9 Wildlife Safaris in Johannesburg & Pretoria That Repay the Early Start

1.Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Game Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,327 reviews · 12 hours · from $186Our pick

Leave Johannesburg before sunrise for Pilanesberg, where guides such as Petrus, Martin, and Desmond lead two open vehicle drives through a reserve holding more than 7,000 animals. You get 4.5 to 5 hours in the park, lunch at a rest camp, and hotel pickup. The long road journey is the tradeoff for a convenient one-day safari.

“Our guide Petros was a perfect and energetic tour guide. We really enjoyed it”

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2.Full Day Ultimate Pilanesberg National Park Safari from Johannesburg or Pretoria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 718 reviews · from $159

Join MoAfrika Tours for a full-day Pilanesberg safari from Johannesburg or Pretoria. You will ride in an open 4x4 with an experienced guide, take morning and afternoon game drives, and have lunch beside a waterhole. Guides such as Clement and Sibu are praised for their animal knowledge and care. Expect an early start and a long road day.

“Full day with excellent game sightings. The van picked me up around 530am and dropped me off at 630pm. About 3 hrs each way to the park including a rest stop. Driver was excellent from Mo Afrika. At the park we transfered to a Safari vehicle with another excellent guide and we had two drives separated by a good lunch. Saw many animals and was pleased with the whole experience. Might have liked a few minutes at the gift shop at the entrance.”

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3.Early Morning Balloon Safari with Breakfast from Magaliesburg

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 418 reviews · from $240Top rated

Meet at Bill Harrop’s Original Balloon Safaris in Skeerpoort for an early morning flight above the Magaliesbergs and Cradle of Humankind. Expect about an hour in the air, live pilot commentary, a possible bumpy landing, post-flight drinks, a sparkling wine buffet breakfast, and a commemorative certificate. Hotel transfers are optional.

“The trip was smooth and soothing, enjoyed every moment of it. I would recommend to everyone. The pilot was very knowledgeable and make the trip quite enjoyable”

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4.Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 414 reviews · from $137

Leave Johannesburg around 6:00 a.m. for Pilanesberg Nature Reserve, where a park guide such as Petrus, Chris, or Thaboo leads a morning open 4x4 drive and an afternoon closed-vehicle drive. Lunch, park fees, hotel transfers, and onboard Wi-Fi are included. The day runs about 11 hours, with roughly five hours spent on safari.

“Though I haven’t seen the big 5 but the tour service is very efficient and Thaboo, the safari driver is kind enough to explain the features of wildlife we have seen.”

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5.Lion & Safari Park Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 384 reviews · 5 hours · from $167

Travel from Johannesburg or Pretoria in an air-conditioned vehicle to Lion and Safari Park, then join a one-hour open-vehicle drive among lions, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs, giraffes, and more. English-speaking guides such as Dusty, AJ, and Masana are known for lively animal briefings. The rare white lion may also appear.

“The tour was amazing, it was great to have an up close view of the lions and still feel safe in the vehicles”

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6.Hartbeespoort: Predator Safari with a Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 267 reviews · 1 hour · from $31Best value

Meet at the Lion & Safari Park departure lounge for a one-hour drive in a safari truck. An English-speaking guide introduces you to lions, wild dogs, and cheetahs, while giraffes, zebras, springboks, and impalas may appear along the way. Visit on a weekend or public holiday for the chance to watch lion-feeding.

“Our guide, Dusty, was extremely informative and patient. We learned so much, my husband enjoyed the lionesses the most and the fact the the lions have more than one wives all of rhem.... 🤣🤣🤣”

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7.From Sun City: Pilanesberg National Park 3-Hour Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 216 reviews · from $49

From Sun City, you’ll ride in a 25-seater open safari vehicle through Pilanesberg National Park, an extinct volcanic crater. A registered English-speaking guide leads the 3-hour drive, looking for elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and other wildlife. Guides such as Jeremy, Peter, BY, and MK have earned praise for their animal knowledge and sharp eyes.

“The activity was fantastic and the guide, Jeremy, was outstanding. the only unpleasant thing was the poor road conditions that caused a bumpy and uncomfortable ride. otherwise, the activity was worth every penny.”

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8.Hartbeespoort: Lion and Safari Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 103 reviews · 3 hours · from $70

Ride a modern safari truck through a 600-hectare park near Hartbeespoort, seeing lions, wild dogs, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards, and free-roaming antelopes. English-speaking guides such as Dina, Dusty, George, and Princess are praised for their humor and animal knowledge. The tour ends at a private Crocodile River beach.

“The tour guide was excellent, she kept us engaged all the times, Dina is the best, Lion and Safari Park, you were absolutely wonderful, you made my 1st safari experience great, my grandsons loved it, including my 79 year old mom🎉🔥🔥”

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9.Hartbeespoort: Lion and Safari Park Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 99 reviews · 2 hours · from $38

Spend two hours on a guided game-truck ride through Hartbeespoort’s Lion and Safari Park. Your English-speaking guide takes you past grazing antelopes and into the lion, cheetah, wild dog, hyena, and leopard areas. Guides such as Thoko and Jabulani are known for lively commentary. Park entry is included; lunch, drinks, and souvenirs cost extra.

“I had a very pleasant experience, I really enjoyed the tour and our tour guide Noluthandi was very friendly and knowledgeable about the animals and she had a great sense of humour.”

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