Intro
“Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on earth. Once you have been there, you will never be the same.” So here you you’ll find a guide on how to plan your next Safari to South Africa.
Have you ever dreamed about seeing wild animals in their natural habitat? No fences, just you and the animals running free in the jungle?
If you are an animal lover or have watched “The Lion King,” I’m sure your answer was Yes.
A Safari in South Africa has always been on Fred’s and mine bucket lists. We always talked about the experience of being closer to these animals, watching them, and observing their behavior when they are not being treated.
Before we give you all the guidance to plan your ultimate safari experience, we would like to say that still, to this day, this Safari Experience was the best experience we have ever had! Our travels so far were unique and unforgettable, but this one was something else.
Trust us; it wasn’t lucky. We believe our experience was fantastic because we had the best people involved. They were the ones responsible for this trip of a lifetime.
Good To know when planning your next Safari to South Africa
Currency: South African rand
Languages: The most common language spoken is Zulu (23 percent), followed by Xhosa (16 percent) and Afrikaans (14 percent). English is the country’s fourth most common first language (9.6%).
Capital: South Africa has three capital cities: executive Pretoria, judicial Bloemfontein, and legislative Cape Town.
The big 5: Lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino.
Best time to do a Safari in South Africa
From May to October. This is considered the dry season, and it’s best as the grass is low, meaning visibility is better, and it’s easier to spot the animals. Also, dry conditions mean you’ll find more wildlife congregating around the watering holes.
What should I wear in a Safari?
Here are a few things you should have in mind when packing for a Safari:
- Layers are essential: the temperature can oscillate a lot during the day. It can get freezing in the morning because you’ll be out on the safari before sunrise. It also can get boiling later during the day.
- Avoid bright colors: your goal is to avoid calling the animals too much attention. That means you’re trying to blend in and camouflage with the natural colors you can find in nature.
- Avoid dark colors such as black and dark blue: these colors attract insects like flies.
- Avoid white items for the safari as safari parks are often dusty, and you’ll get dirty quickly.
Desert sand or a light brown jungle green are the best colors to use on safaris.
Things you can forget to bring:
- Neutral-colored shorts.
- Neutral-colored sleeveless shirt.
- Breathable socks and sports bra.
- Comfortable tennis shoes.
- A hat, sunglasses, and a nice layer of sunscreen.
Don’t forget: Be prepared for temperature fluctuations; always better to bring more clothes than not enough.
How long should I stay for a Safari in South Africa?
We stayed for a week—Three days at Welgevonden Game Reserve and four days at Kruger Park. We would suggest at least five days.
Do I need a VISA to go to South Africa?
No Tourist VISA requirement if you’re visiting for 90 days or less.
Safari Designers: Everseen Africa
We partnered up with Everseen Africa for this trip, and we’ll explain a little bit about what this wonderful couple does.
Everseen Africa is made of two people: Charlie & Serena. Charlie was born and raised in South Africa and Serena in Italy. They are both married and passionate about each other. But another considerable passion surrounds this couple: their love and care for animals.
From the first time we started messaging them, they both got us beyond excited to go to South Africa, and being able to experience the uniqueness of Africa with people that love and understand so much about the place was something special. We had high expectations for our first safari, which were very well exceeded.
So what exactly does Everseen Africa does?
Everseen Africa designs and private guides your safari experience in Africa. That means you don’t have to worry about a thing! They plan everything for you from when they pick you up at the airport until they drop you off.
There are three different ways your experience can be designed: A private trip with Charlie & Serena, a small group trip with Charlie & Serena, or “just the organization” without Charlie & Serena, where they organize everything for you but don’t stay with you during the trip.
Among the multiple things we loved about them, we’d like to mention that all the facilities they use in their travels are involved in projects to protect and safeguard endangered species. Everseen Africa started as Everseen SA and was founded by their desire to help and save the Rhinos in South Africa. You can read more about how everything started here.
