Top 8 private game reserves in South Africa
Lodges in South Africa's private reserves offer luxurious bush-style accommodation to go with the incredible game-watching. Prices are generally on a par with five-star hotels, but then so is the service. In most cases, the wining and dining is world-class, too, with dinner often served under the stars in a traditional boma, where guests can swap their tales of the day over drinks around the campfire.
The following top private game reserves in South Africa offer visitors the chance for unforgettable visits in truly spectacular surroundings.
The information in this article is inspired by the Insight Guides South Africa, your essential guide for visiting South Africa.
1. Kapama Game Reserve, Limpopo Province
The expansive Kapama Private Game Reserve lies in-between Kruger National Park and the lush landscape of the Blyde River Canyon. The reserve’s unspoiled bush supports abundant wildlife, including dozens of species of mammals, including elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, and rhinoceros – the ‘Big Five’.
Daily guided game drives and nature walks give visitors the chance to view these magnificent animals in their natural habitat. The reserve features four upscale lodges and luxurious sleep-out tent accommodation, some of which sits on the banks of the Klaserie and Kapama rivers.
Enjoy a wealth of experiences including boma dining, game drives and bush walks in Kapama Game Reserve as part of Insight Guides' Cape Amazing: Cape Town Explore trip.
Giraffes in Kapama Game Reserve, South Africa. Photo: Alfonso Farias/Shutterstock
2. Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Kruger
The legendary Sabi Sands Game Reserve, which sits in the southwestern section of the Kruger National Park is a veritable wildlife oasis. This exclusive private game reserve, with prices to match, is one of the most prestigious in South Africa.
Sabi Sands is known for the frequency of leopard and lion sightings within its boundaries, and the chances of seeing all of the Big Five during your visit are high. The reserve offers luxurious accommodation across a collection of lodges in spectacular locations, ensuring you have an unforgettable safari experience.
Kruger National Park is one of the best known national parks in South Africa and always worth a visit. This Inside Guides' Kruger Adventure starts and ends in Johannesburg, the perfect stop to then take a domestic flight towards George or Cape Town for the rest of your trip.
Two cheetahs in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa. Photo: Shutterstock
3. Mala Mala Game Reserve, Kruger - one of the besr private game reserves in South Africa for leopard watching
Catering to those with deep pockets and also for those who are looking for a more tranquil stay, Mala Mala Game Reserve offers some of the most reliable leopard watching in Africa. Situated within the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Mala Mala boast exclusive traversing rights over 130 sq km (50 sq miles) of prime wildlife territory.
The major experiential difference with the Kruger is that game drives here take place in 4x4 vehicles with knowledgeable guides who can take you off-road for special sightings. This means that you are not only more likely to see more game, but that you also get to learn about animal behavior and how different species integrate into their environment.
Mala Mala offers some of the most exclusive wildlife experiences in the region, as well as upscale accommodation at three camp locations complete with pools, spas and tennis courts.
Female lion and cubs in Mala Mala Game Reserve, South Africa. Photo: Stuart G Porter/Shutterstock
4. Shamwari Game Reserve, The Eastern Cape
To the east of Addo Elephant National Park, the Shamwari Game Reserve is the best-known of several exclusive private reserves offering an all-inclusive ‘Big Five’ game viewing experience in the region’s hilly and wooded terrain. More than 26 species of game have been reintroduced at Shamwari, including elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe and zebra.
Access to the reserve is for overnight guests only. Accommodation is spread across a number of exclusive lodges, manor houses and luxury tented camps offering chic, contemporary comfort with colonial-influenced stylings.
Cheetah in Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa. Photo: Yat Sec Su/Shutterstock
5. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, Zululand
Located north of Durban, 25km (18 miles) west of the coastal town or St Lucia, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is an important conservation area in the heart of Zululand. Dating from the late 19th century, Hluhluwe and iMfolozi make up one of the oldest game reserves in Africa. Linked by a corridor of state-owned land, they cover a combined area of around 1,000 sq km (390 sq miles).
Hluhluwe is best-known for the success it achieved in saving the white rhino from extinction. A breeding programme here has succeeded in raising the population from 150 in the 1930s to more than 1,500 today. Dozens of mammal species live in the reserve including elephant, giraffe, warthog and impala.
The acclaimed Wilderness Trail at iMfolozi is one of the best ways to explore the region. Accompanied by armed rangers who act as guides, these bush walks can last between three to five days. To minimize the ecological impact of visitors, numbers are strictly controlled, so booking ahead is essential.
Elephant family in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve - one of the best private game reserves South Africa. Photo: Papaya Cosmos/Shutterstock
6. Aquila Game Reserve, The Western Cape
Located in the Hex River Valley around two hours drive from Cape Town, the biodiverse habitat at Aquila Game Reserve ensures plenty of variety for the avid wildlife watcher.
Since opening in the late 1990s, when the reserve was home to a variety of antelope species, it has evolved considerably and now supports all of the Big Five – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino – as well as other wildlife including giraffe, wildebeest and zebra.
A range of safaris are available including horseback and quad bike experiences. Stylish lodge and rustic cottage accommodation is available on the reserve, which also features a spacious restaurant, an outdoor pool and a luxurious spa.
Springbok in South Africa. Photo: ZHosford/Shutterstock
7. Madikwe Game Reserve
Tucked near the Botswanan border, Madikwe Game Reserve has remarkably few visitors compared to other South Africa safari parks. Despite this, it boasts excellent lodges and wildlife-spotting opportunities, including lions (and the rest of the Big Five), elephants, cheetahs, antelopes, hyenas and over 350 bird species.
One of the largest parks and malaria-free, Madikwe is an exclusive resort. There's no self-drive option here and day visits aren't allowed. Only guests of one of the 20-plus lodges here can enter the park and reap the benefits of this uncrowded and wildlife-rich area.
Female leopard with the pad of her foot, taken in the Madikwe game Reserve, South Africa. Photo: Shutterstock
8. Phinda Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Phinda Private Game Reserve is a beautiful reserve set in the lush wilderness of KwaZulu-Natal. Covering 28,555 hectares, it is home to a wide diversity of wildlife, including the 'big five' - lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffalo.
There are numerous activities for visitors to enjoy, from game drives and bushwalking to birdwatching and stargazing. The reserve also offers luxury accommodation options, including lodges and tented camps, making it one of the best private game reserves in South Africa.
Rhino in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Photo: Shutterstock
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Updated 29 November, 2019
