We all know South African wildlife is extremely photogenic, these places allow you to photograph them in their natural habitat. Most of these locations have the big five roaming about and some of them only have a penguin waddling around.

Pretoria

Pilanesberg National Park

Distance from Pretoria: 193km or 3 hours
Game drive cost: R885 for 3 hours with pick up and drop off at Manyane Gate
Day visits allowed: Yes
Animals you might see: Big Five
Unique factor: Option to depart from DaVinci Hotel in Sandton and enjoy two game drives including a light lunch and be dropped off at the hotel. You can also take photos from a hot air balloon.
Alternative: Sun City is next to Pilansberg, you can stay there and enjoy the waves while you go for game drives in the morning
Website: https://www.pilanesbergnationalpark.org/

Wildlife photography locations near cities
Wildlife photography locations near cities

Mabula Game Lodge

Distance from Pretoria: 152km or 1 hour and 51 minutes
Game drive cost: R480 (night drive)
Day visits allowed: No, overnight guests only (https://mabula.com/accommodation/)
Animals you might see: Big five
Unique factor: Malaria-free Cheetah tracking experience
Website: https://mabula.com/

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Rietvlei Nature Reserve

Distance from Pretoria: 22km or 23 minutes
Entrance fee: R68
Game drive cost: Enquire about game drives (rietvlein@tshwane.gov.za). User-friendly roads for self-drive.
Day visits allowed: Yes
Animals you might see: Eland, buffalo, white rhino, red hartebeest, Burchell’s zebra, black wildebeest, blesbok, cheetah, waterbuck, hippo, ostrich and jackal.
Unique factor: Unique sightings of free roaming Cheetahs near Pretoria.
Website: https://www.tshwane.gov.za/?page_id=5505

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Dinokeng Game Reserve

Distance from Pretoria: 44km or 32 minutes
Entrance fee: R80pp
Game drive cost: R250 (Self-drive)
Day visits allowed: Yes
Animals you might see: Big five
Unique factor: Picnic sites and bird hides available
Website: https://www.dinokengreserve.co.za/

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Cape Town

Boulders Penguin Colony

Distance from Cape Town: 41km or 52 minutes
Entrance fee: R44 for South African Citizens and free for Wild Card members
Game drive cost: None
Day visits allowed: Yes
Animals you might see: Penguins
Unique factor: One of the few sites where the endangered, African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), can be observed at close range, wandering freely in a protected natural environment.
Website: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/tourism/attractions.php#boulders

Wildlife photography locations near cities

The Cape of Good Hope

Distance from Cape Town: 65km or 1 hour and 20 minutes
Game drive cost: R94 for South African Citizens and free for Wild Card members
Day visits allowed: Yes
Animals you might see: Ostrich, Eland, Red Hartebeest, Bontebok and Zebra.
Unique factor: Forms part of the Table Mountain National Park, offering rich bio-diversity and incredible views.
Website: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/tourism/attractions.php

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Inverdoorn Game Reserve

Distance from Cape Town: 202km or 2 hours and 30 minutes
Game drive cost: Included in accommodation (game drives and cheetah run viewing)
Day visits allowed: No, overnight guests only
Animals you might see: Big five
Unique factor: Offers an exclusive cheetah rescue and rehabilitation centre.
Website: https://inverdoorn.com/

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Garden Route Game Lodge

Distance from Cape Town: 342km or 3 hours and 50 minutes
Game drive cost: R595
Day visits allowed: Yes
Animals you might see: Big five
Unique factor: Option to be transported from Cape Town to Garden Route Game Lodge for an unforgettable one night and two day safari experience.
Website: https://grgamelodge.co.za/

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Durban

Manyoni Private Game Reserve

Distance from Durban: 292km or 3 hours and 15 minutes (85km from St Lucia)
Game drive cost: Included in your accommodation
Day visitors allowed: No, overnight guests only (https://www.manyoni.co.za/lodges)
Animals you might see: Big five
Unique factor: They have a strong focus on endangered species conservation and are home to a significant black rhino population.
Website: https://www.manyoni.co.za/

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Hluhluwe Game Reserve

Distance from Durban: 237km or 2 hours and 40 minutes
Game drive cost: R1150 for 6 Hours with breakfast and refreshments
Day visits allowed: Yes
Animals you might see: Big five
Unique factor: Offers a boat safari on the St Lucia Estuary.
Website: https://www.hluhluwegamereserve.com

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Tala Game Reserve

Distance from Durban: 70 km or one hour
Entrance fee: R80
Game drive cost: R340
Day visits allowed:  Yes
Animals you might see: Diversity of game, ranging from the tiny mongoose up to the biggest of all southern African antelope – the Eland. The reserve hosts about 20 species of antelope, which include Oribi, Bushbuck and Reedbuck.
Unique factor: If you love birding, Tala offers a wide variety including three Crane species, the Blue Crane, the Wattled Crane and the Grey Crowned Crane and other birds such as Larks, Pipits and Cisticolas.
Website: http://www.tala.co.za/activities/

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Mbombela (Nelspruit)

Kruger National Park

Distance from Mbombela: Crocodile Bridge Gate – 113km or 1 hour and 30 minutes; Malelane Gate – 67km or 1 hour
Entrance fee: R115
Game drive cost: R490 from Crocodile Bridge Gate. For overnight visitors only. Day visitors have the option of going on a guided drive, but these are usually booked privately and not with SanParks.
Day visits allowed: Yes (Try to book your day visit: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/tourism/day_visitors.php#advance )
Animals you might see: Big five
Unique factor: Known worldwide for its unforgettable wildlife experience, historical and archaeological sights, stretching over 2 million hectares.
Website: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Nkomazi Game Reserve

Distance from Nelspruit: 123km or 2 hours
Game drive cost: Included in the accommodation
Day visits allowed: No, overnight guests only (https://newmarkhotels.com/accommodation/nkomazi-private-game-reserve )
Animals you might see: Big five
Unique factor: Luxury Safari glamping experience surrounded by mountains, highveld and riverine valleys.
Website: https://www.nature-reserve.co.za/nkomazi-game-reserve.html

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Karongwe Private Game Reserve

Distance from Nelspruit: 222km or 3 hours
Game drive cost: Included in the accommodation
Day visits allowed: No, overnight guests only (https://www.karongweportfolio.com/ )
Animals you might see: Big five
Unique factor: Overlooking the majestic Drakensberg mountain range, combining luxe living with a deep appreciation for South Africa’s natural environment and wildlife.
Website: https://www.nature-reserve.co.za/edeni-game-reserve.html

Wildlife photography locations near cities

Learn more about the ideal wildlife photography kit:
https://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/blog/kruger-park-photography-gear-survival-kit/ 

Disclaimer:

Please note, business details can change. While we aim to provide the correct information supplied by the service provider at the time of publication, we do not assume any liability caused by errors or changes, such as price, cost, time, and location. Please check with the provider that the entrance fee and game drive cost are still offered as mentioned above.