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South Africa guides

Here, we have put together some helpful guides on South Africa and what experiences you could enjoy when visiting. These have been written by our knowledgeable South African experts.

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Unforgettable Camp Dining Experiences in Africa

Here we share some of the best dining experiences safari Africa has to offer, from private candle-lit dinners to surprise bush breakfasts in unforgettable destinations.

14 February 2023

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Africa’s Most Instagramable Tubs: The YZ Top 27 Open-Air Baths

You might think it ludicrous to travel all the way to Africa for a bath but just take a look at these amazing outdoor tubs!

By Shona | 13 February 2023

Arial view, Fanjove Island, Tanzania

What's hot for 2023

Here’s our guide to Safari Africa’s most exciting developments in 2023.

13 January 2023

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Our Safaris

We categorise our types of safari into three budgets: best-value safaris, classic safaris, and luxury safaris.

09 August 2022

Visa & entry

Visa requirements for UK and USA passport holders

We've outlined the visa requirements for UK & USA passport holders travelling to Africa. Other nationalities should check the current entry requirements.

24 February 2022

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Travel Insurance - Don't travel without it!

Travel insurance is often viewed by clients as an extra cost that can be avoided. At Yellow Zebra however we insist that all travellers are fully insured for their trip. This blog covers the major reasons why travel insurance is essential.

24 February 2022

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Baggage weight limits when traveling to Africa

Here, we answer your questions on luggage limits and bag sizes when traveling to Africa. Airlines can be very strict on baggage limits, so it’s important to double-check your limit before you travel.

24 February 2022

Lion Sands Chalkley Treehouse South Africa

Top most romantic sleep-outs and star beds

Here's our top best star beds and sleep-outs in Africa. With large beds and mosquito nets, you can experience a night under the stars without sacrificing any of your favourite luxuries.

14 February 2022

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Animal Migration in Africa

One of the most awe-inspiring sights in nature is large numbers of animals moving together with a collective purpose.

03 November 2021

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What to Consider When Planning Your Trip

Planning a safari can be very hard and it is difficult to get your head around everything you need to do. These 10 points should help you get the exact trip that you want, at a price that you like and with the best itinerary!

By James | 08 March 2021

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The 5 best luxury lodges in Madikwe, South Africa

Here, we’ve picked a few of our favorite luxury properties in Madikwe Game Reserve.

22 February 2021

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Madikwe or Sabi Sands… which one is right for you?

Here we compare the renowned Sabi Sands with malaria-free Madikwe to give you advice as to which game reserve you should visit during your luxury South Africa safari.

11 January 2021

Hot air ballooning over the Great Migration

East Africa or Southern Africa – where to safari?

Can’t decide whether you should go to East Africa or Southern Africa for your safari? Here we take a look at both areas, so you can work out which is the right destination for you:

14 April 2020

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The Wildlife of South Africa

Boasting some of the best wildlife in all of Africa, South Africa is a favorite destination for first-time safaris. Here, we outline the mammals and birds you can expect to see on a South Africa safari:

03 April 2020

Lion pride, Tanzania national park safari

Africa’s Big Five and where to see them on your Safari Vacation

A Big Five safari vacation to Africa will include sightings of lion, buffalo, leopard, elephant, and rhino! Here’s our guide to where you can see Africa’s Big Five on a safari:

31 March 2020

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The Marine Big Five

Once you’ve spent a few days scouring the bush for them in a safari vehicle, how about an alternative safari experience, searching for Africa’s Marine Big Five? This is: whales, dolphins, seals, sharks and penguins!

27 March 2020

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Best places to see rhinos in Africa

Below, we’ve selected our top places in Africa to see rhinos, from walking safaris in remote Zimbabwe to conservation excursions with the ‘Save the Rhino’ trackers in Namibia.

