South Africa is one of the very few places on Earth where you’re able to tick off all of the Big Five in one day, never mind a 3 day safari here! Visitors will be blown away by the size and number of elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, buffaloes and much more you’ll find in the wild.
After a long day of exciting game drives in Kruger National Park or Phinda reserve, sit back and relax with an evening cocktail on the timber balcony of your lodge overlooking a watering hole. South Africa truly has some of the continent’s finest food, dining, accommodation and service.
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The best 3 day South Africa Tours
Price of a 3 day South Africa safari?
Expect a starting price of $650 per person for a 3 day South Africa budget camping tour, going up to $900 per person for a mid-range lodge tour. Luxury tours start at around $1,300 per person.
Safari packages to South Africa span a wide price range, influenced by several variables. The biggest factor determining the price of a safari is the level of accommodation. This will ultimately categorize tours as being budget, mid-range or luxury. Shared tours are usually cheaper than private tours.
This is especially the case for single travelers. On a 3 day trip you might want to consider a fly-in safari, but these are considerably more expensive than road safaris. Check out the seasons too; low-season prices can be favorable and while you’ll probably get some rain at this time, it’s when the scenery is at its best.
Tour breakdown for a typical 3 days in the South Africa
Safari tour highlights
- Visit Kruger Park to see the Big Five: The lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo
- Discover the famous Phinda Game Reserve and Sabi Sand
- Private tour guide in English and other languages
- All-inclusive tours including lodging, entrance fees, meals, and transport
- Superb dining, service and local wines from Stellenbosch
- Game drives in comfortable, open top safari vehicles
- Unique accommodation including safari lodges and tented camps
- Optional activity add-ons including hot air balloon safaris
Tour inclusions
The following details typical tour inclusions and exclusions on the best 3 day South Africa safari package:
Tour inclusions | Tour exclusions |
---|---|
Game drives per the itinerary as well as pick-up and drop-off | Visa fees, laundry services, drinks including mineral water at the hotels |
Experienced english-speaking guide and driver | International/domestic flights |
Transport and park entrance fees | Cultural visits to Maasai villages (15 USD p/p) |
Accommodation (full-board safaris) | Tips to the driver guides, waiters and porters |
Park fees | |
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and bottled water | |
Government taxes |
Safari essentials and information
Is a 3 day safari in South Africa sufficient?
3 days is plenty to see, hear and experience the incredible wildlife and sights of South Africa. The number of days needed to properly do a South Africa safari can range from 1-2 days to 1-2 weeks, depending on how much time and budget a visitor has.
A longer period of time would be better, however each day consists of an early morning game drive and a late afternoon game drive, certainly sufficient time to view the big 5 and incredible scenery. On a 3 day trip you can even break up the drive to parks like Kruger with an overnight stay in Phinda Game Reserve or MalaMala Private Game Reserve.
Alternatively you can spend all of your time in the famous Kruger National Park. With full days at the reserve, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to explore this iconic safari destination including a full-day dusk-to-dawn game drive that will include lunch at one of the picnic spots.
Morning and evening game drives are rewarding as well, but on a full day you can get further into the reserve, away from the more-crowded areas. Overall, 3 days is a good amount of time for a safari in South Africa if it is part of a larger tour, but if not, allocating a few more days to your safari would be ideal if possible.
Accommodation offered on a 3 day South Africa safari?
After a long day surveying the incredible South African landscape and wildlife on offer, guests can look forward to the very best safari accommodation South Africa has to offer. The accommodation here is stunning with numerous options from tented camps, luxury lodges to camping grounds.
From camping in the bush with amenities to mid-range and luxury lodges, there’s something for everyone here. Of particular note include the renowned Jock Safari Lodge in Kruger where guests can experience an old world safari with luxury suites, private decks, plunge pools and sightings from the lodge.
Go fishing, walking or hot-air ballooning before enjoying an outdoor bath and sundowners and dinner in the bush.
Must do on a 3 day South Africa safari
The most popular option for a 3 day South African safari is Kruger National Park. Most visitors fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) near Johannesburg and take a connecting flight to Kruger airport.
Kruger NP is a popular self-drive destination. You can also hire a car in Johannesburg and drive to the park. The park has nine entrance gates, the closest of which, Numbi Gate, is 375km/235mi from Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport. The drive takes at least four hours.
With nearly 2 million hectares of unrivaled habitats, Kruger offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the very best in Africa. All of the continent’s iconic safari species – elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, zebra and so much more.
Visitors can find over 12,000 elephants, 27,000 African Buffalo, 2,000 leopards and 2,800 lions and it is also regarded as the best place in the world to see a leopard.
Phinda Private Game Reserve is another incredible wildlife destination located in KwaZulu-Natal, the reserve is a magnificent tapestry of woodland, grassland, wetland and forest. Another notable feature is its location, in close proximity to the unspoiled beaches and spectacular coral reefs of the Indian Ocean.
Animals on a South Africa safari?
You’ll find just about everything in South Africa! The country is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo) and visitors will also find Wildebeest, Diceros, Impalas, Dik-diks, Impalas, giraffes, hyenas, African wild dogs and many more.
Endlessly intelligent and iconic, African elephants continue to capture the hearts of travelers to South Africa. Kruger National Park offers excellent wildlife viewing in general and the scenic KwaZulu-Natal parks are best to see rhinos. In Sabi Sand, the main focus is on seeing the Big Five and it is famous for its habituated leopards.
Other animals to be viewed on a South African safari include hyenas, giraffes, hippos, zebras, African wild dogs, crocodiles, wildebeest, kudu, warthogs, springbok and cheetahs.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, some 280 kilometers north of Durban, is home to over 84 mammals and 350 – 400 bird species as well as the Big Five and cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, hyenas and many more iconic species.
FAQs
How much spending money do I need for a 3 day South Africa safari?
Visitors should budget for approximately $300 for a South Africa safari per person per day, including food and accommodation. South Africa safaris can be more expensive than their continental counterparts due to the higher costs of accommodation and food.
What animals will I see on a 3 day South Africa safari tour?
Visitors on a 3 day South Africa safari will see the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo), hyenas, wildebeest, giraffes, cheetah, zebras, endangered black rhinos, hippos, crocodiles and much more.
What is the best time to go on a 3 day South Africa safari?
The best time to visit South Africa is from May to September, as the cooler winter months in the north bring superb conditions for viewing big game.With an overall moderate climate, South Africa is however considered a great year-round safari, wine and beach holiday destination.