The 11 Johannesburg National Park Tours That Earn Their Price

1.Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Game Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,327 reviews · 12 hours · from $186Our pick

Leave Johannesburg early for Pilanesberg with hotel pickup, a roughly 2.5-hour drive, and two open-vehicle game drives totaling 4.5 to 5 hours. Guides such as Petrus, Martin, and Desmond track wildlife while you watch elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, and hundreds of bird species.

“À must do. We had a fantastic time, our guide Petrus was great, he did really manage to give us the best sights and yeppp he's funny as well, so there was really no doom time Shout out to Nikki as well, the driver who took us from Johannesburg to the Pilanesberg and back, he was kind and so careful ::)) Highly advised!”

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2.Full Day Ultimate Pilanesberg National Park Safari from Johannesburg or Pretoria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 718 reviews · from $159

Spend a full day in Pilanesberg National Park with hotel pickup, two open 4x4 game drives, and lunch overlooking a waterhole. Guides such as Clement and Sibu are praised for their animal knowledge and effort. Expect a long road day, often close to three hours each way.

“The experience was surreal!! Can't believe we get to be so close to the animals. There is nothing to fault this trip from start to the end!!”

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3.Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 414 reviews · from $137Best value

Leave Johannesburg early for Pilanesberg Nature Reserve, then spend the day on a morning open 4x4 drive and an afternoon safari in a closed vehicle. Guides such as Petrus, Chris, and Thaboo provide wildlife commentary, while lunch, park fees, hotel transfers, and onboard Wi-Fi are included.

“Our driver/guide Pedros was fantastic. Good rapport, great sense of humour, very knowledgeable, helpful. Would highly recommend this experience.”

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4.3-Day Budget Tent Kruger Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 163 reviews · 3 days · from $653

Travel from Johannesburg in a small group of up to nine for sunset and night drives, a full day in Kruger, tent camping, and a morning bush walk. Guides including Quinten, Vic, Andy, Ray, and Raymond help bring the bush to life. Lunches and drinks cost extra.

“the guides overall were really friendly and knowledgable, in particular Raymond was a very nice person and very experienced. The schedules were well organized Just the lack of the wifi on the first night could have been an issue if someone did not know, but our guide Raymond managed to solve this issue for us.”

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5.2-Day 4-Star Pilanesberg Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 61 reviews · 2 days · from $609

Travel from Johannesburg to Pilanesberg for four game drives across a volcanic reserve. You will stay at a 4-star lodge, enjoy dinner and breakfast, and have the chance to see elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and buffalo. Guide Moloko has been singled out for thoughtful service.

“Mye for pengene! Nydelig sted og veldig god mat!”

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6.4-Day Classic Kruger National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 52 reviews · 4 days · from $1,120

Spend four active days between Balule and Kruger National Park, with open-vehicle drives, a sunrise outing, a four-hour armed-ranger bush walk, and a Marula Tree Boma braai. John is one guide praised for his warm, passionate style. Pickup from Johannesburg and airport drop-off are included.

“10/10 safari experience. Very well organised, from collection to the game drives. Lovely friendly staff and very knowledgable safari guides. The food was amazing and they went above and beyond to accommodate for dietary reqs. Having breakfast and seeing an elephant walk past the lodge on multiple days was surreal! Lovely pool at Tremisana and time to enjoy the sun. Would highly recommend Viva Safaris”

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7.3-Day Classic Kruger National Park Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 45 reviews · 3 days · from $959

Travel from Johannesburg or O.R. Tambo Airport to Tremisana Game Lodge for sunset and sunrise drives, a bush barbecue, and a full day in Kruger. Guides including Terrence, Dylan, Andy, Smiley, and Rocky lead small groups of up to nine. Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels complete the trip.

“L’esperienza al Trevisana lodge è stata più affascinante del previsto e la consiglio a chi vuole conoscere gli animali e ama la natura. Al Trevisana lodge abbiamo trovato stanze con bagno privato; il tutto molto pulito ed essenziale. C’era anche l’aria condizionata in camera e il necessario per l’igiene personale. Ci hanno accolto con professionalità ed entusiasmo le guide Terrence e Dylan . Al Trevisana abbiamo conosciuto anche le altre guide Andy e Smiley che ci hanno accompagnato alla scoperta degli abitanti del parco Kruger . Le signore che si occupano della colazione e della cena sono molto disponibili e cortesi. La prima sera ci hanno sorpreso con una fantastica…”

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8.Affordable 3 Day Kruger Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 38 reviews · 3 days · from $846

Travel from Johannesburg to Tremisana Game Lodge for a sunset and night drive, spend a full day in Kruger’s open Game Viewer, then walk beside the Klaserie River and visit the Three Rondawels. Small groups are limited to nine, with meals and transfers included.

“Super safari, les guides sont souriants, serviables et agréables. Foncez :)”

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9.2-Day Safari into Kruger National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 29 reviews · 2 days · from $616

Spend two days tracking Kruger’s Big 5 with an English-speaking guide, including evening and early-morning drives in an open safari vehicle. Pickup is available from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Sandton, and nearby areas. Guide Rudzani has earned special praise for his care and animal-spotting skills.

“Foi tudo muito tranquilo e as pessoas envolvidas, tanto no translado como no Lodge e Safari, muito atenciosas! Recomendo”

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10.Pilanesberg Full-Day Shared Safari with Sun City Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 27 reviews · from $290Top rated

Leave Johannesburg at 6:00 AM for a 3-hour open 4x4 drive in Pilanesberg, a volcanic reserve with Big Five wildlife. Visit Sun City for free time, then take an afternoon minibus drive. Guides Vincent and Jim are praised for clear explanations and language skills.

“Super organized! Our guide Vincent took care of all our wishes. So we had an unforgettable day Thanks a lot to Vincent!! This tour is a total must-try The safari was actually private.”

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11.3-Day Kruger Budget Glamping Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 23 reviews · from $511

Travel from Johannesburg to Sekekama Tented Camp for two nights of glamping, a sunset drive in the Blue Canyon Reserve, a 7 to 8-hour Kruger safari, African dinners, and an optional bush walk. Guide Jan is praised for warm care, while the return to Johannesburg reaches OR Tambo around 17:00 or 18:00.

“Najbardziej podobał mi się camping i samo safari. Można poprawić organizacje jeśli chodzi o transport w pierwszą stronę - kierowca mówił bardzo szybko i niezrozumiale po angielsku, trzeba było się przesiadać do innego busa pod koniec i rozwiesiliśmy dużo osób zanim dotrwaliśmy do naszego canpingu, było to męczące”

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