South Africa safari

South Africa's private reserves give the most reliable big-cat viewing in Africa and combine with Cape Town in one trip. The Sabi Sand for leopard; the Eastern Cape or Madikwe when malaria-free matters.

Four nights in the bush is the right length inside a ten-night trip.

Where we go

The private reserves on the western edge of the Kruger, Sabi Sand above all, for the most reliable leopard viewing in Africa and off-road, open-vehicle game drives. Madikwe for a malaria-free option close to Johannesburg. The Eastern Cape reserves pair with a Garden Route drive.

How the week runs

Three or four nights in one reserve is enough for excellent game viewing, which leaves room for the Cape: Cape Town's mountain and coast, the winelands an hour inland, and the whale coast in spring. A two-hour flight connects the bush and the Cape.

Who it suits and when

First-time safari-goers who want comfort, couples combining bush and city, and families who need malaria-free options. The bush is best from May to October; the Cape is at its best from November to March, so a December trip gets a dry bush and a summer Cape.