Just like many African countries, South Africa is an excellent tourist destination for wildlife lovers. The country has put a lot of effort to conserve its wildlife from human encroachment and other factors that threaten its existence. In South Africa, you do not need to go deep into the jungle to discover its beautiful heritage. A number of top-rated reserves are situated just a short drive from major cities like Pretoria and Johannesburg. This setting is convenient, especially for visitors who do not wish to spend a night in camping centers. Either way, a day in South Africa’s sanctuaries guarantees unique encounters with the world’s most beautiful creatures. For more on what to expect, read through this article of top wildlife sanctuaries in South Africa.
Tip from tour guide
While exploring the outdoors in South Africa, keep an eye out for Amatungulu. Carissa macrocarpa is a shrub commonly found in tropical and southern Africa. It is known as the Natal plum (or the large num-num in South Africa). In Zulu, as well as in the Bantu tribes of Uganda, it is called Amathungulu or umThungulu oBomvu. Meanwhile, in Afrikaans, it is called noem-noem.
1. World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary & Monkey Park, Cape Town
Many people are used to visiting parks, but have you ever considered touring a bird sanctuary? World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary & Monkey Park welcomes you to one of the largest birds sanctuaries in the world to admire and interact with over 400 bird species. Some of the magnificent birds you will see here include endangered jungle fowls, barbets, cassowaries, and pheasants. Other than birds, the park also showcases a variety of reptiles and mammals. To boost the experience, the sanctuary has walk-through aviaries all over the facility for visitors to easily maneuver while viewing the amazing collection of bird species.
World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary & Monkey Park
Address: Valley Rd, Hout Bay, Cape Town, 7806, South Africa
Website: World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary & Monkey Park
Opening hours: 9am – 5pm (daily)
Price: Adults: 8 USD; Children (aged 3-16): 3 USD; Students: 5 USD
2. Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary, Cullinan
Many people have zoophobia, which is understandable considering some animals can be dangerous in their natural habitat. Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary offers visitors a chance to overcome this fear, especially in regard to members of the large predatory community. The sanctuary is home to the big five, so you should expect to see and take pictures of lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalos. Filming is also accepted, and with the right arrangement, you can make a great documentary here. Besides animal viewing, Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary educates guests on different aspects of wildlife preservation. This education is key to addressing the carnivorous population’s rapid decline in different parts of the world.
Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary
Address: Cullinan, South Africa
Website: Kevin Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Addo Elephant National Park, Port Elizabeth (from USD 141.78)
A short distance from Port Elizabeth lies another sanctuary called Addo Elephant National Park. As the name hints, elephants are one of the major highlights of Addo. The park is home to over 600 elephants that often roam the facility feeding and doing mud baths to regulate their body temperatures. Addo is also home to the endangered black rhinos — take many pictures of the beautiful wildlife because such opportunities don’t come every day. As the third-largest national park in the country, Addo provides sanctuary for big five animals, including antelopes, zebras, and rare dung beetles that are exclusively found here.
Tip from tour guide
In Addo Elephant National Park, there are more than 600 elephants, 400 Cape buffaloes, and 48 endangered black rhinos (Diceros bicornis michaeli) as well as a variety of antelope species. Lions and spotted hyenas have also recently been re-introduced to the area. The largest remaining population of the flightless dung beetle (Circellium bacchus) is located within the park too.
Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari
Duration: 9.0 hour
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeespoort, Hartbeesport (from USD 234.0)
Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeespoort offers a unique opportunity for visitors to get up close with some of the most dreaded animals in the jungle, especially elephants. Here, the elephants have been tamed using positive reinforcement approaches so that they enjoy interacting with visitors. What’s more, the sanctuary allows guests to touch or even feed the elephants. Clearly, there is nowhere else you can experience such moments. And that’s not all — at Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeespoort, you will be taught many fascinating things about behavior, conservation, and biology of the animals. The guides are well-informed, friendly, and take great pleasure in explaining every detail to visitors.
Elephant Sanctuary Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria
Duration: 6 hours
South Africa Tour Guide
Thabang Molefe
My name is Thabang Molefe, Director/ Owner of Tsalanang Travel & Tours. I’m a qualified National Tourist Guide in South Africa, born and breast fed in Johannesburg. I have worked in the sports & events industry where I discovered my passion for traveling, and later worked with some of the TOP destination management/operators in South Africa. I love meeting people, and exchangin... Read more
Tours by Thabang
South Africa Tour Guide
Jakes
Jakes is registered and accredited with FET Certificate Tourist Guiding. He is competent to advise clients on all essential aspects of travel in South Africa having passed the SA Specialist course from South African Tourism. As a good story teller, he makes any historical situation or site come to life; and this is what makes him to stand out as a knowledgeable and exciting guide. “I’m always a... Read more
Tours by Jakes
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5. Mbidi Resort & Animal Sanctuary, Grobersdal
Posted by Werner Pretorius on Sunday, 30 December 2018
Not a long drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria is another must-visit conservatory for animals called Mbidi Resort & Animal Sanctuary. This animal sanctuary takes care of injured and abandoned animals for the future generation. While here, the animals are treated and trained to interact with people freely without creating much tension. For families, Mbidi Resort & Animal Sanctuary is a great place to learn and truly disconnect. Through these interactive programs, adults, as well as children, learn to overcome their fear of animals such as snakes, lions, and tigers. One thing you should know about Mbidi is that the facility does not condone activities such as hunting and other exploitive sports.
