You are most likely to spot and experience the Big 5 in the Greater Kruger National Park, Madikwe Game Reserve and in the reserves around KwaZulu-Natal. If you add Moremi (Botswana), the probability is very high to experience the Big 5. Since it is wild animals we are talking about, there are many factors that come into play if you are to experience this majestic and mythical quintet. Factors such as; season, skill of the guides’ / trackers’ and in fact, some luck. However, our experience and expertise tell us that the probability of experiencing the Big 5 is very high (in the areas mentioned) as we have chosen partners who are extremely competent at tracking the Big 5.

Greater Kruger National Park

Safari in Greater Kruger National Park are absolutely world class. In this area you have a great chance to spot the Big 5. Kruger Park is the largest national park and one of the world’s richest in animals. Adjacent to the national park are many private game reserves and together this area forms the “Greater Kruger National Park”. Upplev Sydafrika recommends a safari in one of the private game reserves and accommodation in a nice private lodge in Greater Kruger, where the price is usually all inclusive, which includes all food (3 meals a day) and 2 guided game drives per day. In private game reserves, skilled guides and trackers are allowed to drive off road to get close to the animals. Many of these reserves are adjacent to the Kruger Park, which allows free movement of all game, allowing sightings of a huge variety of animals.

Madikwe Game Reserve

Even in Madikwe Game Reserve there is a great chance to spot the Big 5 and it is quite common to experience “the Magnificent 7” (but is of course dependent on the season and skilled guides and trackers). In Madikwe Game Reserve there are many lodges to choose from and most are 5-star. We recommend accommodation in a nice private lodge, where the price is all inclusive, which includes all food (3 meals a day) and 2 guided game drives per day. In Madikwe, skilled guides and trackers are allowed to drive off road and the unique reserve is considered one of the best in Africa and offers fantastic safari experiences.

KwaZulu-Natal

In the safari areas in KwaZulu-Natal, the private Game Reserves, Phinda and Thanda, the Hluhluwe and iMfolozi National Parks, offers fantastic safari experiences and there is a great chance to spot the Big 5 (but is of course dependent on the season as well as skilled guides and trackers). Along the coast is St Lucia with the World Heritage Site of Simangaliso Wetland Park, a wetland area that specializes in boat trips among hippos and crocodiles. The Hluhluwe & iMfolozi Game Reserve specializes in white-rhino walking safaris. We recommend accommodation in a nice private lodge, where the price is all inclusive, which includes all food (3 meals a day) and 2 guided game drives per day. In the safari areas, excluding the Hluhluwe & iMfolozi Game Reserve, skilled guides and trackers are allowed to drive off road to get close to the animals.

Southern Africa

Moremi Game Reserve

The Moremi Reserve is located in the northeastern part of the Okavango Delta in Botswana and covers 40 % of the delta. Moremi Game Reseve was founded in 1963 and is about 5000 km² (390,000 hectares), which includes thousands of large islands as well as lagoons and swamps. The Moremi Game Reserve, considered one of the most beautiful, is the only officially declared game reserve in the Okavango Delta. Moremi is home to about 500 bird species and a large number of other species of wildlife including buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, wild dog etc. The chance to spot the Big 5 is great.