Another wonderful thing about these guys is that they are professional photographers with years and years of experience shooting wild animals. So that you know, Charlie has been considered twice Top 10 Wildlife Photographer by Kruger Magazine. That means while you’re having the best time of your life, surrounded by wild animals, you don’t need to worry about getting that perfect shot! These guys will do that for you!
They took pictures of Fred and me with animals on this post. Can you see how they capture the emotions and feeling through the lenses? And in such a “critical” moment. They must be fast as the animals don’t stay still for us to get a shot. I know that from our pictures, it looks like they do, and that’s how good Everseen Africa is!
Long story short, they were the ones that designed and took care of EVERYTHING for us. We only had to get to South Africa, and that was it. We can say they make a significant difference in the type of experience you’ll have.
Want to see what we’re talking about? Say hello to them and let them plan your next Safari. Get in touch with them here.
Best Luxury Lodges for a Safari in South Africa
We stayed in two fantastic luxury lodges that we loved, thanks to Everseen Africa, and we couldn’t recommend them more.
1- Pondoro Game Lodge
The best of the best.
Pondoro, which means “Lion, “offers a truly unforgettable African safari. Pondoro Game Lodge is a small and exclusive lodge; the owner managed the most fantastic staff possible. They truly put their heart and soul into everything they do. Be prepared to have tears in your eyes when leaving. This is the place you’ll never want to go, and we’ll always want to come back.
Pondoro Game Lodge is located at the Balule Private Game Reserve, on the border of the Great Kruger National Park. There are no fences between these two, meaning that animals can run free around them.
We discovered that staying at Pondoro and being in a private reserve has many advantages. One of them is that there are fewer crowds and very few other safari vehicles around, so you get an authentic experience in the bush. Also, at Pondoro, you can go off-road. Hence you can get more access and proximity to the animals.
At Pondoro, all meals and drinks, including a vast selection of wine, spirits, and beers, are included in the daily rate.
Among many other awards, Pondoro Game Lodge has been receiving these two amazing ones below for many and many years in a row:
- World Luxury Hotel Awards: Best Luxury Safari Retreat(Global Winner) – representing more than 150 countries and 600 hotels and;
- Haute Grandeur Awards: – Best Safari Lodge(Global Winner)/ Best Game Lodge (Africa) / Best Bush Lodge in South Africa / Best Romantic Hotel in South Africa.
1.1 Exclusive Luxury Suites and Chalets
At Pondoro Game Lodge, you can choose your accommodation from 5 truly luxurious suites and three excellent chalets. With total capacity, there will be a maximum of 16 guests at any time, which allows them to do very personal service.
We stayed at their Tree Suite, which it’s gorgeous! This suite is named after a vast Jackalberry tree in front of the suite and is emphasized by a large lead stump decorating the room.
Each suite has a private patio, lounge area, an outside shower, and a Jacuzzi built into the wooden deck in front of the suites facing the beautiful Olifants river, with resident hippos and frequent wildlife. To wake up with that gorgeous panoramic view of the bush and the river is just something else. Can you imagine?
The suites are located outside the fence that has around the property. But don’t worry! An armed ranger will personally escort you to and from your room.
1.2 The Safari Experience at Pondoro
As you can see from the pictures above, we discovered the best way to experience the African bush!
At Pondoro, they have the most impressive and experienced (more than 30 years) trackers. Also, they can drive off-road, which is a big plus! The trackers are passionate about what they do, have so much knowledge, and also passionate about what they do and have so much knowledge and a tremendous amount of respect for animals. You will feel safe with them.
In their own words,” Our experienced guides will not only use all their vast knowledge and bush craftbushcraft to try and show you the famous Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo) and other plains game such as zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, but they will do their best to paint memories of an Africa that will never fade away.”
The safari jeeps are comfortable with cushioned seats. They also provide you with binoculars, blankets, and water. There are three rows of 2 seat chairs, so you will never end up in a middle seat allowing each guest to enjoy a “window seat.” A maximum of 7 guests are allowed on the safari cruisers; that way, they can provide the best possible safari experience for their guests.