25 March 2020

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The best places to see buffalo in Africa

Seeing buffalo on an African safari is probably the easiest of the Big Five members to spot. However, just because they are prevalent and move in large, obvious herds, doesn’t make them any less fascinating. Here’s our favorite places to spot them:

25 March 2020

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The 5 best places to see leopard in Africa

The most elusive of the Big Five members, leopards can be tricky to spot. Here’s our guide to the best places to observe leopards, to increase your chances of encountering all the Big Five during your Africa safari.

23 March 2020

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The best places to see lions in Africa

A member of the Big Five, for good reason is the lion considered King of Beasts! Here’s the YZ guide to the best places to see lions in the wild in Africa.

20 March 2020

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Questions to ask before you go on a safari

So you've booked your safari, you're very excited, you’re looking forward to the adventure of a lifetime… however, you have some questions! We've compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions plus answers!

12 March 2020

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How much does an African Safari Cost?

The most common question we get asked at Yellow Zebra is, ‘How much does a safari cost?’ Here we explain what factors go into determining the cost of your ideal safari, and how we can help make your budget go further:

By Julian | 27 February 2020

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South Africa vs Botswana: how to choose the right safari destination for you

YZ expert Antonina explains what you should take into consideration when it comes to planning a safari to Southern Africa’s leading safari destinations, South Africa and Botswana. Here’s her guide to picking the safari best suited to you:

By Antonina | 11 February 2020

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A guide on where to stay in Kruger

Kruger is one of Africa’s most popular wildlife reserves. This first-class game-viewing region is home to one of the highest concentrations of big game across the continent. YZ co-founder Julian gives his thoughts on the park and where to stay:

By Julian | 03 February 2020

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YZ’s Favorite Photographic Hides in Africa

A photographic hide gives you the unique opportunity to view wildlife, unbeknown to the animals, at an angle you don’t get from bumping around in a vehicle or trying to approach on foot.

By Emma | 31 January 2020

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The Best Beaches in Cape Town

Here we’ve provided our guide to Cape Town’s best beaches, whether you’re looking for a relaxing day walking along South Africa’s beautiful coast or hoping to visit the top beach for observing penguins.

22 January 2020

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Top 10 Safari Tips

We’ve rounded up our top 10 safari tips on how to get the most out of a safari in Africa:

13 January 2020

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Best Camera Equipment for an African Safari

Below, along with YZ co-founder Julian Carter-Manning, professional photographers Will Burrard-Lucas and Marc Muench talk through their recommendations and offer a few tricks on how to snap that perfect safari photograph:

08 January 2020

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Where to go for a first-time safari

We understand how difficult it can be to decide on a destination for your first safari, especially when there are so many countries to consider and so much information on the internet.

06 January 2020

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How to choose your beach extension after an African safari

Not sure about which beach destination to combine with your African safari? Here, YZ’s Kirsten helps you to pick the beach extension that’s the best fit with your safari:

By Kirsten | 04 December 2019

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Where to go for a Big Five safari in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

If you’re thinking of going to KwaZulu-Natal to visit the Battlefields in Zululand, why not consider also enjoying a safari in Phinda Game Reserve? YZ’s Will has returned from a trip to this quieter corner of South Africa:

10 October 2019

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Client Review: South Africa Safari with the Frohlich Family

The Frohlich family traveled with Yellow Zebra to South Africa, where they spent some time experiencing the country’s culture in Johannesburg, its wonderful coast in Cape Town, and its famous wildlife in Kruger. Check out their review here:

10 October 2019

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The Winelands… It’s All in the Name – or Is It?

Although YZ expert Will is predominantly a beer-drinker, he traveled to South Africa’s famous Winelands to see what there is to do in Franschhoek if you don’t drink wine.

