World Travel AwardsAfrica's Leading Safari Company 2024 & 2025

Africa's Big Five

Track lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo across 5 countries, 7 legendary reserves, and 40+ handpicked luxury lodges.

BIG 5
Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino & Buffalo
65,000 ha
Sabi Sands Game Reserve
85%
Leopard sighting rate — Sabi Sands
5
Countries · 10+ reserves

Explore our curated Big 5 collection across 5 countries and 7 iconic reserves.

South Africa

The Big 5 capital of Africa — Kruger's private concessions, the leopard-rich Sabi Sands, and malaria-free reserves near Cape Town.

Six elite private concession lodges inside Kruger — no public traffic, off-road driving permitted, and exclusive traversing rights across nearly 2 million hectares of Big 5 wilderness.

Safari Packages
7-Day Kruger & Cape Town7 Day ComboKruger & Cape Town

7-Day Iconic Kruger & Cape Town

  • Imbali Safari Lodge: 3 nights in 5-star inside Kruger National Park
  • All meals & local beverages — 2 game drives daily
  • The Cape Milner: 3 nights in 4-star in Cape Town
  • Daily breakfast in Cape Town & all transfers included
  • Flights: JNB → Hoedspruit → Cape Town
4-Day Hoyo Hoyo Safari4 Day SafariBest Overall Value

4-Day All-Inclusive Kruger Safari with Hoyo Hoyo

  • 3 nights at 5-star Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge — private concession
  • All meals, afternoon tea & local beverages included
  • 2 safari activities daily & dinner under the stars
  • Round-trip flights: JNB → Hoedspruit
  • Unique circular Tsonga-inspired design
Featured Lodges
Singita LebomboUltra-Luxury Icon

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Private Concession · 37,000 acres

  • Glass-walled suites above the Nwanetsi River
  • Book 4 Nights, Get 1 Free
  • All meals & all beverages included
Kruger ShalatiMost Unique Architecture

Kruger Shalati — Train on the Bridge

Selati Bridge · Iconic

  • Restored steam train on the Selati Bridge
  • All meals, afternoon tea & beverages
  • 3-day package from USD $2,195
Lukimbi Safari LodgeBig 5 Specialist

Lukimbi Safari Lodge

Southern Kruger · Family

  • 37,000 acres of private wilderness
  • High-frequency Big 5 sightings
  • All meals, teas & coffees included

160,000 acres unfenced with Kruger — the best leopard sightings on the continent. Eight handpicked lodges from accessible classics to the world's most exclusive safari experiences.

Safari Packages
5-Day MalaMala5 Day SafariPromotional Rate

5-Day MalaMala Camp Promotion

  • MalaMala Camp: 4 nights in 5-star, MalaMala Game Reserve
  • All meals & beverages included
  • Twice-daily safari activities in MalaMala
  • Round-trip flights: JNB → Skukuza Airport
  • Save $1,625 — promotional rate
5-Day Leopard Hills5 Day SafariLeopard Country

5-Day Luxury Sabi Sands (Leopard Hills)

  • Leopard Hills Lodge: 4 nights in 5-star, Sabi Sands
  • All meals & beverages (excl. premium wines)
  • Twice-daily safari activities & walking safaris
  • Round-trip flights: JNB → Skukuza Airport
  • Save $2,800 — promotional rate
Featured Lodges
Singita EbonyThe Pinnacle

Singita Ebony Lodge

Sand River · 45,000 acres

  • 12 suites with private plunge pools
  • All meals & premium wines included
  • Book 6 nights, get 1 free
Sabi Sabi Earth LodgeUnderground Sanctuary

Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge

Sabi Sands · Eco Architecture

  • Stay 4 Pay 3 · Mar 2025–Feb 2027
  • Private plunge pools & butler service
  • All meals & premium beverages
Elephant PlainsBest Value in Sabi Sands

Elephant Plains Game Lodge

Sabi Sands · Heritage Camp

  • Big 5 with leopard, cheetah & wild dog
  • All meals, game drives & bush walks
  • Best entry point into Sabi Sands

Big 5 safari just 3 hours from Cape Town — 133,000 acres of dramatic Karoo wilderness, home to the world's only free-roaming white lions. Malaria-free and family-friendly.

