Top Gauteng Nature and Wildlife Tours

This Lion and Safari Park trip is a great pick for travelers visiting Johannesburg or Pretoria. Only a short 45-minute drive away, the vast 1,000-hectare (2,471-acre) landscape is home to an abundance of wildlife—including cheetahs, giraffes, hyenas, lions, and zebras. Once inside the grounds, a guide takes you on a ride around the grassy plains to spot the magnificent creatures safely from your vehicle.

The Pilanesberg National Park is home to Africa’s Big Five—lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo. On this full-day tour, increase your chance of wildlife sightings with two guided game drives in an open safari vehicle, tuck into a delicious lunch looking out over a popular waterhole, and perhaps spot giraffe, hippos, zebras, and antelope in their natural environment.

Visit the Lion Park outside of Johannesburg without the hassle of renting a car. This tour includes round-trip transportation from your Johannesburg hotel and admission to the Lion Park, where you can explore at your leisure to see more than 85 lions, including the rare white lion, and other animals such as wild dogs, hyenas, and cheetahs. Take a 2-hour safari drive to see the animals.

Skip the stress of self-driving Johannesburg in the early hours, and enjoy wide-angle views from an open safari vehicle on this full-day tour to Pilanesberg National Park. This compact reserve is home to all of the Big Five—lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes, and elephants—and your dedicated safari guides will help you spot them. Your day includes lunch, hotel pickup, entrance fees, and a bottle of water: breakfast is at your own expense.

Dinokeng Game Reserve is one of the closest reserves to Johannesburg and Pretoria, and is home to the Big Five. With this full-day tour, enjoy hotel pickup and round-trip transport to the reserve, followed by a thrilling about 2.5-hour safari game drive. Travel in an open-back 4WD safari truck with a resident game ranger, and keep an eye out for hippos, elephants, lions, giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, and leopards.

About 90 minutes from Johannesburg, the Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeesport Dam and Bush Babies Monkey Sanctuary let these intelligent and sensitive creatures live their best lives. Skip the stress of self-driving in South Africa when you join this door-to-door adventure, with a guide to explain elephants’ habits, family structures, dynamics, and even anatomy and to show you monkeys running wild and free.

Johannesburg is known for being a gateway to fantastic wildlife encounters, and this option is perfect for time-tight travelers interested in seeing a variety of animal species in just half a day. Enjoy included hotel pickup and travel to the Safari Lion Park. Animals that reside at the park include rare white lions, brown lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, zebra, and antelopes.

Spend a day connecting with nature when you embark on this guided bushwalk through the Ukutula Conservation Center. With a small group and guide, learn about African wildlife and their behavioral traits as you walk through the park and observe them in their natural habitat. Qualified rangers and safari guides are with you at all times to ensure your safety.

Explore the Pilanesberg National Park, discovering its volcanic landscapes and diverse wildlife, on this full-day private tour. Your journey begins with convenient pickup from your Johannesburg and a 2-hour drive to the park. Then, hop aboard an open-air vehicle for a game drive where you have the opportunity to spot the iconic Big Five—leopard, lion, rhino, buffalo, and elephant—as well as many other species.

Just outside the capital of South Africa, lies the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, a sanctuary for over a thousand creatures. This small-group tour, limited to just 15 travelers, takes you on a game drive in a closed, air-conditioned vehicle through the reserve where you can spot game such as cheetah, buffalo, zebras, hippo, and rhinos. National park fees and round-trip transportation from select hotels are included.

Enjoy about an hour's scenic drive from the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg to the Northwest. A Guided Safari at Lion and Safari Park where you guaranteed to see Africa's wild carnivores such Lions, Hyenas, Wild dogs, Cheetahs and a variety of antelopes at close range. No additional cost for transport - you will be collected and returned to your hotel by an experienced Tour Guide in a private air-conditioned minivan. Fine restaurants on site for some local dishes or refreshments on the go.

This is an excellent pick for travelers visiting Johannesburg who would like a stress-free private day trip to spot some of the country’s magnificent wildlife. First, visit the vast landscape of Pilanesberg National Park to look out for the Big Five, and enjoy the personalized service of having a private guide. The trip also includes a gourmet lunch and a game drive at Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve.

