6 Best South African National Parks

Shared by Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa, the Kruger National Park is the most famous of all national parks in South Africa. Listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it is also one of the largest South African National Park covering 19,485 square kilometers. The large size means you are most unlikely to cover it all, so plan ahead to ensure you get to see the sights you wish to see! It is also possible to plan a one-day visit to the park if you plan well.

Highlights

• The best and most diverse wildlife, with 336 tree types, 49 fish varieties, 34 types of amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.
• Sites of historical interest such as the Masorini Ruins.
• The Letaba Elephant Museum.

Lowlights

• Malaria can be present, so it is a bit of a risky venture.

Kruger National Park Facts

For more detailed information on the park, visit our ultimate guide to Kruger National Park.

The park got its name when a farmer saw the last rays of the sun painting the large rock formations on either side of the valley golden. Seeing it at sunset is a must! Besides the sights, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State is a great option for those with an interest in archeology. Archeologists have found both dinosaur eggs and human skeletons here, and you can see San rock paintings too!

Highlights

• The park affords some wonderful views.
• You can see some of the San rock paintings up close.
• A wilderness hike with a village healer will educate you about medicinal herbs and traditional treatments.
• Plenty of short hiking trails are available for one-day visits.

Lowlights

• It isn’t the best destination for wildlife sighting.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park Facts

For more detailed information on the park, visit our guide to Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

If you want to discover big cats and find out what the desert of South Africa is like, then Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is one of the South African national parks you will want to visit. Situated on the border of Botswana and South Africa, with about a third of it on the South African land, it’s also a great park for viewing the seasonal movements of animals like blue wildebeest and springbok.

Highlights

• You may very well be sharing the road here with a lion, especially the famous black-maned Kalahari lion, or a cheetah!
• You will not get enough of the beautiful morning and sunset drives.
• See the red sand dunes of the desert in all their glory.

Lowlights

• Desert climate makes for very hot days in summer and very cold nights in winter.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Facts

Suggested tour: Multi-day tour with Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park

For more detailed information on the park, visit our guide to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

If you love elephants, then a trip to Addo Elephant National Park is perfect for you! The third-largest protected area in South Africa, Addo Elephant National Park was expanded to include St. Croix and Bird Island and is also the only place in the world where you can see “Africa’s big seven” — the big five plus the whale and great white shark — in their natural habitats. 

Highlights

• See herds of elephant at Hapoor Dam
• Visit Bird Island and St. Croix Island to see penguins, whales, and the great white shark
• See the beautiful Zuurberg Mountain and the rolling sand dunes at Woody Cape

Lowlights

• There are a lot of tourists around the year. Expect it to be crowded and the accommodations to be full.

Addo Elephant National Park Facts

For more detailed information on the park, visit our guide to Addo Elephant National Park.

Mapungubwe National Park is another park that features breathtaking landscapes with forests and sandstone outcrops. It’s also home of the Mapungubwe Hill, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe and there have been archeological finds dating back to the iron age (though one have also found fossils of dinosaurs that are a lot older!). You also find a large variety of animals, including lions and elephants here. 

Highlights

• See the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers
• The Mapungubwe Hill
• Plenty of wildlife

Lowlights

• No cell phone coverage beyond the entry point
• Malaria is present

Mapungubwe National Park Facts

For more detailed information on the national park, visit our guide to Mapungubwe National Park.

The Marakele National Park is one of the national parks South Africa has to offer which offers great spotting of the big five. It also has more Cape vultures than anywhere else in the world!

Highlights

• Several roads are accessible with a regular car, meaning there is no need for a 4x4
• You are likely to see Cape vultures and the big five.

Lowlights

• Baboons and Vervet monkeys often try stealing food at the camps.

Marakele National Park Facts

For more detailed information on the park, visit our guide to Marakele National Park.

There's no lack of National Parks in South Africa, nor wildlife within them. Each one of them offers the flora and fauna that is incredible and you are bound to see landscapes you’ll remember for a lifetime.

If you are short on time during your South Africa tour, there are safari destinations in close proximity to Cape Town that you can embark on. There are also plenty of game reserves that make for a luxurious substitute for these national parks. Learn more on the differences between the two at our guide to National Parks vs Game Reserves.

Go through our travel guide on how long to spend in South Africa to choose an itinerary that suits you. You can also contact our travel experts for a customized tour of South Africa.

For a seasonal overview, see our article on the best time to visit South Africa.