Safari Packages
3-Day Big 5 Near Cape Town3 Day Safari3hrs from Cape Town

3-Day Big 5 Safari Near Cape Town

  • Dwyka Tented Lodge: 2 nights in 5-star at Sanbona
  • All meals, house beverages & game drives included
  • Free-roaming white lions, Big 5 & San rock art
  • Round-trip road transfer from Cape Town
  • Malaria-free · Stay 4 Pay 3 available
Sanbona Explorer Camp2 Night TrailBig 5 On Foot

Sanbona Explorer Camp — Walking Safari

  • 3 mobile canvas tents — unfenced, authentic walking safari
  • 2-night guided walking trail through Big 5 wilderness
  • Armed expert guide — encounter Big 5 on foot
  • San rock art sites, stargazing & campfire dinners
  • Seasonal: Oct–Apr · Fridays only · Ages 16–60
Featured Lodges
Gondwana Family LodgeFamily Specialist

Gondwana Family Lodge

Sanbona · All Ages Welcome

  • Kids on Safari programme included
  • All meals, beverages & game drives
  • Stay 4 Pay 3 · May–Sep
GrootbosMarine Big 5

Grootbos Forest Lodge

Walker Bay · 2hrs from CT

  • Whale watching & shark cage diving
  • Ancient milkwood forest eco-luxury
  • Award-winning sustainability
PumbaRare White Lion

Pumba Private Game Reserve

Eastern Cape · Garden Route

  • Home to Africa's rare white lion
  • Malaria-free · 300+ bird species
  • Two 5-star lodges with plunge pools

Botswana

Okavango Delta & Chobe — mokoro canoe safaris, massive elephant herds, and Big 5 encounters in Africa's last true wilderness.

Safari Packages
Kruger & Vic Falls Combo7 Day ComboKruger & Vic Falls

7-Day Kruger Park & Vic Falls Combo

  • Kruger Shalati: 3 nights in Kruger National Park
  • Wallow Lodge: 3 nights at Victoria Falls
  • Full-day Chobe National Park trip included
  • Guided Vic Falls tour & sundowner cruise
  • All flights: JNB → Skukuza → Vic Falls → JNB
11-Day Triple Combo11 Day SafariThe Triple Combo

11-Day Luxury Kruger, Vic Falls & Cape Town

  • Lion Sands River Lodge: 3 nights in Sabi Sands
  • Sussi & Chuma Lodge: 3 nights on the Zambezi
  • Victoria & Alfred Hotel: 4 nights in Cape Town
  • All Big 5 game drives, Falls tours & transfers
  • All flights between Kruger, Vic Falls & Cape Town
Featured Lodges
Thorntree River LodgeFamily & Eco-Luxury

Thorntree River Lodge

Mosi-oa-Tunya · Zambia Side

  • Rhino tracking on foot in the park
  • Ngwana Kids Club — all ages welcome
  • Private plunge pools & spa
Toka Leya CampRiver Views & Hippos

Toka Leya Camp

Mosi-oa-Tunya · White Rhino

  • 12 tents with Zambezi & island views
  • Hippos & elephants visible from camp
  • All-inclusive · Rhino tracking included
Sussi & ChumaPremium Treehouse

Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma

Zambezi River · Treehouse Suites

  • 12 treehouse suites in ebony trees
  • Walking safaris & canoeing included
  • Save up to 30% on 7+ nights

Kenya

The Masai Mara — 1,510 km² of golden savannah, the Great Migration, and one of the highest lion populations in Africa.

