{"id":229,"date":"2023-02-21T20:40:01","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T20:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/?p=229"},"modified":"2024-08-19T06:42:26","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T06:42:26","slug":"top-safaris-and-game-reserves-near-johannesburg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/top-safaris-and-game-reserves-near-johannesburg","title":{"rendered":"Top 11 Safaris And Game reserves near Johannesburg in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For everyone craving to be enchanted by the wilderness, captivated by landscapes, and mesmerized by adventures, Johannesburg is nothing but the Promised Land! This heaven of spotless and exquisite vacation opportunities is also the largest city in South Africa, located elegantly to access all the game reserves. Within hours of travel, you come across the hypnotic and irresistible beauty of the wilderness. With the O. R Tambo International Airport nearby, the city is also the anchorage for all tourists to South Africa. If you desire to be pulled towards the beguiling yet untraversed wildness, we spotted 11 must-visit game reserves<\/strong> in the heart of Johannesburg, the city of gold for you!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top 11 Game reserves near Johannesburg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pilanesberg National Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Image by Wikipedia.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Pilanesberg Game Reserve<\/a> is located between arid Kalahari and the lush Lowveld <\/strong>in the Bojanala Region of North West. The Pilanesberg National park offers one of the best safaris in Johannesburg<\/strong>. <\/strong>It is the fourth largest in South Africa. Pilanesberg offers a wide variety of flora and fauna for visitors. The place is especially suitable for self-drivers. as a malaria-free region, it is a perfect choice for a day trip from the city. Specialities of the area include lions, zebras, elephants, black rhinos, white rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and Cape buffaloes. It is one of the most popular game reserves near Johannesburg.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distance <\/strong>from Johannesburg<\/a> \u2013 217 km, which takes 3 hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost per person <\/strong>\u2013 Game drives start from R580<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best time to visit<\/strong> \u2013 the middle of July to the centre of October<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accommodation:<\/strong> Everything is available, from budget chalets and safari tents to luxurious hotels. Some of them are the black rhino game lodge, ivory tree game lodge, and lush private lodge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities<\/strong> include game drives, African music experiences, photography from wildlife hides, Walking safaris, bird spotting, and hot-air balloon rides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mabula Private Game Reserve<\/h3>\n\n\n\n $\"\"$
Mabula Private Game Reserve<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Mabula game reserve<\/a> is filled with beautiful bushes with many different animals located in the malaria-free Waterberg area of Limpopo. Lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, honey badgers, red hartebeest, elands, hyenas, and jackals live in the reserve.\u00a0 There are also many birds to see, such as the Amur falcon and the lilac-breasted roller. Mabula private game reserve is the closest game reserve near Johannesburg.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distance from Johannesburg<\/strong> \u2013 209, which takes two and a half hours\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost per person<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0 R327 as entry fee<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best time to visit<\/strong> \u2013 September, October, March, and April<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accommodation <\/strong>\u2013 tented camps, family villas, and lodges are there.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities:<\/strong> Game drives, spa treatments, dam picnics, quad biking, bird walks, stargazing drives, tennis, bush walks, horse riding, and hot-air balloon rides.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dinokeng Game Reserve<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Dinokeng Wildlife Reserve, located near an urban neighbourhood, is the first free-roaming Big five residential game reserve in Gauteng Province. This is the closest game reserve to Johannesburg. The Big Five are only found in this one Game Reserve, which is accessible via a half-day excursion from Gauteng Province. There are cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, brown hyenas, wildebeests, red hartebeests, tsessebe, eland, kudu, impalas, antelopes, and the Big Five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, cape buffalo, and rhinoceros).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distance from Johannesburg<\/strong> \u2013 115 km which takes one and a half hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost per person<\/strong> \u2013 R125 per day<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best time to visit<\/strong> \u2013 May to September<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accommodation:<\/strong> Dinokeng has lodging options to meet every need and preference, ranging from camp and caravan sites to tented camps, self-catering chalets, and luxurious lodges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities<\/strong> \u2013 Guided game drives, self-drive safaris, bush walking, hot air ballooning, fishing, and picnics\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Welgevonden Game Reserve<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Image by stockphoto.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
