A sandy beach with waves on both sides, a wooden walkway in the foreground, and green hills in the background under a clear blue sky—one of the best parks South Africa has to offer.

South Africa

The Top National Parks in South Africa

The Ultimate Guide to South Africa’s Best National Parks for Safari

South Africa’s diverse landscapes encompass everything from savannas and mountains to beaches, coastal plains, and wetlands. South African safaris abound with adventure, especially those in the renowned Kruger National Park, one of the country’s great tracts of untamed gamelands, where all-access private reserves and incredible lodges await. But we also encourage looking beyond Kruger to the country’s other fantastic national parks, too. You might find yourself viewing penguins in Table Mountain National Park, kayaking in Garden Route National Park, or hiking sandstone cliffs in Golden Gate Highlands National Park

kruger

table mountain

garden route

Golden gate highlands

Two lions rest in tall grass near a safari vehicle with passengers observing them—a stunning scene you might witness in the best parks South Africa has to offer.

best parks in South Africa

Greater Kruger National Park

A premier safari destination, Kruger offers extensive wildlife viewing opportunities, including chances to spot the Big Five. With no restricting fences between private game lands and renowned Kruger National Park, wildlife roams free throughout the open savannas and riverine thickets of this enormous conservancy. Two rivers—the Sand and the Sabie—supply Sabi Sands Game Reserve with precious water sources, ensuring some of the largest and most biodiverse wildlife populations in Africa.

When to Go

May to October

Reasons to Visit Greater Kruger National Park

Enjoy Big Five wildlife sightings. Greater Kruger National Park is practically synonymous with the Big Five, thanks to its expansive ecosystem. Encounter lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo up close and personal in a range of different habitats.
Access private reserves and luxury lodges. Being on private land means there are few restrictions on bushwalks, game drives, or night drives—you can go off-road with your tracker-guide as much as you like. WT safaris take advantage of these exclusive game lands in Greater Kruger, where some of the country’s top safari lodges reside. Pair days (and nights) of fascinating game drives and bush walks with splendid food, good wines, epic sundowners, and dinners by candlelight.

Which Trip Should I Book?

South Africa: From Sea to Savanna | South Africa Private Safari | South Africa, Victoria Falls, and Hwange Private Safari | South Africa, Victoria Falls, and Botswana Private Safari

Several penguins walk along a sandy path surrounded by green bushes in one of the best parks South Africa offers, with the ocean and distant mountains in the background under a blue sky.

best parks in South Africa

Table Mountain National Park

This national park at the southern tip of Africa holds so much more than the iconic flat plateau after which the park is named. Encompassing the thin finger of land between Cape Town, South Africa and the Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain National Park is characterized by lush indigenous forests, secluded beaches, plenty of hiking, and stunning biodiversity — it’s part of the UNESCO Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site — and it’s home to almost every outdoor or watersport you can think of.

When to Go

September to November, March to May

Reasons to Visit Table Mountain National Park

See Boulders Beach penguins. The Boulders Penguin Colony is one of the only land-based African penguin colonies in the world. You can view the penguins at a safe distance from boardwalks along the water, then visit the beach for swimming or picnicking.
Hike (or do other outdoor sports). There are countless spots to hike in Table Mountain National Park, including Silvermine, which has boardwalks through fynbos landscapes, and Lion’s Head, which affords stunning views of Cape Town. You can find countless other outdoor sports at the park, too, like mountain biking, paragliding, rock climbing, and snorkeling/scuba diving.
Visit the Cape of Good Hope. This rocky promontory is known for its dramatic views of rocky cliffs that drop into the Atlantic on one side and False Bay on the other. It’s a hotspot for activities like hiking, biking, and surfing, and it’s also home to wildlife like zebras, eland, and hartbeest.

A group of people in red kayaks paddling through a narrow river gorge surrounded by tall, rocky cliffs and dense greenery—an adventure often found in the best parks South Africa has to offer.

best parks in South Africa

Garden Route National Park

A biodiverse park on South Africa’s southern coast, Garden Route National Park is set along one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of coastline and is adjacent to Tsitsikamma National Park. You’ll find indigenous rainforest, pristine lakes, snaking rivers, and rugged coasts with hidden coves. The vast park covers around 470 square miles, along with 50 miles of coastline.

When to Go

August to September, November to April

Reasons to Visit Garden Route National Park

Take a multi-day hike. You’ll find some spectacular multi-day hikes in Garden Route National Park, offering rewarding views of fynbos forest and cliffs that drop into the sea below. Famous multi-day hikes at Garden Route include the two-day Dolphin Trail and the five-day Otter Trail. The park has countless day hikes, too.
Explore woods on a 4WD vehicle. Designated 4WD paths through Garden Route’s old-growth forests bring you on a day’s journey through the depths of the woods—you’ll see some of the largest and oldest yellowwood trees in the country and visit landmarks like a forest museum and old forester’s houses to learn the secrets of these ancient woods.
Partake in watersports. This coastal park offers watersports galore—canoe or kayak on the park’s lagoons and meandering rivers, snorkel over reefs where the Storms River meets the sea, or take a boat cruise for a relaxing day of sunning and swimming.
See bioluminescence. Visit this region between August and early October for the best chance at seeing bioluminescence, a phenomenon whereby microscopic marine fauna subtly glow at night. The park’s tidal lagoons are ripe for this marine glow-in-the-dark event.

Which Trip Should I Book?

South Africa: From Sea to Savanna

A paved path winds through tall grass toward colorful, layered sandstone cliffs and green hills under a partly cloudy sky in one of the best parks South Africa has to offer.

best parks in South Africa

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

So named for its golden, orange, and ochre-hued sandstone cliffs that become even more breathtaking at sunset, Golden Gate Highlands National Park is set in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains, near South Africa’s border with northern Lesotho, just south of Johannesburg. It’s home to archaeologically significant cave paintings, the Basotho Cultural Village, and notable wildlife like the bearded vulture and the bald ibis.

When to Go

October to May

Reasons to Visit Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Learn about the area’s rich culture, from the Stone Age through now. At the Basotho Cultural Village, you’ll learn about the culture, hospitality, and traditions of the Sotho people. The open-air museum comprises a camp of replica homesteads from the 16th century to present day. Through guided tours, you’ll taste the local beer (brewed on-site), explore the group’s song, dance, arts, and crafts traditions, and head out on walks, one of which takes you to view San rock paintings from the Stone Age.
Hike and walk in otherworldly landscapes. Golden Gate Highlands has plenty of fantastic walking and hiking trails that’ll bring you along boardwalks through grassy desert landscapes with the occasional oasis, past ethereal sandstone rock formations, and to panoramic views at the top of mountains.
See rare wildlife like bearded vultures. Great for birders, the park is home to such rare birdlife as bearded vultures, bald ibises, and secretary birds. Other species to keep an eye out for include black wildebeest, elands, blesbok, mountain reedbucks, mongooses, and meerkats.

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