Safari Packages
4-Day Governors Camp4 Day Fly-inClassic Mara Fly-in

4-Day Governors' Camp Fly-in Safari

  • Governors' Camp: 3 nights in the Masai Mara
  • Return flights: Nairobi (Wilson) to Mara & back
  • All meals, house beverages & 3 daily game excursions
  • Optional hot air balloon safari at sunrise
  • Stay 4 Pay 3 — shoulder season
4-Day Angama Mara4 Day Fly-inClifftop Luxury

4-Day Angama Mara Fly-in Safari

  • Angama Mara: 3 nights perched above the Mara Triangle
  • Return flights: Nairobi to Kichwa Tembo airstrip
  • All meals, premium drinks & twice-daily activities
  • Photography studio & walking safaris
  • Stay 4 Pay 3 — Jan–Jun & Oct–Dec 2026
Featured Lodges
Kichwa TemboMigration Path Classic

&Beyond Kichwa Tembo

Oloololo Escarpment · Conservancy

  • Night drives, balloon & walking safaris
  • Directly in the Great Migration path
  • Stay 4 Pay 3 · Jan–Apr & Nov–Dec
Angama MaraBetween Heaven & Earth

Angama Mara

Mara Triangle · 300m above the plains

  • 30 suites with panoramic Rift Valley views
  • Photography studio & Maasai beading
  • Stay 4 Pay 3 available
Mara PlainsKenya's Finest

Mara Plains Camp

Olare Motorogi · Most Exclusive

  • Strict vehicle limits — Big 5 to yourself
  • Off-road & night drives, walking safaris
  • Stay 4 Pay 3 available

Tanzania

The Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater — 5,700 sq mi of endless plains, the Great Migration, and all Big 5 in a single day.

Safari Packages
Four Seasons Serengeti5 Day SafariFamily-Friendly 5-Star

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

  • 77 rooms & suites overlooking elephant waterhole
  • All meals, beverages & laundry included
  • Discovery Centre, spa, infinity pool & kids' club
  • Ngorongoro Crater excursions & balloon safaris
  • Stay 4 Pay 3 · Jan–Jun & Sep–Dec 2026
Singita SaboraGrumeti ReserveSingita Ultra-Luxury

Singita Sabora Tented Camp

  • 9 opulent Bedouin tents in the 350,000-acre Grumeti Reserve
  • All-inclusive: gourmet dining & premium wines
  • On the Great Migration route
  • Renowned Singita wine cellar & boutique gallery
  • Book 4 nights, get 1 free + 50% off private vehicle
Featured Lodges
Serengeti Under CanvasFollows the Migration

&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas

Mobile Camp · Moves with the Herds

  • Relocates to follow the migration
  • Private guide & vehicle
  • Stay 4 Pay 3 available
Sayari CampRiver Crossing Front Row

Sayari Camp

Northern Serengeti · Mara River

  • Prime Mara River crossing location
  • Walking safaris & balloon rides
  • 15 sleek modern tents
Singita SasakwaWorld's Finest Lodge

Singita Sasakwa Lodge

Grumeti Reserve · Edwardian Manor

  • 350,000-acre private reserve
  • Infinity pools, horseback & night drives
  • Book 4 nights, get 1 free

Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls & Hwange — the world's largest waterfall, the mighty Zambezi, and 30,000 elephants across unfenced wilderness.

Safari Packages
3-Day Vic Falls Fly-in3 Day SafariQuick Vic Falls Escape

3-Day Victoria Falls Fly-in

  • Victoria Falls Safari Lodge: 2 nights with daily breakfast
  • Guided tour of Victoria Falls & Zambezi sunset cruise
  • Vulture Culture lunch at Makuwa-Kuwa restaurant
  • Round-trip flights: JNB → Victoria Falls
  • Round-trip airport transfers included
4-Day Old Drift & Elephant Camp4 Day SafariSignature Combo

4-Day Old Drift & Elephant Camp Signature

  • Old Drift Lodge: 2 nights all-inclusive on the Zambezi
  • The Elephant Camp: 2 nights with Batoka Gorge views
  • Game drives, river safaris & Falls tour included
  • 1 bonus activity (helicopter, rafting, or Chobe day trip)
  • All transfers between lodges & airport
Featured Lodges
Old Drift LodgeClosest to the Falls