17 June 2019

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Top 10 Things to Do in Cape Town

Who better to advise you on what there is to do in Cape Town than our very own Matt W.? Matt is from South Africa, and he lived in the spectacular Mother City for over two decades. Here is his round-up of the Top 10 activities to try:

16 May 2019

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A Weekend Getaway in the Winelands: A Couples’ Retreat

Antonina and her partner spent a short but sweet few nights in South Africa’s Winelands. Check out her experiences and her recommendations for a weekend break in this wonderful destination:

By Antonina | 03 January 2019

Chobe Game Lodge Staff

An Interview with Female Guides in Southern Africa

The best part of being on safari is without doubt the incredible wildlife! However, to find that exceptional encounter, you need a skilful guide who knows the area and everything within it, to help create that once-in-a-lifetime experience.

24 October 2018

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Best Restaurants in Cape Town

Cape Town is fast becoming Africa’s finest destination for world-class restaurants. Nearby lies the Winelands, which contains the majority of the continent’s other excellent eateries!

03 October 2018

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Kids Go Free

Check out our family safari offers and deals, including Kids Go Free and other discounts on family-friendly vacations to Africa.

By Shona | 20 February 2018

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Things For Kids To Do On Safari

A family safari is at its best when young children are kept happily occupied! To this end, many camps/lodges have come up with some novel ways of breaking up the regular safari routine.

By Julian | 17 October 2017

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Some Like It Hot: How Animals Deal With the October Heat

With possibly one more month to go until the welcoming relief of the African rains, the question is, how do animals deal with the dry heat? Below, we highlight some of the sophisticated ways in which they cope:

By Shona | 12 October 2017

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The Eastern Cape - to Safari or not to Safari...

The Eastern Cape of South Africa is undeniably gorgeous, offering visitors a smorgasbord of experiences.

20 June 2017

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Q&A: Cape Town and Victoria Falls

We put safari specialist Wies to the test with a Q&A session, where he shares his best experiences and a few top secrets in Cape Town and Victoria Falls.

By Wies | 05 October 2016

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Helicopters in Southern Africa

Of all the modes of transport, I do think travelling by helicopter is one of the most spectacular! From hovering over the Okavango Delta in Botswana to scenic transfers over the ocean in Mozambique, here's my top helicopter experiences:

31 August 2016

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The YZ 'Top 5' safaris in Africa

Choosing where to go on safari can be somewhat daunting! With so many first-class countries to consider, and so many different environments, species, sights, and activities to choose from, planning a trip can leave you feeling completely confused!

05 July 2016

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The Ultimate African Bucket List

With so many incredible destinations in Safari Africa, our bucket list is a bottomless pit. However, there are a few things that we think make up the ultimate African bucket list.

29 October 2015

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Where to Stay in Cape Town

If you are looking at visiting Cape Town for the first time, you will need to decide on which area you want to be in. All of the areas have their own pros and cons and there is no right or wrong place to stay!

By Kirsten | 22 July 2015

Why Trust Yellow Zebra with your African Safari?

"Yellow Zebra are genuine specialists; they know the African bush like the back of their hand."

Brian Jackman, safari expert for The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Condé Nast, and the BBC

'Europe's Leading Safari Tour Operator' at the World Travel Awards

8 years in a row, since 2015

2022 without strapline

"Wies Van der Meer was very patient and answered all of our questions"

Steve O.
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"Yellow Zebra excels at understanding our needs and proposing a fantastic itinerary. They take the uncertainty and confusion out of planning. They're super nice, easy to work with, and the trip we arranged them to Southern Africa in 2018 was flawless. We've now planned a 2024 trip through Yellow Z..."

Big Supporter
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"I haved worked with YZ 2 years in the past and am planning another trip for 2024. Emma has been responsible and flexible as needed. She provides good information and advice based on her travel experiences."

Georgene Novak
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"Olivia was great at listening to my specific requests. It truly is a designed for your wants and needs tour. The follow-up information regarding travel insurance, visas etc was top notch. You feel very prepared for your trip!"

Nadja Bendouro
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"I have been delighted with the planning process of our Yellow Zebra African Safari in Botswana. Our travel specialist, Wies Van Der Meer, East Africa manager, was enthusiastic, helpful and informative. His vast knowledge of Africa provided valuable information and perspective about the areas bes..."

Susan A.
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