Mbidi Resort & Animal Sanctuary
Address: Stoffberg Road, Loskopdam, Groblersdal, 0470, South Africa
Website: Mbidi Resort & Animal Sanctuary
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7:30am – 4pm; Sat - Sun: 7:30am – 5pm
Price: Adults: 4 USD; Children (under 12 years old): 2 USD
6. Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, Hoedspruit
The rapid increase of the human population had a significant impact on wildlife. People are continually encroaching to forests and other natural habitats; thereby, displacing wildlife from their homes. As a result, the animal population is dwindling at an alarming rate. Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre intervenes by saving endangered animals and providing them with a safe haven from such threats. Over the years, the facility has rescued and rehabilitated countless lions, white rhinoceros, and African elephants back to health and they continue to attract tourists all over the world. Once the animals are fully rehabilitated, they are usually released back into the wild, notwithstanding their revenue generation potential. Come, interact, and show your support to this noble cause.
Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
Address: Endangered Species Centre, R40, Hoedspruit, 1380, South Africa
Website: Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Fri: 9am – 5pm; Tue, Thu, Sat - Sun: 8am–5pm
7. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Upington
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park holds a fantastic selection of wild animals that wows visitors with their striking beauty. Some examples of animals that are easy to spot in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park include the black-maned Kalahari lions, raptors, ostriches, and African wild dogs, among others. Also — although not always — the park experiences seasonal migration of wildebeests and springboks in search of green pastures and water. This natural phenomenon is always fascinating to watch. The fun doesn’t end there as Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park has serene camping and picnic sites where you can truly unwind in nature’s lap.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Address: R360, Upington, 8800, South Africa
Website: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Opening Hours: 7:30am - sundown (5am or 6pm, depending on the season, daily)
8. Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary, Welgedacht
Nothing beats a relaxing morning at the pool...
Posted by Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary on Saturday, 7 September 2019
Contrary to common misconception, lions and cheetahs can be good friends to humans once handled with love and appreciation. The interactive sessions at Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary are enough proof that harmony between the two species is achievable. The name is quite ironic because this is not a purely lion and cheetah reserve. As a matter of fact, the sanctuary is also inhabited by other fascinating animals such as servals, antelopes, horses, and hyenas. There is a lot to see here, so come prepared with a nice hat to shield you against the scorching sun; strong shoes to maneuver the African bushes easily; and finally, an HD camera to capture the beautiful memories in the Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary.
Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary
Address: 25°28'06. 28°28'10., Plot 45 Welgedaaght, 1000, South Africa
Website: Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
9. Drakenstein Lion Park, Paarl
Another fantastic place in South Africa to admire and interact with the animals — especially lions — is Drakenstein Lion Park. Established over two decades ago in the scenic Cape Winelands, Drakenstein Lion Park has always been committed to rescuing, treating, rehabilitating, breeding, and giving lions a lifetime home far from human persecutions. It is also the one place in South Africa where you cannot leave without spotting a lion. Besides the large numbers of local breeds, the park also harbors the rare white lions, which makes the viewing experience truly memorable. Also, in recent years, the sanctuary has taken in other animal species like chimpanzees to spice up the viewing experience.
Drakenstein Lion Park
Address: Old Paarl Rd, Paarl, 7625, South Africa
Website: Drakenstein Lion Park
Opening hours: 9:30am – 5pm (daily)
Price: Adults: 4 USD; Children: 2 USD
10. Kruger National Park, Phalaborwa (from USD 395.0)
Kruger National Park is an excellent place to start your exploration of the African bushland. In this park, it is advisable to take a safari vehicle because some of the big five animals like buffalos are very territorial and once threatened, can react violently. For visitors interested in seeing the predators, the best time to visit is in the early morning before they disappear to their hideouts. That, however, doesn’t imply that there is nothing to see during the day. You can hang out in the onsite restaurant that offers delicious food and refreshing drinks before returning to the bushes to check out the giraffes, zebras, and much more magnificent wildlife. If you feel like extending your adventure into the night at the end of the day, the park has excellent accommodations options for you.
Tip from Content Creator
Kruger National Park is the most famous park in South Africa and should be on everyone’s bucket list. Stay in a lodge for at least 3 nights to be able to explore the park and surrounding areas. Also, I recommend traveling to South Africa during the winter season in Europe because it will be the summer season in South Africa. Rent a car to be flexible and go on a safari.
Full-Day Private Big 5 Safari in Kruger National Park
Duration: 10 hour
South Africa’s gold
Clearly, wildlife is an important contributor to the African economy. Come and support this noble cause in by visiting these top wildlife sanctuaries in South Africa. Furthermore, a visit to these sanctuaries will be an excellent opportunity to meet, interact, and fight your phobia of the world’s most beautiful — and sometimes, dreaded — animals.
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