1.3 Culinary Experience
Dining at Pondoro promises a fusion of Traditional African Cuisine and modern European trends. To complement the food, wine can be selected from the extensive wine cellar. All meals are served on a wooden deck high up in the tree canopy overlooking the Olifants River.
There are 6six meals a day, from pre-safari snacks in the lodge and after in the bush to 3 courses of fine dining in the evenings. The quality and creativity of the food are spectacular. Five stars for every single meal! Plus, they always surprise you with well-decorated dinners with candles, lanterns, fire pits, etc. They think of every single detail.
Another unique thing about them is that they take care of every dietary requirement you might have. If you’re vegetarian or have any food intolerance, they will cater to your requirements well and go above and beyond on everything you can expect!
1.4 Service and Staff
It’s even hard to describe how the staff at Pondoro truly is. Saying “amazing,” “above and beyond,” and “out of this world” wouldn’t be fair enough to describe them. They are indeed the best and will do everything in their power, so you have your once-in-a-lifetime experience. Trust us, and look no further! You will thank us later; we are sure about that.
They treat you like royalty. Always with a gorgeous smile on their face. They love being there and get so happy and excited when their guests are having a good time! You can see that from their eyes. You’ll get blown away by how thoughtful they all are.
1.5 Amenities
Amenities include a Spa, a beautiful pool, fitness facility, an onsite restaurant, a fully stocked bar, and much more.
The Serenity Spa offers an indulgent escape from the wild, where one is surrounded by elegant décor and cascading waterfalls to create a relaxing ambient environment.
1.6 Our Experience
We spent four days at Pondoro Game Lodge; every day was a new, exciting adventure. There are two game drives per day: one early in the morning and one in the evening with a spotlight.
Our days were usually more or less like this:
Wake-up call at 5:15 am. 5:45 am pre-safari snacks. 6 am first game drive of the day. 8/8:30 am – Stop for coffee/tea/Amarula and snacks in the bushes. 9/9:30 am return to the lodge for breakfast. Free time until 2 pm. 2 pm – lunch at the club. 4 pm- second game drive of the day. 6:30/7 pm- sundowner with drinks in the bushes. 8 pm- return to the lodge: 9 pm- dinner at the club.
Besides being able to spot countless animals every single day, some of the activities we liked the most were:
- Romantic dinner in the wine cellar
- Picnic at the tree house
- The happy hours in the bush
- Sunset at Pride Rock
- Dinner next to the river with a dance performance
- Breakfast next to the river
- I returned one night to find our suite full of tea lights, rose petals, and a bubble bath.
On our Instagram, there’s a special video highlighting Pondoro Game Lodge. It’s the best way to illustrate everything we mentioned above. Click here to check it out.
2- Mhondoro Safari Lodge and Villa
Another fantastic luxury lodge we stayed at while visiting South Africa was Mhondoro Safari Lodge and Villa.
Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa is a luxurious, five-star private safari lodge and villa within the malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve. Welgevonden, which means “well found,” is home to over fifty animal species, including Africa’s world-famous big 5 (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino).
The 35,000-hectare reserve contains the world’s largest concentration, on private land, of the highly endangered white rhino. The reserve’s renowned anti-poaching unit has ensured that not one of these giant animals has ever been lost to poaching – an incredible feat on a continent where the practice is endemic.
The Waterhole Hide
Mhondoro Safari Lodge is known for its underground waterhole hide, connecting the Main Lodge by a tunnel. This unique feature offers a fantastic experience close to the animals, a safe and one-of-a-kind opportunity to get up close to the animals drinking at the waterhole in front of the lodge. This makes Mhondoro the first and only luxury lodge in South Africa to offer close-up, intimate encounters with wildlife within a safe structure. Baboons, warthogs, zebras, and elephants are regular visitors to the waterhole.