A 37,000-hectare private game reserve, Welgevonden Game Reserve is located in South Africa\u2019s Limpopo Province\u2019s Waterberg District. Welgevonden provides a unique safari experience to a small number of visitors. Among the 50 animal species in Welgevonden, the Big Five are visible.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, there are about 300 species of birds and rarer creatures like brown hyenas and honey badgers. Welgevonden is closed to day visitors. With the wide variety of animals and species present, Welgevonden offers you the best safari in Johannesburg.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distance from Johannesburg<\/strong> \u2013 292 km, which takes nearly 4 hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost per person<\/strong> \u2013 The reserve doesn\u2019t allow day visitors. Accommodation price starts from R6000<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best time to visit<\/strong> \u2013 May to September.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accommodation:<\/strong> Self-catering to fully catered accommodations are available in small, upscale lodges.\u00a0 Although it is pricey if you can fit it into your budget, do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities<\/strong>: Game drives, walking safaris, horseback safaris, stargazing, and San Bushman rock art tours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Waterberg game park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Image by waterberggamepark.co.za<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Waterberg game reserve (from the Waterberg to the Soutpansberg region), located in the spectacular Waterberg Mountain Range of Limpopo, is the ideal retreat where the tired traveller may unwind and enjoy the immense natural beauty of the bushveld savannah and its rich wildlife history. The Waterberg game reserve is home to various animals such as Bushbuck, zebra, antelope, Buffalo, leopard, brown hyena, hippo, and giraffe.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distance from Johannesburg<\/strong> \u2013 276 km which takes three and half hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost per person<\/strong> \u2013 R500<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best time to visit<\/strong> \u2013 May to September\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accommodation:<\/strong> Waterberg game park offers various accommodation facilities, including a lodge\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
rooms, private self-catering units, and a nyala house.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities<\/strong> \u2013 game driving, bird watching, cycling, golf, and star gazing<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plumari private reserve<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Image by Plumarireserve.co.za<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Plumari Private Reserve separates the Hartebeespoort and Magaliesberg regions of Gauteng. This is one of the nearest Big Five game reserves to Johannesburg. The climate here is gorgeous. Visitors can anticipate seeing a leopard, a white rhino, a buffalo, a hippo, a giraffe, a zebra, a waterbuck, a wildebeest, a hartebeest, a warthog, a bushpig, a kudu, a nyala, an eland, a gemsbok, an impala, a bushbuck, a reedbuck, a duiker. The reserve has a significant bird life, which will excite serious birdwatchers. Apart from its scenic beauty and rich collection of games, Plumari private reserve is the closest game reserve you can find in Johannesburg.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distance from Johannesburg <\/strong>\u2013 83 km which takes one hour and fifteen minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost per person <\/strong>\u2013 R1980 with accommodation and food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best time to visit<\/strong> \u2013 May to September\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accommodation:<\/strong> The four-star Askari Lodge and warthogs are near the location<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities<\/strong> -Game drives, horseback riding, clay pigeon shooting, hiking, birdwatching, trail running, 4\u00d74 trails, mountain biking, and spa treatments are all popular outdoor activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mziki private game reserve<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Image by Mziki.co.za<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Mziki Safari Lodge offers a natural retreat for tourists looking for a lucid, genuine interaction with the African bush. Mziki Private Game Reserve, located on 6000 ha of superb bushveld free of malaria, is home to four of the \u201cBig Five,\u201d as well as more than 50 mammal species and 372 bird species. It is one of the top birding spaces in South Africa. This place is ideal for families, offering a variety of fun activities for kids of all ages. Elephants, Buffalo, rhinos, and leopards are primarily seen in this area.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distance from Johannesburg<\/strong> \u2013 168 km which takes two hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost per person<\/strong> \u2013 Varies according to the options you choose<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best time to visit<\/strong> \u2013 July to October\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accommodation:<\/strong> Mziki Safari Lodge is the reserve\u2019s only accommodation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities<\/strong> \u2013 Game drives, mini-ranger courses., birding, fishing, barge cruises, archery, and bush walks\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nkomazi game reserve<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Image by Tripadvisor.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Mountains and riverine valleys encircle Nkomazi Game Reserve in Mpumalanga.