Unexpected safaris in South Africa, beyond the icons
Venture beyond South Africa’s usual safari routes and discover immersive, malaria-free wildlife destinations you’ve perhaps never heard of
Words by Ellie Swain
It’s easy to fall in love with Cape Town’s caster sugar-white sand beaches, world-class vineyards and the dramatic Table Mountain. But South Africa’s magic extends far beyond its most famous, achingly beautiful city. And while Kruger National Park is the country’s headline act for safari-seekers, it’s just one part of a much richer wildlife story.
Across South Africa, sprawling landscapes hum with life, from the raw, untamed beauty of the Waterberg to the bucolic, game-rich reserves of the Eastern Cape. If you’re craving a more unconventional safari experience (and one that is malaria free) to discover South Africa’s diverse ecosystems, rare wildlife species, and local cultures, keep reading.
1. Madikwe Game Reserve
Along South Africa’s northern border with Botswana, the Madikwe Game Reserve spans 75,000 hectares of varied landscapes. Think open savannahs, craggy hills and riverine forests. It’s one of the country’s largest yet least crowded reserves.
Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the best places to observe the Big Five in their natural habitat. If you need a reminder, that’s the lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and African buffalo. Oh, and the reserve is completely malaria-free, so don’t worry about dousing yourself with mosquito spray at every opportunity.
What to see and do
Madikwe’s predator sightings are world-class. Lions roam confidently, leopards slink through the bush and packs of wild dogs – one of the most thrilling animals to watch on a hunt – make this reserve particularly special. Herds of elephants gather at waterholes while rhinos, giraffes and zebras scatter the landscape.
Game drives here feel exclusive, as Madikwe is closed to day visitors, for a more intimate and uninterrupted wildlife experience. For those seeking a deeper connection to the bush, guided walking safaris with skilled, protective rangers offer a chance to track animals up close on their home earth and learn about the smaller details of the ecosystem.
Where to stay
Madikwe is home to some of South Africa’s most beautiful lodges. Madikwe Safari Lodge offers elegant, luxury suites with private plunge pools to cool off in and sweeping bushveld views.
For a more rustic, eco-friendly experience, Mosetlha Bush Camp and Eco Lodge provides an unplugged safari experience, complete with bucket showers and candlelit dinners. Meanwhile, families love Jaci’s Safari Lodge, known for its elevated hides overlooking waterholes where wildlife gathers.
(Image: Two female lions drink together at a water hole in the Madikwe Game Reserve, Shutterstock)
2. Kalahari Desert
Spanning seemingly boundless red dunes, golden grasslands, and acacia-dotted savannahs, the semi-arid Kalahari Desert is as dramatic as it is remote. Far from the crowded game reserves of Kruger National Park — and free from malaria, making a visit significantly easier to plan for — the Kalahari is where silence reigns, and the vastness of the landscape stretches endlessly before you.
What to see and do
While the Kalahari isn’t a traditional “Big Five” destination, it’ll gift you some of Africa’s most unique wildlife encounters. Kalahari is home to the black-maned Kalahari lion, a subspecies that’s adapted to the harsh desert conditions.
Likewise, keep an eye out for cheetahs sprinting across open plains, leopards’ camouflaged padding among the dunes, and rare brown hyenas taking a snooze. You’ll also likely come across large herds of oryx (gemsbok), springbok and the fascinating chatterbox meerkats, the latter of which can often be spotted standing and scanning the plains like a hard-working soldier in the early morning sun.
Be sure to visit the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, where game drives across rolling dunes feel like you’ve stepped foot in a nature documentary. Night drives here offer a chance to see the Kalahari’s nocturnal hunters, from aardwolf hyenas to bat-eared foxes.
It gets better – the Kalahari’s clear night skies are among the best in the world for stargazing. Fight the tiredness and stay up late to watch the Milky Way sparkle across the desert in an unforgettable celestial display.
Where to stay
A visit to Kalahari must include a stay at the spectacular Tswalu safari camps. Their private guided safaris offer access to the largest privately protected area in South Africa. Focusing on nature-based tourism and dedicated to conservation, Tswalu is home to over 80 mammal species.
For a truly immersive experience, !Xaus Lodge, run in partnership with the local San people, provides cultural insights in the heart of the desert. Twee Rivieren Rest Camp is an excellent back-to-basics choice for those looking for self-drive options, with a range of accommodation types, including family cottages and air-conditioned chalets.
(Image: Motse is Tswalu’s original safari camp, Tswalu)
3. The Waterberg
Rugged, remote and remarkably biodiverse, The Waterberg Biosphere Reserve is one of South Africa’s best-kept safari secrets and is also malaria-free. Stretching across Limpopo Province, this UNESCO-listed wilderness is a world away from the country’s more famous reserves and offers a raw, intimate connection to nature. Here, dramatic slopes give way to sprawling savannahs, forests filled with rushing rivers and hidden valleys teeming with animals.
If you can, visit in the green season from November to March. This is when the landscapes burst into lush greenery, wildlife sightings remain excellent and the reserve feels even more secluded.
