The 15 Big Five Game Drives in Johannesburg That Earn Their Price

1.Half Day Lion Park tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 274 reviews · from $100Our pick

Ride from Johannesburg to Lion & Safari Park in a small, air-conditioned group, then take a two-hour open-vehicle drive through the predator enclosure. You can see white lions, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs, giraffes, and cubs, with time for lunch and African crafts afterward.

“We had a wonderful tour and our guide was excellent. Highly recommend this tour. We saw the animals at feeding time which was a bonus.”

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2.Cradle of Humankind, Caves or Maropeng, Rhino and Lion Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · from $97

Guide Shane Gouldie takes you from Johannesburg to the Cradle of Humankind and Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve in a private, air-conditioned vehicle for up to six people. Expect fossil displays, a cave visit when open, a three-hour game drive, close animal sightings, Wi-Fi, and a flexible day suited to a long layover.

“It was a good scary 😹😹 experience. Very safe and no need to be worried about anything. I like it….”

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3.Captivating Safari Lion Park Experience (Half Day Guided Tour)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 62 reviews · from $94

You’ll be collected in Johannesburg by Solly or another tour driver, then taken by air-conditioned vehicle to Lion and Safari Park. A park guide leads a roughly two-hour drive past lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, zebra, and antelopes. It is a convenient close-up wildlife outing, but not a wild reserve safari.

“The worst tour company I’ve worked with. Solly only drove us to the park from our hotel, he was very full of himself. The guide that worked for the Lion safari park was great, he made our experience a little better. I would not recommend anyone booking with this company, but the Lion park is a nice place to visit with another tour company or driven by self. This tour company charges too much just to be driven to the park, you can take an Uber and get a better overall experience.”

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4.Private Rhino and Lion Park, Cradle Caves or Maropeng Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 25 reviews · 6 hours · from $87

Shane leads this six-hour private or small-group trip from Johannesburg or Pretoria to Rhino and Lion Park, then Maropeng Museum or Sterkfontein Caves. See lions, cheetahs, rhinos, wild dogs, and fossils including Little Foot and Mrs Ples.

“Shane was amazing! punctual, attentive, kind and provided a wonderful tour for us.”

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5.Private 5-Hour Lion Park Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $124

You’ll travel by private air-conditioned minivan from Johannesburg or Pretoria to Lion & Safari Park in the Cradle of Humankind. A local guide leads your visit, including a one-hour game drive, white lions, Cub World, giraffe and ostrich feeding, and free onboard WiFi.

“Our driver was super knowledgeable of the area, providing all of the history and facts. He was so friendly and amazing driver too. The safari was incredible and will never forget it. We got up close and personal with a giraffe and saw a lot of aRead more”

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6.Cycling The Cradle of Humankind in Game Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $69Best value

Shane Gouldie collects you in an air-conditioned vehicle with Wi-Fi, supplies a quality Trek bike and water, then leads a private ride through a game reserve near Johannesburg. Choose tar, off-road, or mixed trails suited to your fitness, with chances to see giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, and birds.

“A nice relaxed ride and some game viewing en route made for a pleasant morning out. I was expecting a longer ride of at least 30-35 km. An easy outing and no cycling expertise required.”

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7.Big 5 Safari Experience at Pilanesberg National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $244

Travel from Johannesburg or Pretoria to Pilanesberg National Park for two three-hour game drives with a field guide, then enjoy a three-course South African buffet at a bush restaurant. The day lasts about nine hours, with space for up to 36 people.

“The tour operator was having issues and was not able to do the scheduled tour. So we had to call Viator to get a refund, and then ended up going with another tour operator.”

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8.4 days Kruger Park Big 5 Safari and Awesome Panorama Route

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $1,390

Travel from Johannesburg with guide Jakes on a four-day journey through the Panorama Route and Kruger National Park. You’ll see God’s Window, waterfalls, Blyde Canyon, and the chance to spot the Big Five on day, sunset, and night game drives, with three nights in park-area accommodation.

