Plan a trip in an African safari wildlife park and come back with amazing pictures in mind!

This is it! You're in an African safari wildlife park, sitted in one of those safari trucks and after 30 minutes looking for lions, the truck has stopped because on the right, a lion is lying close to a carcass of springbok, his stomach full of food! It sounds real isn't it? Well, you are just a click away from it... I have experienced many game reserves in South Africa and it's one of the most amazing experience! Each time you see something different and each time you think it was better than last time!

When Is The Best Time to Go in African Safari wildlife park?

The best time is during the dry season for the following reasons.

- Game must go to permanent water supplies to drink, mostly in the mornings and evenings which increases your chances of seeing game.

- Trees don't have so many leaves, the grass is low and the bush is generally thinner. One can then look deeper in thereby also increasing ones chances of viewing game.

In the Western Cape including Cape Town, the best time would then be the summer months (from November to March) as winter tends to be rainy.

In the Kalahari and the Kruger Park, the best time is usually in the dry winter months from May to August. The climate is comfortable during the day and the temperatures drop at nights which ensure you a good night sleep!

National or Private Game Reserves?

In South Africa, you have the choice to go to National or private game reserves.

The National game reserves are usually bigger and you can combine your own driving with game drives.

The private game reserves are smaller which can help to see more animals. It's more luxurious with less people and they offer better services. You will be doing game drives with rangers and trackers in open vehicle. Game drives are an exciting experience! For few hours (it varies between 2 to 4 hours depending on the reserve), you will be looking for animals with the help of the ranger and the radio contact with other vehicles to alert each other of good animal sightings. Rangers will give you as much information as you would like to know! Don't hesitate to ask them plenty of questions! It's passionating!

When animals are seen, the ranger will get as close as possible to them but they will always keep a certain distance to avoid disturbing them.

Halfway way through, you'll have a stop in the bush, for sunrise with a coffee or hot chocolate (if you go for the early morning game drive) or for sundown with a tea or a glass of wine (if you go for the late game drive).

If you have children, I would advise you to rather go to National game reserves to be able to drive with your own vehicle because 2 or 4 hours can be very long for children.

Things To Remember and Consider When You Go For Game Drives in African Safari Wildlife Park:

- Whilst self-driving you are not allowed to go off-road.
- Stay in the car to take pictures
- Stretch your legs in rest camps or designated rest areas
- Toilet facilities are only available in rest camps and certain designated areas, so you would have to plan you drive to arrive at one of these areas as appropriate.
- It can be pretty cool even cold during game drives so remember to bring a warm jacket with. Sometimes and especially in private game reserves, they offer covers to keep you warm.

Now, you're ready to go...!

I have selected few African safari wildlife parks which offer something special.

First, the wildlife reserves close to Cape Town...are malaria free areas! Yeaaaahhh! No need for malaria tablets!

Inverdoorn private game reserve (2h30 from Cape Town)

You would be able to walk with the giraffes! I have done it, it's amazing! Thomas, our little boy, was few meters away from them!

Well, there is another private reserve...

Sanbona (3h30 from Cape Town) which has them all! They also have beautiful white lions. You will also be able to do a hot air ballooning!

J'adore le Kalahari! There are two ways to explore it, either you do it yourself by car which is more an adventure, lots of fun and excitement and less expensive or you go to a private reserve which is more relaxing, luxurious. Either way it's a great place to be!

If you decide to do it by yourself, you will have to drive from Cape Town to the Kalahari Gemsbok National park. It will take you around 10 hours drive. Therefore, I advise you to stop on the way to Augrabies Falls National park which is really worth it and you'll be able to see baboons!

Then after this visit, you can go to the Kalahari Gemsbok Park my favourite African safari wildlife park. With my sedan car, I have explored this park during 3 days and I will never forget it! The landscapes of this park are so wild and beautiful! Between the red dunes and the dry river bed, you are definitely in Africa!

Your goal in this park is to look yourself for the lions by driving around...You will have amazing experiences along the way! It is a very wild place...Do you know that you can hear a lion at 5 kms away from him? Look for lion footprints on the dry sanded roads and listen...

For more information on lion, click here.

If you would rather let the rangers do the job for you, look for the lions and other wild animals and live a luxurious experience, I can only recommend you to go to another African safari wildlife park called Tswalu Kalahari.

If you're willing to fly to Johannesburg and then rent a car to go to the most well known African safari wildlife park, the Kruger National Park, then it's also a nice option to see lots of animals! However, there is malaria and you should consider taking malaria tablets (I recommend Malarone which have less side effects).

I like Lower Sabie for accomodation. I've slept in the self catering chalets which were very nice. There is a restaurant to eat out or a shop to make your own meals.

If you would like to book at the Kruger, click on Wild Wings Safaris. They offer luxury and budget safaris to the Kruger National Park and surrounding private game lodges. Members of SATSA.

To visit this African safari wildlife park, it's nice to combine your own driving with some game drives with professional Sanparks rangers. I suggest you also book the 'braai' (barbecue) in the wild, it's an unique experience that you won't forget!

An easy way to organise a safari is to deal with a tour operator such as Lark tours.

Have you experience a safari? Share your story!

Do you have a great story about a safari that you did? or you had an amazing time in a game reserve? Share it and include a photo if you have one!

From African safari wildlife park to Voila Cape Town