The 15 2-Day Experiences in South Africa That Earn Their Price

1.2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 928 reviews · 2 days · from $533Our pick

Travel in a small group of up to 12 from Cape Town with guides such as Chris, Vaughan, Benjamin, or Frank. Stop at Hermanus, Betty’s Bay, and Cape Agulhas, then spend a night at Garden Route Game Lodge with dinner and two safari drives.

“The game lodge and safari guide was such an amazing experience and we’re so knowledgeable about the animals. But most of all our transport guide Benjamin was exceptional! Made the journey so pleasurable, pointing out landmarks, answering question and taking us to see extra tourist attractions a long the way! Thanks Benjamin.”

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2.South African Wildlife and Safari 2-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 411 reviews · 2 days · from $322

Travel from Cape Town or Stellenbosch to Oudtshoorn for two safari drives at Botlierskop and Buffelsdrift. You may spot rhinos, elephants, buffalo, lions, and more. Guides such as Nev, Denver, Ulrich, and TK are known for making the long drives engaging. Add the elephant observation for about R640.

“Ulrich was fantastic, making everyone comfortable by being super friendly, clear and informative. The safaris were fab and we saw so much. Food at the backpackers was amazing.”

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3.2 Day Safari Experience from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 326 reviews · from $447Top rated

Leave Cape Town at 6am for Cape Agulhas, an overnight stay at Garden Route Game Lodge, and sunset and sunrise safari drives. Your driver-guide may be Vaughan, Chris, Benjamin, or Frank, while reserve guides such as Abi or Zandre lead the wildlife drives. Return via Hermanus and Betty’s Bay.

“The 2 Day Safari Experience was amazing!! Both the Tour guide and Ranger informed the guests about the iternary and both had a good sense the humor. The dinner and breakfast at the Lodge was outstanding. I would highly recommend it”

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4.2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4×4 Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 251 reviews · from $279

Leave Cape Town early with a local guide such as Neville, TK, or Denver, then cross Route 62 to Botlierskop and Oudtshoorn. You’ll take two open 4x4 drives, spend one night near the ostrich capital, and may add a guided elephant observation at Buffelsdrift for about R700.

“Excellent trip. Two safaris and saw numerous animals including lions, zebras, giraffes, rhinos.... Guide / driver was very good”

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5.2-Day 4-Star Pilanesberg Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 61 reviews · 2 days · from $609

Leave Johannesburg for Pilanesberg’s volcanic hills and four game drives in two days. You’ll ride in both open 4x4s and a closed minivan, sleep at a 4-star lodge, and may spot four of the Big Five. Guide Moloko has earned special praise for her care and effort.

“Mye for pengene! Nydelig sted og veldig god mat!”

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6.2-Day Wildlife Tour with Safaris and Luxury Stay

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 51 reviews · 2 days · from $534

Leave Cape Town early for Botlierskop and Oudtshoorn, then spend the night at luxury Buffelsdrift Lodge or a selected farm stay. You’ll join two shared 4x4 drives, travel Route 62, and may add a close elephant observation. Guides such as Maudi, Dylan, and Denver are noted for safe, helpful service.

“Résultat mitigé. Dylan, le guide était top. Je le recommande vivement. Le programme est intense sur les 2 jours avec de longs trajets de 6h. Mais vous n’avez pas le choix si vous venez de Captown. Les van ne sont pas confortables. Concernant les 2 safari, cela me paraissait plus être un grand zoo sans enclos plutôt qu’un safari. J’ai moins apprécié le 1er safari Bufflesdrift car plus petit et beaucoups moins d’animaux. En revanche les lodges surplace et l’environnement étaient magnifiques. Il n’y avait pas de lions dans les 2 réserves. Suppléments éléphant cher, mais sympa car nous avons pu les approcher de très près et de les toucher.…”

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7.All Inclusive 2 Day Kruger Safari from Johannesburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 49 reviews · from $805

Travel from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park in a small group of up to 10. You get a sunset drive along the Crocodile River, a sunrise safari, meals, transfers, and one night near the park. Guides such as Becky, Aubrey, Abraham, and Serena have been praised for sharp animal spotting.