“Jakes is very knowledgeable and experienced in all things South Africa and safari. Within moments of starting the tour he provides the history and background that gives you a sense of how modern South Africa evolved. Once the safari begins Read more”

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9.Rhino and Lion Park Half Day Safari from Johannesburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · from $173

Leave Johannesburg by round-trip transport for a private half-day safari at Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve. A guide leads the game drive, shares animal facts, and helps you look for more than 30 species, including lions, rhinos, leopards, and wildebeest. Donald is one named guide.

“This is was a fantastic experience. Donald was our guide - he made the visit funny and memorable, taking time to share interesting facts about the animals and the environment.”

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10.Lion Park Safari and Cultural Village Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 12 reviews · 1 day · from $219

Leave Johannesburg at 8am for a 4x4 safari in the 600-hectare Lion and Safari Park, then visit Lesedi Cultural Village and its five traditional homesteads. Your driver-guide, available in English, French, or Portuguese, returns you to your hotel around 5pm.

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11.Half-Day Big 5 Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7 reviews · from $202

Travel from Johannesburg to Dinokeng Game Reserve for a three-hour open vehicle safari with a qualified ranger. Small groups, hotel transfers, and guides such as Ben and Tebogo make this a personal way to seek elephants, lions, rhinos, buffalo, leopards, and more.

“Ben was perfectly on time, and after a relaxed ride to the reserve we had a brilliant trip. Great guide, very impressive wildlife and their knowledge and tactics ensured we could check of a few of the big five. Personal, small scale, lots of “our jeep only” time and special moments. Loved it!”

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12.Private Safari Tour: Pilansberg National Park Big 5

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 1 day · from $155

Join Shane on a private Pilanesberg safari for up to three people. After a 6 am pickup, travel 2.5 hours to the reserve, spend about six hours seeking the Big Five, and return the same day. Transport, WiFi, and guiding are included; park entry and meals cost extra.

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13.Lesedi Cultural Village & Lion Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 7 days · from $152

Travel from Johannesburg, Pretoria, or West Rand with a private guide such as Yves Albert. Visit Lesedi Cultural Village for music, languages, food, and dance, then see lions, leopards, zebras, cheetahs, and giraffes at Lion and Safari Park.

“Primeiro visitamos o Lion Park onde pudemos ver muitos animais que se encontram em uma pequena reserva, como um zoológico com mais espaço, onde animais são cuidados pela empresa que administra o parque. Foi interessante visualizar os leões brancos, leopardos, hienas, zebras, elefantes, e principalmente as girafas, que pudemos tirar muitas fotos ao lado delas. Já a visita à Vila Cultural de Lesedi foi muito interessante, pois aprendemos muito sobre a cultura dos povos originários da região, sendo no final do passeio realizado uma excelente apresentação cultural de danças e músicas típicas com muita energia. Nosso passeio também incluiu um almoço especial no restaurante na vila, onde tivemos o...”

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14.Lion park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5 reviews · 6 - 8 hours · from $183

Travel from Pretoria, Johannesburg, Sandton, Midrand, or East Rand to a 1,000-hectare reserve with an English- or French-speaking guide. The drive passes lion, cheetah, and wild dog enclosures, then continues to Hartbeespoort for free time, shopping, and a photo stop.

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15.Private Pilanesberg Park Game Drive Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $179

Leave Sandton at 6am for Pilanesberg National Park in a private, air-conditioned SUV. After the roughly 3-hour transfer, join a qualified ranger for a 3-hour open-vehicle game drive, then enjoy a buffet lunch at Bakubung Bush Lodge before returning to Johannesburg.

“What a great way to spend the day with the family. We took a leisurely ride out to Pilanesberg National Game Reserve for the day, entered the park around 10am and spent 3 hours driving around looking for ‘how many animals’ we could find. We saw Elephant, hippo, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, kudu, impala, klipspringer, warthog and even a tortoise.”

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