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| Home / Articles / Wildlife / South African Game Reserves The Top 10 |
| South African Game Reserves The Top 10 |
If you think of the continent of Africa, one of the first things you probably picture is animals roaming free in grasslands and savannah. South Africa boasts a huge collection of wildlife regions and game parks second to none, and encompasses every type of landscape from deserts to forests, mountains to coasts. Parts of South Africa are still teeming with wildlife species. There are also numerous lodges and camps to choose from, depending on what you are looking for. Located within private game reserves, national parks and nature reserves, acommodation ranges from rustic to 5-star luxury, self catering camps to fully catered lodges. Packages include daily game activities, day and night game drives, bush walks, horse-back safaris, eco-activities and even stargazing tours with wildlife roaming around! With almost too much to choose from, you will find something suited just to you.
If you’re on a safari holiday and are not sure where to go, the list
below exhibits some of South Africa’s best Game Reserves for you to choose from.
1. Kruger Park (Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces)
The world famous Kruger Park offers one of the best wildlife experiences on the continent. Covering almost 2 million hectares, this National Park is unmatched in the diversity of species. The southern part of Kruger Park is greener than the drier central and northern regions, and this makes it more populated with camps, as naturally, it is where the largest concentrations of game occurs.
There are not many places on earth you can see elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo in the same place. There are many wilderness trails on offer. You’ll want to relax around the campfire and share stories of the days experience as you sip on sundowners.
2. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Northern Cape)
Situated in the southern Kalahari desert. Transfrontier parks, areas are protected areas that cross international boundaries. The southern Kalahari represents an increasingly rare phenomenon: a large ecosystem relatively free of human disturbance.
This remarkable place with man-made barriers only visible to the west and south of the Park, has provided a conservation area large enough to maintain examples of two ecological processes that were once widespread in the savannahs and grasslands of Africa.
3. Pilanesberg Game Reserve (North West Province)
The fourth largest Reserve in southern Africa, the malaria-free park is nestled in the eroded remnants of a volcanic crater - one of only three alkaline craters in the world, making it indeed unique. Pilanesberg is in the midst of the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation, ie "Bushveld". It is especially different to other large parks in the way that Unlike any other large park, unique overlaps of mammals, birds and vegetation occur because of this transition zone.
4. Sabi Sands Game Reserve (Mpumalanga)
The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is regarded as the most exclusive private game reserve in South Africa. Nestled in the south-western corner of the Kruger National Park, the 65 000 hectare has no fences between it and the Kruger Park, allowing wildlife to roam freely between the two reserves.
Boasting some of the best and most exclusive private game lodges in the country, the Sabi Sands Game Reserve promises excellent opportunities to see the Big 5 (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) up close.
5. Mapungubwe National Park (Limpopo)
A sprawling savannah where the Shashe and Limpopo Rivers converge, Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape in Mapungubwe National Park, is on South Africa’s Northern Border which meets Botswana and Zimbabwe. The almost untouched remains of settlement and palace sites is evidence that Mapungubwe was once the greatest sub-continent kingdom, responsible for extensive social and cultural changes from 900 AD till it’s desertion in 14th century. South Africa’s first kingdom is rich in fossil deposits, bushman art and gold artifacts.
Highlights are tree top walks, eco routes, bird and game hides;guided tours to Limited Motorized zones.
6. Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Park (Kwazulu Natal)
Deep in the heart of Zululand lies the oldest game reserve in Africa. Haunting place of Zulu kings Dingiswayo and Shaka, it is here where they hunted and initiated the first conservation laws. You’ll be surrounded b y Africa’s Big 5 (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros) in the flourishing savannah, with game viewing being the primary attraction in the Game Reserve. One can observe the wildlife at close range, as viewing hides overlook pans and waterholes.
7. Shamwari Game Reserve (Eastern Cape)
Shamwari Game Reserve is the Southernmost, private Big Game reserve in Africa. This malaria free park’s main focus is conservation, having been awarded a number of International conservation and tourism awards. An ultimate African adventure, it stretches along the Bushman's river, a mid-point between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown. The reserve forms a natural extension to the well-loved Garden Route.
8. Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park (Kwazulu Natal)
Greater St Lucia Wetland Park re-named 'iSimangaliso' (marvel in Zulu) in 2007, is South Africa’s third largest Park. Spanning 280km east KwaZulu-Natal coastline, the park includes Lake St Lucia and its estuary, a wildlife reserve, various islands, and part of the coastal Marine Reserve. The park boasts five unspoiled ecosystems including lake systems, coral reefs, swamps, wetlands, woodlands, coastal forests and beaches. The largest estuary in Africa also has the world's largest forested sand dunes-up to 180 m! When lake salinity is high, water seeping through the dunes feeds the swamps, providing sanctuary to freshwater life. This is a uniquely beautiful part of South Africa.
9. Addo Elephant Park (Eastern Cape)
An hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth, and situated in a malaria-free area, this magnificent national park offers a wide variety of game viewing, great accommodation, memorable cultural experiences and exciting adventures to be had! Very accessible, this park offers an amazing variety of South Africa Wildlife in one destination. The main attraction is of course the 350 African Elephants within the Park. However, besides these great animals, you can spot the Black Rhino, Cape Buffalo (though better spotted at night) and antelope species such as kudu, eland, red hartebeest and springbok. A strange creature, the flightless dung beetle, is also unique to the Addo region.
10. Madikwe Game Reserve (North West Province)
This Big Five game reserve 90 km north of Zeerust spans 60,000 hectare, making it one of the largest game reserves in South Africa. The diversity of vegetation encourages a wide range of game and the landscape offers perfect game viewing opportunities. Madikwe Game Reserve is unique in that it is one of very few game reserves globally to be proclaimed purely on the grounds of being the most suitable and sustainable land use for an area.
The reserve comprises of large plains of open woodlands and grasslands, divided by the rugged Rant van Tweedepoort, and bordered by the Dwarsberg Mountains in the South. This is an ideal place for Big 5 viewing.
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| Safari information that may interest you: |
Halaal and Kosher Safaris
Wildlife Safaris in Mpumalanga
Wildlife safaris in Limpopo
Wildlife safaris in Eastern Cape
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