Discover wild South Africa

Dreaming of going on Safari?

As a lover of cats, going on safari has always been a wildlife dream for me. But where in Africa is best for an adventure novice like me?

I called my long-time friend and fellow travel expert, Ruby Tai Tin of World Journeys about her recent incredible safari experience. Ruby recommends South Africa hands down as the best destination for first timers to Africa due to its ease of accessibility to private safari lodges and camps in private game reserves.

Ruby describes South Africa as a one stop shop, a destination where you can enjoy an amazing city stay in Cape Town (great food, awesome views from Table Mountain and some fantastic wines in the Winelands plus beautiful beaches), then in just a short flight escape to a safari lodge where you can be on a game drive that afternoon spotting elephants and lions.

Discover wild South Africa through Ruby’s first-hand experience. It’s a must read if an African safari is on your bucket-list like it is on mine – Sharon.

Inside South Africa

Ruby’s travel tips

Where did you go in South Africa?

I spent 3 nights in Cape Town, 2 nights at andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge (in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve on the Western edge of Kruger National Park), 1 night in Johannesburg, 2 nights at Madikwe Lelapa Lodge (in the Madikwe Game Reserve located on South Africa’s North West province bordering Botswana) and 2 nights at The Palace, Sun City.

What did you enjoy visiting?

Cape Town for its mix of coastal and historical charm with the dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain, and the greater Kruger region of Timbavati for its luxurious safari lodges and wonderful wildlife – hands down a winning combination.

What time of year did you go?

I went in February when the weather was amazing with beautiful warm sunny days and the perfect temperatures. We did hit rain when we reached the game reserves but that didn’t take away from having an amazing safari experience. We had torrential rain on our last day in Madikwe but we were safari veterans by then so it just added to the sense of adventure and fun.

How did you feel discovering wild South Africa?

It truly was a dream come true to finally experience an African safari and see a pride of lions right beside me.

What would you recommend for first-time travellers to South Africa?

Mix it up with a stay in Cape Town and a private safari lodge/camp.  It really makes a difference to avoid the crowds in the National Parks by staying at private game reserves where you can get closer to wildlife with incredibly experienced guides who know the environment and the wildlife of the local region like the back of their hand.

Tell us what you saw on safari?

The Timbavati region where the Ngala Safari Lodge is located is known for its rare white lions, so spotting this rare beauty on our very first game drive was unbelievable! I also managed to spot a leopard resting in the long grass which no one else had seen and the excited reaction by our guide just made spotting it more special for me. 

Seeing rhinos that weren’t de-horned in the Madikwe Game Reserve was also so great to see as it means they’ve been able to live their natural lives protected from poachers. 

Other animal highlights were the many lions, leopard, giraffe, zebra, hippo, wilderbeast, impala, hyena and a huge variety of colourful birdlife that I never knew existed. Before this trip I had never been that interested in birds, now I am!

What are the sounds of an African safari?

You have to be quiet and softly spoken when on safari as the local guides are listening for bird calls or monkey noises that can signal a predator nearby. You often hear rustling in the bush and long grasses as animals move about unseen, and we did get to hear and see lions roaring. It sounds like they are close, but their calls can travel for miles.

How long were you on safari?

I stayed 2 nights at each lodge, as we were on a travel industry experience. 3 nights however would be ideal if you have more time as day 1 can involve just getting to the lodge. You may end up arriving in the late afternoon/evening so booking a 3-night stay gives you more time to experience the lodge facilities and activities on offer.

The private guides and rangers’ enthusiasm and love for what they do really makes a safari. During a 3 night stay you get to really know your guides, their passionate personalities, their sense of humour and their in-depth knowledge which will enrich your safari experience.

What type of safari did you go on?

I experienced luxury private safaris in private game reserves. We were on a tailor-made itinerary ie. it was designed around us, the time we had and the things we wanted to see, rather than a set “off the shelf” package – it’s what World Journeys specialise in.

Ngala Private Game Reserve shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park which they have exclusive traversing rights over 14,500ha of the land.  This means our safari vehicle was allowed to go off road to get closer to wildlife with more up-close viewing.  Viewings are restricted to 3 vehicles per sighting so there’s zero chance of any crowding of vehicles around an animal.

There’s also no need to scramble for a ‘window’ seat as they take a maximum of just 6 guests per vehicle, allowing everyone to have a prime seat for game viewing.  Some of these private game reserve lodges only accommodate small numbers of guests, allowing for a much more personal and exclusive experience.