Another great thing that happens quite often at Mhondoro is that elephants come to drink water at the pool. Don’t worry; the collection only contains naturally salted water. The elephants enjoy the salty water for the minerals they can’t always find in the bush. How amazing is that?
Of course, you need to keep in mind that Mhondoro has no control over the animals and so there’s no way to predict if the elephants are coming to the pool or not. While we were there, the elephants, unfortunately, did not show up. The day after we left, they showed up again. They are usually there at least every three days, but you never know for sure.
Another thing we think it’s worth mentioning is that the Main Lodge and Mhondoro Villa can also be booked exclusively for private, tailor-made weddings, accommodating up to 24 guests.
2.1 – Luxury Suites & Villas
Mhondoro has a total of 6 luxury suites and one fantastic villa.
We stayed at their Luxury Honeymoon Suite. The luxury suite has one bedroom with a bathroom and bathtub, a private viewing deck overlooking the waterhole and the bush, and a great private plunge pool. The intimate building boasts a spacious bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and indoor and outdoor shower. Its uniqueness is in its private viewing deck with a heated spa pool and daybed, ideal for game viewing.
2.2 The Safari Experience at Mhondoro
The wildlife and wilderness habitats make Mhondoro perfect for safari game drives. Their excellent private guides are passionate, professional, and knowledgeable. They know the place they work very well and can tell you everything about the fauna and flora of the African bush. The game drivers are genuinely beautiful people!
Mhondoro is the only place you’ll be able to see white rhinos with their horns and know they are entirely safe there. Welgevoden, as mentioned before, works as a white rhino sanctuary. The reserve is known as an anti-poaching unit. These giant amazing creatures walk freely around it.
2.3 Divine Food Concept
Mhondoro goes above and beyond when it comes to style and quality of food. Everything is homemade and, where possible, home-grown in their greenhouse. The dishes are beautifully plated with a great variety of the most OK food. In one of my favorite dining experiences, we ordered the crocodile carpaccio as an appetizer, then Ostrich fillet as main and chocolate fondant as dessert. It was truly divine!
2.4 Service and Staff
The staff at Mhondoro is amiable and professional. One of the things we loved the most was how they welcomed us. All the staff sang and danced in such a friendly way. It was a great start to a fantastic stay! The service was indeed 5-star and outstanding. They made our stay memorable.
2.5 Amenities
Some of the most excellent amenities are worth mentioning.
There is a Spa and Wellness facility where a team of experienced beauty therapists offers treatments to help you unwind—also a fully equipped gym where you can enjoy viewing the animal activity at the waterhole. The heated pool, sauna, bar, and lounge areas are available to all guests throughout the day.
2.6 Our Experience
Mhondoro Safari Lodge and Villa is another place we couldn’t recommend more. One of the things we loved the most was the evening show of the staff with African music, dancing, and singing. It was a great and happy evening with lots of laughs, people gathered around a bonfire and an outstanding outdoor dining experience.
Our Safari Experience in South Africa & Final Thoughts
As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, South Africa changed our lives. It was the most beautiful experience we have ever had. The balance you feel throughout every game, drive between the peaceful way the animals move and the danger of nature present all the time is something every person should experience at least once in their lives.
Our Safari experiences at both lodges and the game reserves were a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We could see all kinds of animals you can imagine in both places. We saw the big 5: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and African buffalo. We saw lots of zebras, giraffes, kudos, warthogs, hippos, springboks, hyenas, lion cubs, and much more!
Charlie & Serena from Everseen Africa were excellent, and we recommend 1000%. As we mentioned before, they take care of everything for you. On top of that, they are genuinely wonderful people and became our friends. We think they made a huge difference in our experience, and we truly owe them that.
We also loved that they combined both lodges. The lodges are excellent and unique! You will have completely different experiences in each one of them.
Remember: “Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on earth. Once you have been there, you will never be the same.”
Love,
Luana & Fred.