Old Drift Lodge

Zambezi River · 3 Miles from Falls

  • 14 suites with plunge pools on the Zambezi
  • All-inclusive — everything included
  • Stay 3 Pay 2 · Green season
MatetsiUltra-Luxury · 136,000 Acres

Matetsi Victoria Falls

Private Game Reserve · Zambezi

  • 9 miles of private Zambezi frontage
  • Free helicopter flight with 4+ nights
  • Stay 4 Pay 3 available
The Elephant CampElephant Conservation

The Elephant Camp

Batoka Gorge · Zimbabwe

  • Views of Victoria Falls spray from camp
  • Elephant conservation experience
  • Stay 3 Pay 2 · Green season
Masai Mara savannah

Africa's Greatest
Safari Destination

The Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya's crown jewel — 583 mi² of golden savannah, acacia woodlands, and dramatic river crossings that define the East African safari. Each year from July to October, over 1.5 million wildebeest pour across the Mara River from Tanzania's Serengeti in the greatest wildlife spectacle on Earth.

Beyond the migration, the Mara delivers year-round Big 5 encounters, extraordinary big cat density, and some of Africa's finest safari camps. With unfenced borders connecting to the Serengeti, private conservancies offering exclusive game drives and night safaris, and the Maasai people sharing their centuries-old culture, the Masai Mara is where safari dreams come true.

Great Migration
Great Migration
Big Cat Safaris
Big Cat Safaris
Balloon Safaris
Balloon Safaris
Wildlife Photography
Wildlife Photography
Maasai Culture
Maasai Culture

Reserve vs Conservancy

The National Reserve offers the classic Mara experience with river crossings and high wildlife density. Private conservancies surrounding it offer exclusive access, night drives, walking safaris, and strict vehicle limits — often just 2–3 vehicles per sighting.

Best Time to Visit

Migration season (Jul–Oct) for dramatic Mara River crossings — the world's greatest wildlife spectacle. Green season (Nov–May) offers lush landscapes, newborn wildlife, fewer crowds, and the best lodge offers. Big cats are year-round.

The Perfect Combo

The Masai Mara pairs beautifully with Nairobi's Giraffe Manor, Amboseli (Kilimanjaro views), Samburu's rare wildlife, Diani Beach for bush & beach, or cross the border into Tanzania's Serengeti for the ultimate migration circuit.

Plan My Trip
Trustpilot
★★★★★4.9
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot — 1,567 reviews
Read all 1,567 reviews on Trustpilot →
1-888-SAFARIS Speak to a Safari Specialist [email protected]
World Travel Awards 2024 & 2025
Africa's Leading Safari Company
World Travel Awards
2024 & 2025
Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice 2024
Travellers' Choice Awards 2024
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
5 / 5 Stars
260+ Reviews on Tripadvisor
Trustpilot
4.9 / 5 Stars
Rated Excellent — 1,567+ Reviews
SATSA
SATSA Member
Member #1680
ATTA®
African Travel & Tourism Association
Member #206430
African Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Conservation Network
Conservation Partners
AWF & WCN
Since 2006
58,000+ Travellers Hosted
Protected
Financial Protection & Insurance
24/7
On-Trip Support

Our Signature East Africa Brochure

A 14-page guide to the icons of East Africa — Kruger, Masai Mara, the Okavango, and Cape Town. Enter your email to receive your free copy.

East African Safaris Guide preview
Let's Plan Your Masai Mara Safari
Tell us what you're interested in and a Safari Specialist will get back to you within 24 hours with a personalised quote.

Ready to Plan Your Masai Mara Safari?

Our Safari Specialists are on the ground in East Africa, ready to craft your tailor-made journey. We take care of everything — flights, accommodation, tours, and transfers.

Office hours: 8am – 10pm (GMT+2) · Watershed, 17 Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Ask a Question