What to see and do
You’ll catch the Big Five at The Waterberg, but the reserve’s real magic lies in its ecosystems and sense of solitude. Game drives across private reserves, such as Welgevonden Private Game Reserve, comprising of 37,000 hectares of rich landscapes and ecosystems, reveal elephants slowly moving through mopane woodlands, rhinos grazing in open plains and leopards quietly camouflaged among rocky outcrops. Welgevonden Private Game Reserve is easily accessible from Johannesburg, at just over a three-hour drive from the city. The Waterberg area is also a paradise for birdwatchers, with almost 300 species, including the striking Verreaux’s eagle and rare blue cranes.
Enjoy a guided walking safari of the land, where expert trackers share the smaller wonders of the bush, from medicinal plants to ancient bushmen art concealed in the cliffs. The Palala River is excellent for canoeing and fishing, while horseback safaris allow you to trot alongside giraffes and zebras. The fact that the area is malaria-free means there’s one less thing for you to think about as you plan your travels.
Where to stay
The Waterberg’s lodges range from rustic bush camps to ultra-luxurious retreats. Ant’s Hill and Ant’s Nest offer incredible horseback safaris with over 90 of the animals living blissfully on site. Meanwhile, Marataba Safari Lodge, set within a private concession for fewer visitors and greater flexibility, provides lavish living with looming mountain views. Jembisa Bush Home focuses on sustainability and conservation for an intimate, eco-friendly stay and is ideal for families and groups of friends.
(Image: Zebras in Entabeni, The Waterberg, Shutterstock)
4. KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a land of striking contrasts – where the wild meets the ocean, ancient game reserves buzz with life, and malaria-free safari experiences extend far beyond the ordinary. And within the province, you’ll find Zululand, a sub-region steeped in culture and home to some of South Africa’s most eclectic and spectacular wildlife destinations.
What to see and do
If you’re thinking of visiting KwaZulu-Natal, buckle up! There’s plenty to do and see in this vast region.
The aptly named Tembe Elephant Park is a sanctuary for some of Africa’s largest elephants. These gentle, tusked giants meander freely in this remote reserve. Game drives here are small, offering encounters with the Big Five and a rich array of birdlife.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, South Africa’s oldest game park, is renowned for its successful white rhino conservation efforts. Expect thrilling Big Five sightings amid stretching hills and golden grasslands, with game drives often leading to close-up meetings with elephants, lions and herds of grazing antelope.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where safari meets the sea. This special ecosystem is home to hippos and crocodiles in Lake St Lucia, nesting sea turtles on empty beaches and whale-watching opportunities off the coast of the Indian Ocean. For a one-of-a-kind experience, board a sunset boat cruise on Lake St. Lucia. Watching hippos slowly emerge from the water in this biodiverse paradise as the sky burns orange is simply magical.
Where to stay
For a luxurious stay, the award-winning Thanda Safari in Hluhluwe offers exclusive game drives and private bush villas. Within the elephant park, a variety of homely and comfortable suites and luxury tents are available. Additionally, Makakatana Bay Lodge in iSimangaliso beautifully blends a safari experience with private cruises on an untouched part of Lake St Lucia.
(Image: Bush Suite at Thanda Safari in KwaZulu-Natal)
5. The Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a malaria-free region home to vast, unspoiled landscapes where lions prowl freely, elephants shower themselves with mud at waterholes and conservation efforts contribute to a thriving ecosystem.
What to see and do
Game drives in the Eastern Cape offer some of the best wildlife sightings in South Africa, with the chance to observe the Big Five in open savannahs, thick bushveld and rolling green hills. Many reserves, including Shamwari and Pumba, also offer night safaris, where nocturnal creatures like leopards, hyenas and bush babies emerge once darkness has fallen.
For a closer connection to nature, guided bush walks are a riveting way to track animals on foot while learning about the ecosystem from your expert guide.
The Bushman’s River, which flows and froths through Amakhala, is a different kind of safari. River cruises bring you face-to-face with hippos, crocodiles and a dazzling array of beautiful birdlife.
Conservation plays a significant role in this region and a visit to Shamwari’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre gives you an inside look at efforts to protect and rehabilitate injured and orphaned animals before releasing them back into the wild.
Where to stay
For a luxurious yet adventurous stay, Shamwari Bayethe Lodge offers elegant tented suites with a back-to-nature feel, complete with private plunge pools and surrounding views of the bush. And spending a night at Shamwari’s Explorer Camp provides the rare chance to sleep under the stars listening to the cacophony of sounds from the wild. With just a canvas tent between you and the bush, it’s an experience that brings you closer to nature than ever before.
At Amakhala Bukela Game Lodge, enjoy five-star hospitality that meets the charm and intimacy of a secluded safari retreat. And Pumba Water Lodge is one of the few places in South Africa where you can witness the rare white lion prowling in its natural habitat, all while overlooking a hippo-filled lake from your tranquil lodge.
Lalibela Lentaba Safari Lodge is an ideal choice for those who want to experience the magic of the bush at night, with spotlit waterholes and expert-guided evening game drives.
(Image: Shamwari Game Reserve Professional Photographic Safaris, Iky’s Photographic)
Feeling inspired?
Plan your off-the-beaten-track safari adventure to South Africa with Inspire My Holiday today.
