Plan My Safari
South Africa is the most versatile safari destination in Africa — combining the Big Five in the world-famous private reserves bordering Kruger with the cosmopolitan glamour of Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and the dramatic Garden Route.
The private reserves of the Sabi Sand are renowned for the finest leopard sightings on earth and superb ranger-led game viewing, which makes South Africa great for both first-timers and seasoned safari-goers alike.
Highlights of South Africa
Sabi Sand & Kruger
Big Five private reserves famed for exceptional leopard sightings.
Explore Sabi Sand & Kruger →The Winelands
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek — historic estates and fine dining.
Explore The Winelands →The Garden Route
A scenic coastal drive of forests, lagoons and whale watching.
Recommended lodges & camps in South Africa
Where you stay shapes your whole safari. These are properties we know personally and return to again and again — chosen for their location, their guiding and the way they make you feel. Tell us which appeal and we'll build your journey around them.
These are a few of our favorites — we work with many more across every price point. Have a specific lodge in mind? Tell us in your enquiry and we'll secure it.
Know before you go
The practical details we handle for you — flights, entry, health and money — summarized here so nothing surprises you. Requirements can change, so we confirm everything when you book.
Getting there from the USA
Delta and United fly nonstop from Atlanta and Newark to Johannesburg and Cape Town — about 15–16 hours. Sabi Sand lodges are a short scheduled flight from Joburg.
Visas & entry
US citizens don't need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Traveling with kids? Carry their full (unabridged) birth certificates. New from July 2026: all travelers entering or leaving South Africa must also submit a free online SARS traveller declaration within 24 hours before the final flight — quick to do at sars.gov.za or via the SATMS app, and we guide you through it.
Complete the SARS declaration ↗Health
The Kruger lowveld carries low, seasonal malaria risk; Madikwe and the Eastern Cape reserves are malaria-free — ideal with young children.
Money & tipping
The rand goes far — cards work everywhere, including safari lodges. Tipping is at your discretion — most guests set aside about $20–25 per person per day for guides and lodge staff.
What to do in South Africa
From Big Five reserves to the Cape — the experiences we rate highest.
Leopards of the Sabi Sand
The world’s most reliable leopard viewing, tracked off-road by ranger-and-tracker teams who have known individual cats for generations.
Sabi Sand, Greater Kruger
Year-round; Jun–Oct driest
Cape Town and the Peninsula
Table Mountain by cable car, penguins at Boulders Beach, and the Cape of Good Hope — then dinner in one of the world’s great food cities.
Cape Town & Peninsula
Nov–Mar
The Winelands by private car
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek tastings arranged around your pace, with lunch in a 300-year-old Cape Dutch manor.
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek
Year-round; harvest Feb–Apr
The Garden Route and whales at Hermanus
June to November, southern right whales calve meters off the cliffs — the best land-based whale watching on earth.
Hermanus & Garden Route
Jun–Nov for whales
Best time to visit
Dry winter — the best Big Five game viewing in the reserves.
Cape summer — perfect for Cape Town, beaches and the Winelands.
In the rainy months many of these same camps drop their rates by 20–40% — emerald landscapes, newborn wildlife, superb birding and far fewer vehicles. Peak season isn't the only great season: tell us your budget and we'll show you what the green season buys.
Planning & cost
Fully tailor-made — priced privately to your camps, season and travel style. No fixed packages.
Fly into Johannesburg (JNB) or Cape Town (CPT). US citizens do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days — just a passport valid 6+ months with two blank pages. South Africa’s new online ETA currently applies only to a few nationalities (not the USA); we confirm the latest entry rules with your final documents.
Every journey is private, all-inclusive and tailor-made — your own guide and vehicle, the finest lodges, and a specialist on call throughout.
Everything else,
answered before you ask
The practical details that apply to every safari we plan — so this page is the only one you need.
Money & tipping
US dollars are accepted at virtually every camp, and cards work at lodges and city hotels. Your trip is all-inclusive, so cash is mainly for tips: plan on roughly $10–20 per guest per day for your guide and $10–15 for camp staff, handed over at the end of each stay. We send exact guidance with your final documents.
Health & safety
See a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before departure for routine shots and malaria advice (most safari regions require prophylaxis; parts of South Africa are malaria-free). Camps are remote but professionally run, with radio contact and evacuation cover — we require travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation.
Staying connected
Nearly all lodges have Wi-Fi in the main areas (often in-tent too), and an eSIM from your US carrier covers the cities. Expect to be offline on game drives — most guests come to see that as the point. Family back home can always reach you through us, day or night.
What to pack
Soft duffel bags only (light aircraft cap luggage around 33 lb / 15 kg), neutral-colored layers for cold mornings and warm afternoons, and binoculars. Laundry is included at almost every camp, so pack for 4–5 days no matter the trip length.
Full packing list →Continue exploring
Big Five Safari
A Big Five safari — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, Africa’s most sought-after sightings.
Explore → Southern AfricaBotswana
A Botswana safari is Africa’s water wilderness — the Okavango Delta, Chobe and the Kalahari.
Explore → RegionBeaches & Islands
Africa’s beaches and islands — powder-white sand and turquoise water to end your safari.
Explore →South Africa FAQs
Let's design your South Africa journey.
Tell us how you like to travel and our experts will craft your private, tailor-made itinerary — no obligation.
Enquire now