The call of the wild – a safari in South Africa

A safari is a unique and profound experience; for some it can even be life-changing. It forges a deep connection with the African bush that cannot be adequately described and must be embraced through the five senses. Driving into the heart of the wilderness to encounter wildlife in their natural habitat is truly a privilege.

In South Africa, we are lucky to have a wealth of game reserves, both public and private, and many of them are home to the Big Five. Perhaps the most famous is the Kruger National Park, which is also one of the biggest, spanning two million hectares packed with a high density of wildlife. In addition to the Big Five, some other residents are zebra, hippo, giraffe, spotted hyena and African wild dog.

Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Nature Reserve

The Kruger has its own international airport, making the park easily accessible from Cape Town or Johannesburg. If visiting here has always been on your bucket list, it’s possible to take it up a notch. Imagine experiencing both the Kruger and the private Sabi Sand Nature Reserve. The two conservation areas share a 50km unfenced border and are separated only by the Sabie River. An abundance of non-migratory species roams freely across both sides.To experience the best of both worlds, stay at one of our Lion Sands lodges. This sanctuary of 12 400ha, has among the most diverse concentration of wildlife in the Southern Hemisphere, and game viewing from the private deck of your lodge overlooking the river, is a highlight here. Watch the animals gather at the water’s edge to drink, bathe, and frolic, while you relax in the pool or on a sun lounger.

Our experienced field guides will take you deep into the surrounding bush on morning and afternoon game drives. Before you know it, you’ll feel Africa creeping into your soul as you immerse yourself in the experience. Turning a corner, you might come across a herd of elephants – females, calves and a few young bulls – feeding on a marula tree. With their trunks breaking branches, you’ll hear the low rumbles of the matriarch communicating with them, and see their wrinkled, rough skin and massive ears through your binoculars.

The Waterberg – Magical Marataba

Another authentic Out of Africa experience is promised by the Waterberg in South Africa's Limpopo Province. The UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, the only savannah biosphere in the world, while not as well-known as the Kruger, is almost as expansive and magnificent in its own right with mountains, rivers, springs and more than 100 recorded mammals.

Getting here entails a flight to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, followed by a private transfer to Marataba, our magnificent 21 000ha, privately managed section of the Marakele National Contractual Park.

A remote base from which to explore the surrounding Big Five territory, Marataba offers an escape to a wilderness where time has stood still. The critically endangered rhino is resident here, as well as the world’s largest population of endangered Cape vulture. Both species are rigorously protected and monitored. Mammals such as the brown and spotted hyena, the bat-eared fox and black-backed jackal have also settled here.

This is an exclusive and secluded experience, whether you opt for the uber luxurious glamping tents of our Safari Lodge, or an eco-suite built into the surrounding rock at our Mountain Lodge, revealing endless views over the savannah. Your days can be as active as you wish, filled with game drives, guided bush walks and sunset water safaris down the Matlabas River. Alternatively, if basking in the tranquillity of the Waterberg is high on your agenda, you’ll enjoy unwinding on your deck or in your private pool and later enjoying a private dinner under the stars.

Treehouses

Take your safari up a notch and enjoy the exceptional experience of staying in one of our treehouses. This is where you can truly be one with Africa – wild animal calls your soundtrack and the expansive sky your canopy.

A safari at a Big Five game reserve is the ultimate Out of Africa experience. Explore these options to get you there.