For the most part, winter is the best time to view wildlife in South Africa. In our wildlife-rich regions, this is the time when it’s dry, the bush is arid and animals are easy to spot. I know this is very far from the truth for the Western Cape’s weather, but the doesn’t mean that you, too, can’t enjoy some great wildlife sightings during the winter months.
Even if you’re on a budget, you can go out and enjoy the bush. You just have to be clever about it. Visit a place that’s close by and make a day trip out of it, or book one of the very affordable overnight options below. Looking to spoil a loved-one with luxury? Keep reading too.
Birding and plains game on a budget
It’s certainly possible to enjoy some great wildlife sightings without spending a fortune. Considering doing day trips. These will cost less than R100 for the entire family.
1. Tankwa Karoo National Park
Only four hours from Cape Town, Tankwa Karoo National Park is situated on the southern boundary of the Northern Cape, with the Roggeveld Escarpment in the east, the Cederberg in the west, and Klein Roggeveld Mountains in the south.
Wildlife & birds
Look out for gemsbok, red hartebeest, springbok, cape mountain zebra and over 174 different bird species. It is considered one of the best birding destinations in the country.
Day visitors:
Yes
Price: R24 for adults and R12 for children. Bring your SA ID document along.
Accommodation
You can choose between guest cottages, a guesthouse, a lodge, camping or staying in a wilderness camp. All of these are located inside the park’s borders.
Price: From R95 a person a night sharing.
Contact
Visit Tankwa Karoo National Park’s page on SANPark’s website or book directly at Getaway Accommodation.
Book a stay at the Tankwa Karoo National Park
2. Mountain Zebra National Park
Image courtesy of Scott Ramsay
Situated near Cradock in the Eastern Cape, this park was proclaimed in 1937 to save the dwindling Cape mountain zebra population. Today the park encompasses more than 28 000 hectares and recently released three lions. Read more about the beauty of the Mountain Zebra National Park here.
Wildlife & birds
The park now hosts more than 700 zebra, as well as Cape buffalo and aardwolf. If you’re lucky you might spot a black rhino or cheetah. Some of the cheetahs are collared, so you can book a Cheetah Experience to track them with a guide. Bird lovers can seek the resident blue cranes.
Day visitors
Yes. There is also a special holiday programme between 22 June and 6 July 2013 with free activities for the children. Click here for more information.
Price: R30 for adults and R15 for children. Bring along you SA ID document.
Accommodation
Choose between camping, family cottages, guesthouses and mountain cottages.
Price: From R200 for two people to camp and R650 for a two-sleeper cottage.
Contact
Visit Mountain Zebra National Park’s page on SANParks’ website or visit their accommodation page on Getaway Accommodation.
Book accommodation at Mountain Zebra National Park
3. Enseleni Nature Reserve
Situated 11km north of Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, Enseleni is a beautiful coastal nature reserve, with woodlands and grasslands to explore at leisure. These habitats are home to some unusual and beautiful bird species.
Wildlife & birds
Look out for African finfoot, purple crested lourie, Pels fishing owl, white-eared barbet and three species of elusive nightjars, Mozambique, Fiery necked and European. Mammals include wildebeest, zebra, impala, reedbuck, waterbuck, hippo and duiker.
Day visitors
Yes
Price: R10 for adults and R5 for children
Accommodation
Although there is no accommodation inside the reserve, you can stay at Empangeni and make the short drive to the reserve. Here you’ll find B&Bs, lodges and backpackers.
Price: From R270 a person a night sharing
Contact
Tel 082-559-2852. Visit Enseleni Nature Reserve’s page on KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife.
Book accommodation at Enseleni Nature Reserve
4. Mafikeng Game Reserve
The Mafikeng Game Reserve is located just outside Mafikeng, extending eastwards to cover an area of 4 600 ha of open Kalahari grassland and acacia thorn scrub.
Wildlife & birds
Mammals include Cape buffalo, white rhino and yellow mongoose while antelopes found in the park are blue wildebeest, common duiker, eland, gemsbok, impala, kudu, red hartebeest and springbok.
Day visitors
Yes
Price: R35 for adults and R20 for children and pensioners. Vehicles: R5 for a sedan car, R26 for a combi, R36 for a minibus and R80 for a bus.
Accommodation
The reserve offers two rustic self-catering guesthouses, a safari tent camp, two bush camps and 10 camping/caravan sites.
Price: From R150 a person a night self-catering and R200 a night for a campsite (sleeps up to eight)
Contact
Tel 018-397-1675/6/7, [email protected], visit their page in Parks North West
Book accommodation inside Mafikeng
The best of both worlds
In some reserves it’s actually possible to see the members of the Big Five without paying a fortune for accommodation.
5. Mabalingwe Nature Reserve
Only 28km beyond the beautiful Bela Bela in the Limpopo Province lays this 12500ha reserve, in the shadows of the spectacular Waterberg Mountains.
Wildlife
Originally, these lands were home to only kudu and impala. But after years of reintroductions, the reserve is now home to all the members of the Big Five as well as hippo and the rare Sable antelope and tsessebe.
