Malaria-Free Safaris in South Africa: Where to See the Big Five Without Malaria Tablets
Want to see the Big Five without taking malaria tablets? South Africa has some of the best malaria-free safari reserves in Africa. They’re a great choice for families with young children, senior travellers, pregnant travellers and anyone who’d rather avoid antimalarial medication. Here’s where they are, how far they are from Johannesburg and Cape Town, and how to choose.
Where Is There Malaria in South Africa?
Most of South Africa is malaria-free. The risk is limited to the low-lying north-east: Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger private reserves, parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and northern KwaZulu-Natal near the Mozambique border. The risk there is generally low to moderate and highest in the warm, rainy months. Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, the Garden Route and the Eastern Cape are all malaria-free.
Health note: malaria areas can change from year to year. Always check with your doctor or a travel clinic before you travel, and avoid mosquito bites everywhere with repellent and long sleeves in the evening.
Best Malaria-Free Safari Reserves in South Africa
| Reserve | Region | Distance | Big Five? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilanesberg | North West | About 3 hours from Johannesburg | Yes |
| Madikwe | North West, Botswana border | 4 to 5 hours’ drive, or about 1 hour’s flight, from Johannesburg | Yes, plus wild dogs |
| Welgevonden | Waterberg, Limpopo | About 3.5 hours from Johannesburg | Yes |
| Dinokeng | Gauteng, near Pretoria | About 1 hour from Johannesburg | Yes |
| Addo, Shamwari & Kwandwe | Eastern Cape | About 1 to 2 hours from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) | Yes |
| Aquila & Inverdoorn | Western Cape (Karoo) | About 2 to 3 hours from Cape Town | Aquila: yes; Inverdoorn: famous for cheetahs |
| Gondwana | Garden Route | About 4 hours from Cape Town | Yes |
| Tswalu Kalahari | Northern Cape | Usually reached by flight | Not a classic Big Five reserve; famous for meerkats and pangolins |
Pilanesberg: the easy choice from Johannesburg
Pilanesberg sits in the crater of an ancient volcano next to Sun City. It has all of the Big Five, plenty of elephants and white rhinos, and more than 300 bird species. It’s easy to visit on a day trip or an overnight stay, and you can self-drive or join guided game drives. It can be busy at weekends.
Madikwe: a private-reserve feel
Madikwe is quieter and more exclusive. There’s no self-drive and no day visitors: you stay at a lodge with game drives included. It’s one of the best places in South Africa to see African wild dogs, and many lodges welcome children.
Welgevonden and the Waterberg
The Waterberg’s mountains and valleys make a beautiful, uncrowded setting. Welgevonden is a private Big Five reserve with open-vehicle game drives, and some lodges offer walking and horseback safaris.
Dinokeng: a safari near Pretoria
Dinokeng is the only free-roaming Big Five reserve in Gauteng, about an hour from Johannesburg. It’s ideal if you only have a day or a night, or want a first taste of safari before a longer trip.
Eastern Cape: Addo, Shamwari and Kwandwe
The Eastern Cape has the largest group of malaria-free Big Five reserves. Addo Elephant National Park is famous for its large elephant herds and is about an hour from Gqeberha. Private reserves such as Shamwari and Kwandwe offer luxury lodges and expert rangers. The region combines perfectly with a Garden Route road trip.
Western Cape: safaris from Cape Town
If you’re visiting Cape Town, Aquila (about 2 hours away) and Inverdoorn (about 2.5 to 3 hours) are the closest safari reserves, both with day trips and overnight stays. Gondwana on the Garden Route is a private Big Five reserve with luxury lodges. Our guide to safaris near Cape Town compares all three.
Is Kruger Malaria-Free?
No. Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger reserves are in a malaria area. The risk is low to moderate, and thousands of visitors go every year after speaking to their doctor. If you want Kruger’s classic experience, ask a travel clinic about tablets. If you’d rather avoid them, a malaria-free reserve gives you a very similar Big Five safari.
Malaria-Free Safaris Beyond South Africa
In Namibia, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, the Fish River Canyon and the Kalahari are malaria-free, while Etosha and the far north have a seasonal risk. That makes a desert trip a good choice for travellers avoiding malaria tablets. See our Namibia short safari packages, which include Sossusvlei.
Who Should Choose a Malaria-Free Safari?
- Families with young children, who can find antimalarial tablets hard to take
- Senior travellers, especially those on other medication. Read our senior-friendly safari guide
- Pregnant travellers, who are usually advised to avoid malaria areas
- Short trips, when you don’t want to start tablets days before you travel
- Anyone who reacts badly to antimalarial medication
Is a Malaria-Free Safari as Good as Kruger?
For most travellers, yes. You can see the Big Five, stay in excellent lodges and enjoy the same sunrise and sunset game drives. The main difference is size: Kruger and the Greater Kruger are huge and wild, while most malaria-free reserves are smaller and fenced. That can actually make wildlife easier to find on a short stay.
When Is the Best Time for a Malaria-Free Safari?
The dry winter months, May to September, are best for game viewing in most reserves, as the bush is thinner and animals gather at water. Mornings are cold, so pack warm layers. The Eastern Cape and Western Cape are good all year, and spring (September to November) brings baby animals and wildflowers in the Karoo.
Book a Malaria-Free Safari
Tell us where you’re starting from and how many days you have, and we’ll suggest the best malaria-free reserve for you.
Cape Town Safari Day Tours Namibia Short Safaris WhatsApp UsFrequently Asked Questions
Is there malaria in South Africa?
Only in the low-lying north-east: Kruger National Park, the Greater Kruger reserves, parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and northern KwaZulu-Natal. Most of the country, including Cape Town, Johannesburg, the Garden Route and the Eastern Cape, is malaria-free.
Which malaria-free game reserves have the Big Five?
Pilanesberg, Madikwe, Welgevonden and Dinokeng in the north, Addo, Shamwari and Kwandwe in the Eastern Cape, and Aquila and Gondwana in the Western Cape all have the Big Five.
What is the closest malaria-free safari to Johannesburg?
Dinokeng, near Pretoria, is about an hour from Johannesburg. Pilanesberg is about three hours away and easy to visit on a day trip or overnight stay.
What is the closest malaria-free safari to Cape Town?
Aquila Private Game Reserve is about two hours from Cape Town, and Inverdoorn is about two and a half to three hours away. Both offer day trips and overnight stays.
Is Kruger National Park malaria-free?
No. Kruger and the Greater Kruger are in a low to moderate malaria area. Speak to your doctor or a travel clinic about tablets, or choose a malaria-free reserve instead.
Is a malaria-free safari as good as Kruger?
For most travellers, yes. Malaria-free reserves offer the Big Five, excellent lodges and the same game drives. They're usually smaller than Kruger, which can make wildlife easier to find on a short stay.