If you’ve only got a day to fit in a safari drive, this visit to Pilanesberg Nature Reserve ensures you make the most of it. Begin with an early morning pickup, then head straight to Pilanesberg for a 4x4 safari drive. During the tour, look out for the “Big Five”, take a break for lunch, then take part in an afternoon drive for even more wildlife spotting. Note that park admission is not included.

Explore the wonders of the Dinokeng Game Reserve on this unforgettable Big 5 safari tour from Johannesburg. Just 90 minutes from the city, this small-group adventure offers a chance to see Africa’s iconic wildlife in a private concession. Enjoy a scenic transfer, then hop into a 4x4 for a thrilling 2.5-3 hour guided game drive led by an expert ranger. Encounter lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo in their natural habitat, plus a variety of plains game and birdlife. Ideal for families with children aged 4 and up, this tour promises an intimate and crowd-free experience with a maximum of 10 guests per vehicle. - Scenic transfer from Rosebank, Sandton, or Melrose Arch - 2.5 – 3-hour guided 4x4 game drive with an expert ranger - Exclusive access to areas closed to the general public - Limited to 10 guests per vehicle for a personal safari experience

Make the most of your time in South Africa on this expertly planned, small-group safari experience. This two-day package takes you from Johannesburg deep into Kruger National Park—one of Africa's largest game reserves—for multiple game drives in search of the Big Five. With transport, accommodation, meals, and a knowledgeable guide all arranged for you.

Go in search of wildlife, like the Big Five of lions, leopards, rhinoceros,, elephant, and Cape buffalo on this 2-day small-group tour. Enjoy the convenience of having your logistics taken care of, including transfers from Johannesburg or Pretoria, accommodation at the Tembo Guest Lodge, lunch, bottled water, and two safari game drives in an open vehicle.

Go on an unforgettable adventure in Pilanesberg Nature Reserve with this full-day safari tour. Your day begins with early morning pickup from your hotel in Johannesburg, followed by a scenic drive to the reserve. Experience two thrilling safari drives—one in an open 4×4 vehicle and another in a closed vehicle—giving you the opportunity to encounter Africa’s iconic Big Five: elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo, along with an abundance of other wildlife. A delicious lunch is included, offering a chance to relax and recharge amid the reserve’s breathtaking landscapes. Led by expert guides, who provide insightful commentary throughout the day, this tour is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and families alike. It promises an enriching and memorable day immersed in the beauty of the African bush.

Animal lovers visiting Johannesburg—this is the tour for you. Combine multiple wildlife encounters on the same trip to help you save time and maximize your time in the city. First, visit monkeys in their natural environment; then, get the chance to walk side-by-side with elephants. The trip also includes a chance to see bush babies, and educational talks to expand your knowledge of animal behavior.

This 5-day Kruger National Park adventure promises ample opportunities for wildlife-spotting and peaceful moments in nature. To save you time researching where to stay, accommodation is included, as well as select meals along the way. Go on nature walks, experience magnificent starry nights, and look out for the “Big Five” during multiple game drives.

Get to know the ins and outs of daily life in an elephant sanctuary on this half-day tour. Pickup and drop-off in Johannesburg or Pretoria means no need to rent a car, and you can relax on the ride up to the Magaliesburg mountains. Once there, embark on a 2-hour tour that includes in-depth facts and figures about African elephants and the sanctuary's efforts regarding rescue and rehabilitation.

Get more out of your time in Pretoria by going on a day trip to a UNESCO World Heritage Site—The Cradle of Humankind. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for convenience. Upon arrival, visit the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve for a driving tour, and look out for rhinos, lions, cheetahs, and crocodiles. The trip also includes a visit to the on-site breeding center and crèche.

Explore the beautiful landscape near Muldersdrift on horseback with this small-group guided trail ride. The ride is suitable for riders of all abilities, including beginners and advanced riders. Led by an experienced guide, ride through nearby farms and stop on the way to admire views of Johannesburg, the Magaliesberg, and Cradle of Humankind nearby.

Just a 2-hour drive from Johannesburg, the Pillanesburg National Park offers stunning scenery and the chance to spot all of Africa’s Big Five (leopard, lion, elephant, rhino, and buffalo). On this tour, set out on a thrilling game drive by minivan or open safari vehicle (depending on tour option selected) and enjoy incredible photo opportunities.