The vibrant city of Johannesburg is a great place to visit, but for us its biggest attraction is the ready access it gives you to some of South Africa’s best game reserves, with direct flights in from all over the world. Whether you’re arriving from the UK or US, short South Africa safaris are doable.
Getting the most out of short South Africa safaris
Being short of time is no reason not to consider a safari – after all, time spent in the bush counts for far more than merely the minutes and hours gone by. While we’d always suggest spending as long on safari as you can, we understand that shorter trips may be more feasible on many occasions.
If can you only squeeze in a two-day South Africa safari, we’ll always advise picking one destination and staying there, but this is true for a three-day South Africa safari, or even a four-day South Africa safari. This means more time on game drives and less in transit.
Whatever your time constraints, we’ve researched the best options for short South Africa safaris, and here they are.
Our favourite short South Africa safari destinations
An hour’s flight north of Johannesburg, Madikwe is a phoenix that has risen from the ashes of former farmland. A conservation success story, it’s seen a complete ecosystem recreated through judicious animal reintroductions – including major predators.
The Greater Kruger has some of South Africa’s most renowned luxury safari lodges. Also easily reached by air, this is perhaps the country’s most prolific game-viewing area and is justly famous for its big-cat sightings. Of course, they’re just one highlight among many, but with a seemingly higher likelihood of spotting leopard here than almost anywhere else, the appeal is undeniable. If you’re pressed for time in which to shorten your safari bucket list, a short South Africa safari in this area could be a winner.
For a short safari with a distinctly tropical feel, Maputaland offers not just superb game-viewing inland, but also world-class diving along its Indian Ocean coast. Being able to combine marine and terrestrial wildlife experiences in the same day lets you extract maximum value from your visit.