“We had one weekend in between our business trip to see a bit of South Africa’s stunning nature and decided to go to Kruger National Park. The organization of the trip was perfect and our guides were very welcoming and taught us many inRead more”

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8.2-Day Addo Elephant Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 46 reviews · 2 days · from $597

Spend two days with Afroventures Tours and Safaris, led by an English-speaking local guide such as John, Sidwell, or Riccardo. You’ll combine a full Addo safari, a Sundays River cruise and dune tour, and a close giraffe encounter, with one night of 4-star lodging and meals included.

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9.2 Day Pilanesberg ultimate Luxury Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · from $507

Leave Johannesburg at 5:30 am for Pilanesberg, less than three hours away. You get three open-vehicle or minivan safari drives, one night at a 4-star lodge, dinner, breakfast, and hotel pickup. A small group of up to nine makes this a practical short safari for couples and busy schedules.

“How fantastic the Ivory Tree Lodge was in service, food, assistance, rooms, and charm. Totally overwhelmed our expectations.”

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10.2 Day 4 Star Pilanesberg Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $466

Leave Johannesburg at 5:30am for Pilanesberg National Park, then search for lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo on morning, afternoon, and sunrise drives. You’ll sleep at a 4-star safari lodge, eat dinner and breakfast, and travel in a small group of no more than 10. Guide Sunny may be your wildlife spotter.

“The evening drive safari was awesome. The nature beauty of the lodge was so peaceful. I so look forward to going back for a longer visit.”

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11.2-Day Safari into Kruger National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 29 reviews · 2 days · from $616

Leave Johannesburg early for Kruger National Park, then take an afternoon and morning safari in an open vehicle. Guide Rudzani has earned special praise for finding wildlife and caring for guests. The trip includes transport, park fees, bottled water, and one night near Hazyview, but meals cost extra.

“It was a great experience to be in real safari! It worth for it. Thank you especially for my driver Rudzani was kind and took care of the participants so well.”

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12.Big 5 Kruger National Park 2 Days Safari from Johannesburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · from $721

Leave Johannesburg at 7 a.m. for Kruger National Park, staying overnight in Hazyview. Your driver-guide takes you through Phabeni Gate for a four-hour afternoon drive, followed by a 5:30 a.m. morning safari. Guides such as Patrick and Lambert have helped guests find both large and small wildlife.

“We had a tour guide pick us up promptly at our hotel in Johannesburg and drive us to our accommodation in Kruger. I am a little confused because the lodging we were provided was different from what was advertised in the listing. For the pricRead more”

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13.2 Day Wild Heart Western Cape Safari Tour with Private Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $738

Travel privately from Cape Town to two malaria-free game reserves near Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn. You’ll join shared 4x4 drives, stay one night in budget or luxury lodging, and may add a guided walk with three rescued elephants. Guides such as Andre and Isaac are known for careful planning and flexible service.

“Everything was extremely rushed and driver never conveyed itinerary or options. Stops were chaotic and centered toward driver’s desires. For all the money we paid, we were not the prioriity. Buffelsdrift was spectacular, however. Typically love Viator tours.”

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14.Two day Kruger National Park Safari from Johannesburg

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $317

Travel from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park, stay one night in a comfortable tented camp, then spend up to eight hours on an open safari vehicle. You get sunset, sunrise, and daytime game drives, dinner under the stars, breakfast, and guides such as Muzi, Roy, Citi, or Zebi.

“Great experience. Thank you to all the team to make our tour so amazing. I hope to come back soon and book more safari days.”

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15.2 Day Addo Elephant Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $467

You’ll spend a full day in Addo Elephant National Park, stay overnight, then cruise the Sundays River and track giraffes on foot. A small group of up to 12, included meals, park entry, and pickup make this a practical wildlife trip from Port Elizabeth.

“We saw almost all of the animals in the park the first day, giraffe walk the following day was fantastic! Overnight accommodations were superb and all guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend!”

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