A safari in South Africa is a unique experience: watching the huge orange sun rise and set over the endless landscape, hearing the call of lion, grunts of hippos or birds singing, and the thrill of tracking a leopard on the hunt or observing a breeding herd of elephants at a waterhole are all part of being in the fabulous African bush.

The Greater Kruger Park is the safari choice for many, given the unsurpassed concentration and diversity of wildlife on offer. It consists of the vast Kruger National Park as well as the Sabi Sands, Manyeleti, Timbavati and Thornybush private game reserves, amongst others. These game reserves all share an open border with the Kruger Park so animals move freely. The game reserves comprise a number of private game lodges, who cooperate in conserving their valuable heritage.

These private game reserves and safari lodges of the Greater Kruger Park offer possibly the best Big 5 game viewing opportunities to be found anywhere, with lion and leopard tracking a particular speciality. There are, however, alternatives, including the Madikwe Game Reserve, situated in the far north of North West Province, and a popular safari choice, as it is in a malaria-free area, and a number of the lodges also welcome children. eastern Cape Game Reserves are a popular option for ending a trip which has included Cape Town and the Garden Route.

Safari Lodges tend to operate in the luxury range - but there are a number of excellent offers to be had, and lodges that offer good value as well as those offering high end luxury. Some lodges offer excellent childrens' programmes, others are fabulous for honeymooners.

Our 'Safari in South Africa' guide provides an insight into a day on safari: for more information, call us on 01342 834700 or email us.

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