How to Combine a Cape Town Holiday with a Safari
Written by Courtney Drysdale
When planning your ultimate holiday to South Africa, you may immediately think of Cape Town – and for a good reason. The ‘Mother City’, as it is endearingly known by locals, not only offers stunning landscapes, a world-famous culinary scene, dazzling beaches and a rich cultural history but also surprisingly, the chance to go on a classic — and malaria-free — African safari.
Are you ready to add a safari to your South Africa trip? Well, we have options to suit both day trips and overnight safaris from Cape Town. Whether you’re looking for a short drive away or a quick flight, you’ll find the perfect wild adventure to fit your travel plans. So, read on to find out just how you can pair beautiful beaches with wonderful wildlife at these stunning destinations:
The Klein Karoo
2 - 3 hours drive from Cape Town
Driving along the renowned Route 62, you arrive at the calm valley of the Klein Karoo. At the base of the surrounding mountains, there are many pioneering game reserves with incredible views of plains game roaming the semi-desert landscapes. Be sure to look out for the magnificent predators.
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
If you’re looking for a safari experience close to Cape Town, then a visit to Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is a great option. Located just 3 hours from the city, Sabona offers a malaria-free safari experience set in the dramatically folded mountains and vistas of the Klein Karoo. This reserve is home to various wildlife with plenty of luxury accommodations and a truly remarkable chance to see ancient San rock art.
Wildlife to look out for:
Lion
Plains game like zebra, eland, oryx
The endangered riverine rabbit
Melozhori Private Game Reserve
Located just a 2-hour drive from Cape Town, Melozhori is a working conservation effort committed to preserving and rehabilitating the natural environment. Visitors can explore the stunning scenery and observe more than 30 species of wildlife, 131 species of birds, and a variety of flora.
Wildlife to look out for:
Antelope such as nyala, red hartebeest, sable, oryx, eland, Bontebok Burchells Zebra
Quirky critters such as the aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, porcupine, honey badger
Leopard, caracal
The Garden Route
4 - 6 hours drive from Cape Town
The Garden Route is another fantastic option for those looking to experience a safari near Cape Town. This stunning stretch of coastline is home to several private game reserves and allows travellers to enjoy a beach and safari combo. Visitors have the option to take a guided game drive and spot a variety of wildlife — including the Big 5 — as well as a myriad of endemic flora, fauna and sea life.
Garden Route Game Lodge
Nestled in a large Big 5 reserve outside of Mossel Bay, this malaria-free safari destination is a 4-hour drive from Cape Town. Settled at the base of the Langberg Mountain Range, the reserve is also home to a range of wildlife as well as options to spot various marine animals nearby.
Wildlife to look out for:
The Big 5
Plains game like kudu, zebra and giraffe
Mossel Bay is a great place to go whale watching, spot dolphins and plenty of other marine life.
Gondwana Private Game Reserve
A drive of 4 hours from Cape Town, just outside Mossel Bay, this verdant 11.000 ha of endemic fynbos is home to not only the Big 5, but plenty of other unique wildlife, as well as proximity to spots to catch a glimpse of sea life.
Wildlife to look out for:
The Big 5
Cheetah
Plains game like zebra, eland
Giraffe
Mossel Bay offers fantastic whale watching and plenty of other sea life such as dolphins.
Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve
A little less than 6 hours from Cape Town, this game reserve offers a perfect pairing with the quaint and charming seaside setting that is Plettenberg Bay. Offering the chance to spot a myriad of wildlife, you can cruise around this scenic reserve on a game drive or explore the area on horseback.
Wildlife to look out for:
Rhino
Leopard
Elephant
Giraffe
Plettenberg Bay boasts year-round sightings of bottle nose dolphins and Bryde’s whales, as well as indo-pacific humpback dolphins.
Hartenbos Private Game Lodge
A scenic drive 4 ½ hours from Cape Town, this lodge sits in a private reserve in the Mossel Bay area. This malaria-free safari destination a range of both quintessential safari wildlife, as well as some other quirky critters.
Wildlife to look out for:
Plains game including golden wildebeest, springbok and zebra
Predators like jackal, caracal and civet
Sea life like whales, seals and dolphins, as well as plenty of seasonal sea birds
Botlierskop Game Reserve
A conservation hub, Botlierskop Game Reserve offers wonderful wildlife, mouthwatering cuisine and relaxing spa treatments – mixing up to make a restful and rejuvenating wild addition to your Cape Town trip, at only 4 ½ hours away from the city.
Wildlife to look out for:
Lions
Buffalo, giraffes, elephants and hippos
20 species of antelope that include the Cape mountain zebra, the rare black impala and eland
Further Away Safari Regions in South Africa
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive safari experience, you may want to consider taking a short flight (about 2 ½ hours) to Kruger, KZN (2 hours) or the Eastern Cape (1 hour 15 minutes). Here, you can experience some of the most spectacular safari experiences on the planet. With a stay at one of the luxurious safari lodges in the area, you can explore the incredible wildlife and take part in thrilling game drives, bush walks, and more.
No matter where you choose to experience a safari in South Africa, you will surely have a truly unforgettable experience. For those with less time, these Cape Town safari reserves are ideal. From the beautiful Botlierskop to the incredible Sanbona, there are so many amazing safari experiences to be had near Cape Town in the Western Cape game reserves. So, go ahead and start planning your Cape Town and safari adventure with Viatu today.