluding comfort camping), solo travellers will be matched up with another solo traveller of the same sex, with whom they will share a tent. If there is no other solo traveller of the same sex on the tour, you will have a tent to yourself at no extra cost. On our Handpicked lodge safaris, a single supplement applies for solo travellers. The cost of this can be seen on the tour page for each trip.

It is true that South Africa has a high crime rate when compared to many countries. However, the risk to travellers remains very low. This is particularly true on our group tours and safaris, where you will be accompanied by a professional guide or a larger crew. Generally, the most crime occurs in townships on the edge of cities, which we do not visit on our tours and would recommend avoiding if exploring independently. Cities including Cape Town are no more dangerous than other modern cities. More detailed information on staying safe during your holiday can be found here.

As a UK-based company, we follow the latest up to date advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO). You can see the latest travel advice and local laws here.