\u00a0 This area, which spans over 15,000 hectares in the southwest, is ideal for getting back in touch with nature. Nkomazi game reserve is also known as the place of water. The environment in this area is home to both Lowveld and Highveld game animals, as well as a large variety of birdlife.\u00a0 This results in breathtaking animal viewing and a distinctive safari experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distance from Johannesburg<\/strong> \u2013 316 km which takes three and half hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost per person<\/strong> \u2013 Varies according to the options you choose<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best time to visit<\/strong> \u2013 During the rainy season, which starts in October\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accommodation<\/strong> \u2013 You can pick options from Deluxe, Luxury, and Family Tents.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities<\/strong> \u2013 Drives, bird-watching, fly-fishing, and stargazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nambiti game reserve\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Image by Nambiti.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
On 23 000 spectacular acres near Ladysmith, in KwaZulu-Natal, is the Nambiti Private Game Reserve. The only reserve in the region to include the Big five attractions, Nambiti\u2019s biodiversity (which provides grasslands, riverine bush, savannah, and thornveld) guarantees an exhilarating and unheard-of variety of games. Nambiti is the only game reserve in the region that boasts all five of the Big 5 and over 40 other species of wildlife, including the majestic kudu, cheetah, giraffe, hippo, hyena, impala, and hyena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distance<\/strong> \u2013 317 km which takes three and a half hours\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost per person<\/strong> \u2013 R 100<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best time to visit<\/strong> is \u2013 the winter season\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accommodation<\/strong> \u2013 Nambiti lodge, Ndaka safari lodge, cheetah ridge lodge, etc., are some of the nearest\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities<\/strong> \u2013 bushwalking, picnics, fishing, Guided game drives, Spa treatments, and historical site seeing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Image by SA-Venues.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The majestic beauty of the Wittenberg mountains surrounds the Moolmanshoek game reserve. The Fouriesburg-based Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve offers a restaurant, a shared lounge, a bar, a garden, a patio, and a playground for kids. The reserve is home to various game species, including black wildebeest, red hartebeest, springbuck, blesbuck, zebra, steenbok, eland, waterbuck, lechwe, fallow deer, impala, sable, gemsbok. Black-backed jackals, caracals, porcupines, mongooses, and meerkats are also frequent visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distance from Johannesburg <\/strong>\u2013 350 km, which takes three and half hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost per person<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0 Varies according to the options you choose<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best time to visit<\/strong> \u2013 May to September\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accommodation:<\/strong> There are several en-suite guest rooms in the elegant Sandstone Lodge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities<\/strong> \u2013 Game Drives, Night Game Drives, horse riding<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mongena Private Game Lodge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Image by Tripadvisor.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Mongena Private Game Lodge offers lodging with a garden, free private parking, a communal lounge, and a terrace in Rust de Winter, 10 miles from Dinokeng Game Reserve. The 18,500 hectares game reserve is a magnificent big five game reserve within the Gauteng province, home to lion, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distance from Johannesburg <\/strong>\u2013 114 km, which takes one and half hours\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cost per person <\/strong>\u2013 R510<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best time to visit<\/strong> \u2013 May to September\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accommodation <\/strong>\u2013 single, double, or family accommodation is available\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activities<\/strong> \u2013 Bush safari, game drives, sightseeing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more: Top 10 Game Reserves Near Durban in 2023<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more: Top 9 Game Reserves Near Cape Town in 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For everyone craving to be enchanted by the wilderness, captivated by landscapes, and mesmerized by adventures, Johannesburg is nothing but the Promised Land! This heaven of spotless and exquisite vacation opportunities is also the largest city in South Africa, located elegantly to access all the game reserves. Within hours of travel, you come across the …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":232,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-229","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-guides"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Mabula-private-game-reserve.jpg?fit=1280%2C675&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=229"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1409,"href":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229\/revisions\/1409"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africaincoming.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}