How long is a safari?

Game drives are twice daily (morning and early evening) and can typically be about 3 hours long. But if you’re lucky to spot something interesting like animals feeding, it could be hours longer, especially if you’re in a private reserve.

What was the difference between the two game reserves you visited?

Both Ngala Private Game Reserve and Madikwe Game Reserve are private reserves. However,  Ngala has just two lodges in the area, whereas Madikwe has over 20 lodges, so it was a much more exclusive feel to stay at Ngala Lodge where we got a lot closer to the wildlife. 

Madikwe’s Reserve was a lot more expansive; you could see and feel the size of the area a lot more which gave a better chance to spot other animals like cheetah and wild dogs. Alas, in my case it wasn’t to be…such is the nature of animal spotting on a safari. 

What were the lodges like that you stayed at?

andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge:

A 5-star safari lodge which had touches of the old African safari with a nod back to the traditional days eg. there was a copy of an old National Geographic in my room plus spirits in decanters rather than their bottles which gave a classy, old-worldly touch. 

The bathroom in my room had a definite wow factor with a stand-alone bath accompanied with lovely bath salts plus an open-air shower. A very luxurious way to end a day of game drives.

The food was divine, from the early morning pre-game drive coffee with Amarula (a local liqueur) to the full breakfast on your return, a delicious lunch, maybe afternoon tea, sundowners, and a dinner to die for. Elasticated waistbands are highly recommended!

Guests that stay at either andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge or Ngala Tented Camp are also able to book an experience in the Ngala Treehouse;- an elevated 4-level, sleep-out platform, for a truly exclusive wilderness experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Madikwe Lelapa Lodge:

Staying at the Madikwe Lelapa Lodge was also a lovely experience with the rooms here having a more “African” feel to them. A private plunge pool was an added touch of luxury that I thoroughly enjoyed relaxing in.

As the land area here is wider, we were able to do a walking safari and were lucky enough on ours to have a rhino come up behind us which added to the excitement of our walk. You always feel safe, as you are walking with experts who are so in tune with the wildlife and know all the signs to look out for.

Although a walking safari was an option for guests at Ngala, the grass had grown too long in that region for it to be a safe activity.  

What are the locals like? The service, the hospitality?

The staff at the lodges really made our experience so much more exceptional. They were wonderful at both properties, however Ngala had that extra special touch where we really did feel like family and we were truly sad to be saying goodbye to them.

Did you feel safe?

Yes, in Cape Town and at the private reserves.  When it’s dark you are escorted to your room so I never felt unsafe at the lodges.

What is the best time of year to do a safari in South Africa?

South Africa is an ‘any time of year’ destination and their seasons are similar to that in New Zealand. Our most recommended time is to go between May and September when it is the best game-viewing period, although a little chilly in the early mornings and evenings.

What stands out as an ultimate memory of your trip to South Africa?

Seeing a white lioness and spotting a leopard in the long grass at Ngala plus seeing two adult lions together (there’s normally just one male lion to a pride). 

A rhino coming up behind us on our walking safari was another unforgettable moment. Honestly, there were so many special experiences that will stay with me forever. They say that once you’ve been to Africa, that’s it, you just want to go back; and that is so true.

What would you recommend to other travellers who would like to do a safari in South Africa?

Spend the extra money to stay in a private game reserve.  Your game drive is a far better experience in a private game reserve than staying in a National Park where you could have up 60+ vehicles around one animal sighting.  Go for quality over quantity.

Tell us why we should choose South Africa for a safari rather than other African countries?

Accessibility.  South Africa is a one stop shop where you can enjoy an amazing city stay in Cape Town then in just a short flight be at a safari lodge and on a game drive that afternoon spotting elephants and lions.  It’s a fantastic destination for first timers to Africa (which can be done within any budget). 

East Africa is quite different in that you have the wide-open plains, the Great Migration and the traditional people such as the Maasai making Kenya and Tanzania another great first safari option. 

Beyond that, go to Uganda and Rwanda for the mountain gorillas; Botswana for the pristine wilderness of the Okavango Delta (like nowhere else on earth) and then Namibia for the arid desert experience with the Sossusvlei dunes and Himba tribes.  All are great safari options, each offering their own unique experience. 

A big thank you to Ruby of World Journeys for sharing her South Africa story with us
and supplying these wonderful photos she took while on her travels.