Day visitors
Unfortunately not.
Accommodation
Choose from a range of accommodation options, from the budget friendly bush camps, self-catering cottages and camping/caravan sites to more luxurious lodge options.
Price: From R120 a person a night for a bush camp (min 10 people) and R180 for a campsite that sleeps six. Every person camping pays another R90 a night. Chalets from R625 a night for a two-sleeper unit.
Contact
Tel 014-736-9000, [email protected], www.mabalingwe.co.za
Book accommodation at Mabalingwe Nature Reserve
6. Kruger National Park
The country’s top game reserve (and a favourite among our readers) remains one of the best ways to spot a myriad animals without breaking the bank. Spread across sections of both the Limpopo Province and Mpumalanga, the park is very accessible to the residents of these provinces as well as Gauteng.
Wildlife & birds
Apart from hosting all the members of the Big Five, the Kruger also hosts about 65% of all the mammals found in the country and over 500 different bird species.
Day visitors
They are welcomed to the park and can drive almost all of the roads that overnight visitors have access to.
Price: R50 for adults and R25 for children. Remember your SA ID document.
Accommodation
Although there’s many luxury lodges on private concessions surroundings the reserve, the official SANParks rest camps inside the park are definitely the most budget friendly, offering self-catering huts, camping and caravanning.
Price: From R190 a person a night camping and R845 a night for a two-sleeper chalet.
See accommodation reviews for each camp in Krugerhere.
Contact
Tel 012-428-9111, [email protected], www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger
While you’re in the Kruger, check out the top five bird hides inside the park.
Book a stay at the Kruger National Park
7. Ndumo Game Reserve
Situated in KwaZulu Natal, beside the border of Mozambique, this 10 117ha game reserve holds a great variety of vegetation types – from yellow fever trees and extensive wetlands to reedbeds and acacia savannah. While you’re immersed in the bush, only 30 minutes’ drive will bring your to the beach.
Wildlife & birds
Ndumo is the reserve with the highest bird count in South Africa – about 430. On top of this, you’ll also be able to seek out all the members of the Big Five.
Day visitors
Yes.
Price: R40 for adults and R20 for children
Accommodation
Ndumo River Lodge offers camping or self-catering huts. Each hut sleeps two adults. You’ll have to bring all your food supplies along with you.
Price: R680 a night for a two-sleeper hut and R110 a person night to camp.
Contact
Tel 073-070-6195, visit their page on KwaZulu Natal Wildlife
Book accommodation at Ndumo Game Reserve
8. Mvubu River Lodge
Situated in northern KwaZulu Natal, 350km from Durban and 450km from Johannesburg, this family owned and operated lodge has been going since 1744. The iconic Pongola River slices straight through this well-preserved stretch of natural bushveld.
Wildlife & birds
You’ll find four of the Big Five (excluding lion) in the reserve, as well as hippo, crocodile and 350 different bird species.
Day visitors
No day visitors
Accommodation
The lodge sits on a ridge overlooking the Pongola River and consists of nine twin and two double en suite chalets.
Price: From R850 a person a night sharing (includes all meals, tea & coffee).
Contact
Tel 034-435-1123, [email protected], www.mvubugamelodge.co.za
Book a stay at Mvubu River Lodge
Budgets as big as the game
These are for the more discerning traveller – luxurious, Big Five safaris.
9. Aquila Private Game Reserve
Wedged between the Langeberg and the Outeniqua Mountains, this 7500ha conservancy in the southern Karoo is only two hours from Cape Town. The reserve is also very involved in ongoing conservation projects. Read: Aquila aims to affect change
Wildlife & birds
Apart from hosting all the members of the Big Five, Aquila is also home to hippo, giraffe and over 170 different bird species.
Day visitors
Aquila has a day visitor’s package, including a transport to and from Cape Town, game drive, buffet lunch and an afternoon of relaxing beside the pool.
Price: R1404 without transport and R2132 with transport.
Accommodation
Choose between the premier, family or luxury chalets, all of which boast spectacular views and impeccable taste.
Price: From R2095 a person a night. Transport to and from Cape Town can be organised for overnight guests as well.
Contact
Tel 0861-7373-783, [email protected], www.aquilasafari.com
Book accommodation at Aquila Private Game Reserve
10. Itaga Private Game Lodge
Feel looked after at this luxurious 12 000ha game reserve, situated in Limpopo Province’s Waterberg region. Guided game drives, delicious meals and a view from the lodge across the floodlit waterhole in the evenings will make this a weekend to remember.
Wildlife & birds
Apart from all the members of the Big Five, you can also look out for giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hyena, warthog, a wide variety of antelope and bountiful bird life on your guided game drives.
Day visitors
No, unfortunately not.
Accommodation
The accommodation at Itaga consists of four-star lodge with en suite, African-styled chalets.
Price: From R1295 a person a night sharing
Contact
Tel 011-289-8020, [email protected], www.itaga.co.za
Book a stay at Itaga Private Game Lodge
