When taking a safari in South Africa, there are numerous things to consider – where and when to go, what to pack, must-have items to bring along. Etcetera. Etcetera.
The list is long and if you are not a seasoned safari traveller, it can all seem a bit daunting.
So, if you are considering heading out to deepest, darkest Africa on a safari adventure, read on because we have you covered. Here are a series of tips and tricks on where to go, where to stay, what to wear and what to bring along…
1. Where to go?
South Africa is home to a variety of national parks and private reserves. There are endless options and likewise, endless accommodation options too. In terms of the most authentic game viewing experience, Kruger National Park and the private reserves in and around the greater Kruger area are the cream of the crop. Offering all sorts of accommodation, from camping to glamping, and from rustic chalets to five-star luxury, the Kruger area is by far the most desired when it comes to big game experience.
Slightly more South and an underplayed national park of South Africa is the Pilanesberg. Its location is what makes it the most accessible national park in South Africa. Offering a game experience close to Kruger plus a lovely diverse topography, this is one of the prettiest parks in the country. It is also a stone-throw from the famed Sun City which can be visited for world-class golf or its incredible water park with wave pool.
2. Where to Stay?
Bakubang Bush Lodge and Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge in the Pilanesberg area, offer the perfect bush escape for the family. Just two hours from Joburg, both lodges are positioned close to two of the gates into the park, making accessibility extremely easy.
A variety of onsite facilities and activities are available to keep everyone entertained with walking safaris, archery, quad biking adventures, as well as the ever-popular Junior Rangers programme for the kids.
Bakubung offers superb game viewing from the lodge, while Kwa Maritane has its ever-popular underground hide which is frequented by wildlife. Both properties also have a world-class spa with treatments and therapies designed to ease the stresses of modern-day city living.
Nestled away on its own private concession in the heart of the Pilanesberg National Park is Tshukudu Budge Lodge, an intimate 5* sanctuary known for its picturesque topography and extensive plains teeming with wildlife. The lodge and its ten chalets are wrapped high upon the contours of a rocky outcrop giving it panoramic views of the grasslands and waterhole below - ideal for game viewing throughout the day.
If looking at the Kruger area, Legacy’s Kruger Park Lodge and Elephant Point properties are both just a few minutes away from the closest Kruger Park gates. Both lodges offer the ultimate bush experiences for couples, friends and families overlooking the serene Sabie River.
Kruger Park Lodge is home to the one of the most tranquil hippo hides in the country, where guests can visit to see hippos frolicking in the water. The property also features a 9-hole Gary Player-designed golf course, and it is not uncommon to see Impala moving through the fairway.
On Kruger’s border lies the uber-luxurious Elephant Point, a secure estate on a private reserve offering a range of 26[NM1] villa-style lodges run by Legacy Hotels & Resorts. Each lodge offers a unique luxury experience with the following services available: airport shuttles, game drives, private chef experiences and boma dinners overlooking the Sabie River. This is a tranquil haven, a wanderlust holiday for the whole family, and certainly the most luxurious way to absorb the sights and sounds of the African bush and experience nature at its very best.
3. When to go?
Safari is always the best in the South African winter. Cooler days means increased game activity and the bush is not as dense as in the summer months, making for easier sightings. Suffice to say, South African winters, specifically in the areas in the more Northern parts of the country, offer mild to warm winter days making for lovely, lazy midday sessions soaking up the sun.
4. What to wear?
Always pack yourself a good pair of trainers, a warm puffer jacket and some long pants. Game drives are generally during the cooler times of the day, around sunrise and sunset, so the extra warmth is a must.
Most tourists adorn themselves in beiges and khakis, but this is not a hard and fast rule. Why not glam yourself up a with with a colorful scarf or match the safari theme with a leopard print top or some zebra pants. South Africans love fashion accessories for the bush.
Finally, a good broad-rimmed hat and sunglasses are always a necessity to shield your face and eyes from the harsh African sun.
5. What to bring?
If you have a pair of binoculars, pack them. Most rangers will carry a pair in the car, but these are often shared across the vehicle and you will spend precious minutes waiting to use them at often a fleeting sighting.
The 5* Tshukudu Bush Lodge in the Pilanesberg National Park has cleverly offered each room in the lodge its own pair of binoculars to take out with them on game drives. This is a game changer and one of the ways the lodge has heightened the experience for its guests.
If you are travelling in spring, autumn or summer be sure to bring along a swimming costume because there is nothing better than a cold plunge after a morning game drive. The family resorts of Kwa Maritane and Bakubung in the Pilanesberg and Kruger Park Lodge in the greater Kruger area are all centered around the pool areas as children spend endless hours of entertainment on the water slides and in the water. Other more luxurious five-star properties offer plunge pools and infinity pools, ideal for soaking in while watching passing herds of elephants and hippo.
Suncream and of course mosquito spray are both absolute mandatories to pack in your toiletry bags and while most parts of South Africa are malaria-free, there are parts of the greater Kruger area that are low risk zones. Plus, there is nothing more annoying than buzzing in your ear and repellant will guarantee you a more peaceful stay. Most lodges offer local brands in the rooms, so don’t panic if you forget this.
Lastly, do not forget to pack your book or Kindle… whether lounging by the pool or on your private deck, there are many hours of down time at the lodge while on safari. Most lodges in South Africa offer good Wi-Fi signal and connectivity is hardly ever an issue.
So, whatever appeals to you - be it a family safari in the Pilanesberg or luxuriating it up in a villa overlooking the river – don’t forget to pack all your necessity items. South Africa truly has something for everyone - and Legacy Hotels & Resorts, a leader in independent luxury hotels, has an ideal place to stay.
