South Africa Safari Adventure: Private Game Reserves and Cape Town

Observing a lion pride while on safari game drive in Phinda Private Reserve, South Africa.

What to expect on this itinerary

Leopards prowl, elephants roam, buffalo stare and lions roar through the night, and it is all so close to you. On a South Africa safari, you are not on the outside looking in as you are immersed in a wildlife world, and enveloped by the rhythm of life. Handcrafted to provide the complete safari experience, this 13-day vacation will include the country’s three finest safari destinations before ending in Cape Town. Expect sublime lodges, stunning wildlife encounters, and a complete escape into the wilderness.

Countries Visited

South Africa

Places Visited

Phinda Private Game Reserve, Mala Mala Game Reserve, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, Cape Town, iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Suggested Duration

13 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Phinda Private Game Reserve - A Luxurious Safari Welcome

Land in O.R. Tambo International Airport and transfer onto your safari flight to Phinda. Touch down and check into your elegant suite with a private pool and 360-degree views across the savannah. There is unbelievable luxury here in both traditional and contemporary forms, but the real luxury comes from experience. In Phinda, you are placed center stage in a wildlife world, so you can lay back, doze off, and be awoken by an elephant’s trumpet. An optional afternoon game drive should provide first impressions of over a dozen species, and when nighttime arrives, you will still be watching and listening to the animals.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Dinner
Day 2

Phinda Private Game Reserve - An Easy and Relaxed Big-Game Safari Introduction

Day 3

Phinda Private Game Reserve - Best of the Savannah and Wetlands

Day 4

MalaMala Game Reserve - Legendary Leopards and Nighttime Safari

Day 5

MalaMala Game Reserve - Crafting Your Own Program in South Africa's Finest Game Reserve

Day 6

MalaMala Game Reserve - Driving Through the Wilderness of MalaMala

Day 7

Kruger National Park - Evocative Full-Day Adventure Through the Bush

Day 8

Kruger National Park - Intimate Encounters in Remote Eastern Kruger

Day 9

Kruger National Park - Choose Your Kruger Safaris

Day 10

Cape Town - City Colors After the Safari

Day 11

Cape Town - Customizable Day to Explore Cape Town and the Surroundings

Day 12

Cape Town - Explore the Cape at Your Leisure

Day 13

Cape Town - Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Escape into safari serenity by staying at three of Africa’s finest, and most private, lodges
  • Enjoy an intimate big-game introduction in Phinda Private Game Reserve, one of the continent’s best destinations for first-time safari visitors
  • Track leopards on the prowl during both daytime and nighttime game drives in Mala Mala
  • Take a full-day game drive across Kruger National Park, basking in the scale of the wilderness
  • Explore the bush on foot and by bicycle, as you end your safari in remote eastern Kruger
  • Complement big game encounters with three days in Cape Town, beneath the shadow of Table Mountain
  • Discover the surreal wetlands of iSimangaliso, where big game ventures close to white-sand beaches
  • Lose track of all the big game as your nine-day safari will provide countless encounters with rhinos, big cats, elephants, and up to a hundred other mammal species
  • Fly between safari destinations in light aircraft for a stunning aerial perspective on the wilderness
  • Watch animals from photography hides, witness battles between predators and prey, and discover how safari is an around the clock experience

Starting Price

$9,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1201 reviews

Melvyn H.
South Africa Vacation Review: Winelands, Franschhoek, Safari, Big Five, 6-Day Trip

Zicasso's trip expert was a pleasure to work with. I received great communication from beginning to end. He helped when one of our hotels had a fire and we had to relocate, and with a flight cancellation. All of our facilities were excellent. I would highly recommend the tour company for any trips/safaris!

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Phillip H.
South Africa Travel Review: Safari, 2-Week Trip

Zicasso's travel designer was responsive and professional, and provided a perfectly organized, amazing experience.

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Terri K.
South Africa, Zimbabwe Travel Review: Cape Town, Winelands, Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls, Boulders Beach, Big Five, Penguins, 12 Nights

Cape Town was lovely. Our tour guide was great. He knew his history about Cape Town. He answered every question we asked. Our guide had a great rapport with my daughter. He was very trusting.

Our tour of the Cape Winelands was great! Our guide knew a lot about wine. Our stay at the guesthouse was lovely. We were very comfortable with the staff.

Our stay at the safari lodge was very special. We were treated like royalty. Our safari guide was the best. He knew about every animal we encountered. He took us on safari twice a day, morning and late afternoon. We saw the Big Five—elephants, Cape buffalo, rhino, leopard, and lions.

Our last tour was of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and knew where the best places were to get the best view of the falls.

Our first trip to Africa was beyond our expectations.

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Veena B.
South Africa Vacation Review: Safari, 17 Nights

There was excellent communication before and during the trip. Zicasso's travel designer was always available for questions and provided great suggestions when we had to make adjustments to our itinerary or we had a special request.

The planned itinerary was executed perfectly and all transfers and handoffs were flawless.

The accommodations were great.

Overall, the trip significantly exceeded our expectations.

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Adrienne M.
South Africa Vacation Review: Safari, 12 Nights

Zicasso's travel designer and her team planned the trip of a lifetime for us! Everything was absolutely wonderful.

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Maria L.
South Africa Vacation Review: Johannesburg, Soweto, Safari, Traditional Meal, 6-Night Trip

The itinerary was amazing. I had no real idea what a safari would look like. Zicasso's travel designer talked to me about what our ideal travel experience would be for this trip. We got a mixture of locations. We were able to see the Big Five and other animals, exceeding our expectations. We had wonderful food and people at each location.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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