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A little more than three percent of South Africa comprises national parks. But even so, South Africa’s national parks offer some of the most spectacular sights in the world. The Big Five in Kruger, hiking at Blyde River, and elephants at Addo. Oceanic-meeting points, dramatic mountainscapes, and eye-widening road trips. All this – and much, much more – can be yours visiting South Africa’s 19 national parks. I’ll use my weeks of travel in South Africa to highlight the very best, and explain just why the country’s national parks are an unmissable part of any trip to South Africa.
The best national parks in South Africa
South Africa’s national parks are as varied as any on the continent. Spread right across the country’s diverse landscapes, they offer everything from epic safaris to multiday hikes and bungee jumping.
Probably the easiest South African national park to visit is Table Mountain National Park. Rubbing shoulders with the roads leading out of Cape Town’s downtown area, you can get between the two – by bus – in just a few minutes. This likely also explains why Table Mountain National Park is the most popular national park in South Africa.
Getting from Cape Town to Kruger National Park is not necessarily trickier, but does take more time. A massive (and perhaps surprising) 1,800 km (1,120 miles) separates Cape Town from Kruger National Park. Flying is the obvious option, with Hoedspruit, Skukuza, and Phalaborwa (Hendrik van Eck) airports all offering connections.
But do that, and you’ll miss a huge swath of South Africa’s geography and culture. A better option is to take one of the trains from Cape Town to Johannesburg (where most international flights land) or Pretoria, and head to Kruger by road from there. It’s a much more manageable six-hour journey by road from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park.
Why bother? Put simply, Kruger is the best national park in South Africa for safaris.
The top national park in South Africa for wildlife
Kruger is the oldest national park in South Africa. Its founding in 1898 means that its blend of rivers, forest, and grassland has been protected for longer than South Africa has existed as a modern state.
This is great news for its wildlife, which has been able to raise generation after generation without fear. The big drawer is the fact you can see the Big Five in Kruger National Park. In fact, Kruger is one of the best destinations to see the Big Five in Africa.
However, the Big Five isn’t the only reason to visit Kruger National Park this year. Its rocky kopjes, located in the south of this vast wilderness (famously the size of Wales), are the territory of leopard and baboon. Its northern forests provide habitat for around 500 species of bird. And the Lebombo Mountains provide a very different view from its traditional grasslands.
Kruger seems to have it all. There’s a huge range of accommodation – from budget campsites to some of the best lodges in Africa. It’s accessible for self-drivers (making it popular with South Africans), and also very family friendly.
The best South African national parks for hiking
The good news is you don’t even need to leave Cape Town for some fantastic hiking, with the odd dassie (rock hyrax) thrown in for free. That’s because Table Mountain National Park has a huge array of walking routes.
They span the definition of a walk or hike, lasting from just an hour or two to a full day. I’ve rounded up my favourite ways of exploring Table Mountain on foot, as well as the top things to do in Cape Town and the coolest places to stay in the mother city.
If you’re looking to stretch your legs a little further, my recommendation has to be Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. Admittedly, it’s a nature reserve rather than a national park, but don’t let that stop you.
Blyde River Canyon has become a first-rate alternative to Fish River Canyon (Namibia). It still has the scale to make hikers gush, stretching for 26 km (16 miles). However, the walk is cheaper, quicker – you can do it in a day if you’re keen – and arguably much more impressive. I say this because the walls of Blyde River Canyon are decked with vegetation, rather than the bare rock of Fish River Canyon.
Even if you don’t fancy walking the entire length of Blyde River Canyon, there are plenty of hiking opportunities, alongside an impressive array of lookout points.
The best national park in South Africa for road trips
With one of the best-maintained road networks on the continent, South Africa really should promote itself more as a road trip destination. For exhibit A, I bring you Garden Route National Park. Although one of South Africa’s newest national parks, designated in 2009, it brought together two existing national parks – Tsitsikamma and Wilderness national parks.
These united national parks create a stunning coastal panorama which just begs to be explored. Crashing Indian Ocean waves combine with untouched indigenous forest inhabited by monkeys and attractive seaside towns to create a route which can be explored from anywhere from two to fourteen days.
So wind down your windows, breathe in the fresh coastal air, and experience the magic blend of vistas, welcoming communities, and exquisite seafood. Or plunge head-first into the Storm River attached to a bungee cord. The choice is yours.
The best of the rest – South Africa national parks for all tastes
Journey south of Cape Town along Chapman’s Peak Drive – another extraordinarily beautiful road – and soon enough you’ll reach Cape Point and the famed Cape of Good Hope. However, this should not be mistaken for the southernmost point in Africa.
Although Cape Point is heralded as the southwestern-most point on the continent, the southernmost point of Africa is at Cape Agulhas. Often windswept, this is the point at which the Atlantic greets the Indian Ocean.
Cape Agulhas is also home to a lighthouse said to be modelled on the lost Pharos of Alexandria – an Ancient Wonder of the World. Nearby Struisbaai is known for its resident giant short-tailed stingrays. They linger around the small harbour, apparently preferring fishermen’s scraps to hunting for themselves.
For giants of another sort, Addo National Park is an excellent place to head for elephant sightings. It’s herds total around 600 individuals, alongside a wide range of other mammal species. These include several dozen extremely rare black rhino. As you might imagine, the flightless dung beetle also does well at Addo. But you might prefer the wings which belong to the mass gannet colony of Bird Island instead!
How to visit South Africa’s national parks
The pain-free way of visiting South Africa’s national parks is on an organised tour – even on a Johannesburg layover. My pick of the best South Africa tours should provide some guidance. It’s also possible to explore many South African national parks, including Kruger, with your own (or a rental) vehicle.
Self-drive safaris are just one of a variety of safaris now possible in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent. If you intend sticking to the main routes in national parks, you won’t need anything more than a standard two-wheel drive either. (Just make sure you’re covered for entering national parks on your insurance and/or rental agreement). Delve into the depths of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, and you’ll need a four-wheel drive – and know how to drive it!
Self-driving will be cheaper, especially if you opt for one of the national park authority-run campsites when overnighting. But also remember you’ll need to pay a conservation (i.e. entrance) fee to enter the parks.
Fees vary per park and on your country of residence/passport (Rand 100 = around £4.50 or $5.50). Under 12s usually enter at around 50% of adult prices. Some parks (such as Table Mountain and Garden Route national parks) charge entrance to different sectors differently.
My guide to the best time to visit South Africa will tell you exactly when to travel.
Visiting South Africa’s national parks
By all means tick off Cape Town (one of my favourite cities) and Johannesburg. But then be sure to visit at least one of South Africa’s national parks. Kruger is the doyen for wildlife lovers, alongside Addo. However, each of the country’s 19 national parks offer visitors something different – and something worth seeing, so choose carefully!
