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South Africa safaris in cape town is a fantastic option today. Two hundred years after lions were last seen in the Cape, they are returning to some game reserves in the Western Cape (and particularly in the Eastern Cape). More and more private game reserves are opening to the public, most offering a south africa safari in cape town which is somewhat 'softer' than you could expect in the wilds of Kruger National Park.
Nevertheless, they have the advantage of being within reasonable driving distance from Cape Town and totally malaria free. This convenience means that more and more people are choosing to add a south africa safari element to a Cape Town holiday.
South Africa Safaris In Cape Town - Which Game To Watch
Many of the Western Cape's game lodges have big game like elephant, buffalo, rhino and giraffe, but usually only in small numbers but which can be watched from a typical South Africa safari vehicle. The more common species you will encounter are grazers like zebra, wildebeest, eland, springbok, bontebok, and small antelopes. Lions are still a rarity and leopards and caracal may be in them thar hills, but are secretive and tend to stay there.
In 1801 Lady Anne Barnard noted that lions were common near Cape Town. Only 40 years later, vast improvements to firearms all over South Africa led to more successful hunting safaris and the extinction of lions in the Cape.
South Africa Safaris In Cape Town - The 'Big Five'
The 'Big Five' animals of Africa are leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino. They are so called not because of their size, but because they are the most dangerous animals to hunt. If injured during a hunting safari or similar, each one of these animals has a reputation for pursuing its attacker with intent to kill - the buffalo being the most persistent and dangerous.
Western Cape Game Lodges & Nature Reserves
Day visits are encouraged at many reserves, but it is always far more relaxing to stay overnight. To view a highly selective list of game lodges near Cape Town that may be suitable for your South Africa safari in Cape Town, click here.
For more specialized books on South Africa safaris, wildlife or nature, please visit this section of our online travel shop.
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