Where to Stay on your South Africa Safaris

As an impressively developed and modern country, South Africa can offer an eclectic range of holiday accommodation. There is everything from budget accommodation where you live much as the locals do with outdoor toilets and basic camps, right up to luxury bathrooms and four poster beds. Here’s a look at some of the best places to stay in South Africa.

Right now there are deals for travel to the Zwahili Game Lodge in the Limpopo Province. Located in the Bushveld region around two hours to the north of Johannesburg, this makes an ideal base for a safari. It has award winning facilities including king-sized tents and a spa. An experienced guide will be on hand to take you out in a four by four and point out wondrous wildebeest and other herbivores. There is also a wealth of bird watching opportunities.

If it’s luxury that you want then try the Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge within the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve on the East coast. This has a prime location with views right across the banks of the Great Fish River. The word Kwande means ‘Home of the Blue Crane’ and this eye-catching bird can often be seen first thing in the morning as you relax on the patio with your coffee. The area also has great historical significance having been the scene of various wars between the native inhabitants and European settlers in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

For a chance to see the ephemeral white lion, stay at the Pumba Water Lodge in the Greater Addo which overlooks a large lake. Your proximity to water will allow a sight of many animals as they come to drink and a number of attractive birds in particular. These thatched cottages have a real air of romance about them, and the outdoor plunge pools give an intimate experience. The reserve offers picnics, star gazing and late night game drives.

Despite being close to the water all of these lodges are considered to be malaria free.

Animals to look out for on South Africa Safaris

South Africa Safari is one of the best places to see the Big Five – buffaloes, leopards, lions, elephants and rhinos. And you can also see intriguing small creatures such as the elephant shrew and the ant lion. The country is one of the last remaining homes of the white rhinoceros and they flourish in the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal as well as the better known Kruger National Park. If you are really lucky you will see one of the fastest animals on earth, the cheetah. South Africa Safari is also excellent for bird watching with hundreds of species including the African Hoopoe.

See the Big Seven in South Africa

While South Africa is famous for the Big Five animals, the country is now promoting itself with mention of the Big Seven. Due to the huge coastline there are also South Africa Safari trips to see aquatic animals and South Africa can boast two of the biggest. Whales and Great White Shark are now being included on the list of big game, presumably so that people do not forget that these are also animals which need to be protected. Mention of the big seven also reminds tourists that they can go out on whale watching tours or see sharks fed from the side of a boat. If they are feeling really adventurous it is even possible to scuba dive inside a shark proof cave for a close up! South Africa is also considered an excellent place for a safari diving holiday.