Lion & Rhino Parks in Johannesburg: 15 Ranked for a Real Itinerary

1.From Johannesburg: Lion & Safari Park Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 384 reviews · 5 hours · from $167Our pick

Travel from Johannesburg or Pretoria in a small group of up to 13, then join a one-hour open-vehicle drive at Lion and Safari Park. Expect close views of lions, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs, and possibly a white lion. Guides such as Dusty, AJ, and Thapelo are praised for warm service and clear explanations.

“Absolutely loved the tour ❤️ Our guide Dusty was fantastic, very knowledgeable, witty , helpful and friendly. We saw 3 different Lion prides, cheetahs, African painted dogs, leopards, different kinds of hyenas ( striped and spotted), wilder-beast, bushbucks, impalas , red hartebeast, kudus and got really really close to two giraffes. Even got to feed one of them. Absolutely recommend this experience .”

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2.Half Day Lion Park tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 274 reviews · from $100Top rated

Spend about five hours visiting Lion & Safari Park from Johannesburg or Pretoria, with hotel pickup, a two-hour predator-drive in an open safari vehicle, and time for cubs, shops, food, and family activities. Guides such as Carson, Dusty, Sello, and Ali have been praised for friendly service and strong animal knowledge.

“Our driver was on time and the ride was comfortable to the Lion park. We really enjoyed our time in the park.”

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3.Captivating Safari Lion Park Experience (Half Day Guided Tour)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 62 reviews · from $94

You’ll be picked up in Johannesburg and driven to Lion and Safari Park for a two-hour guided safari in a caged vehicle. Look for white and brown lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, zebra, and antelopes. Drivers including Solly and Bryan have earned praise for punctual service and local conversation, while the park guide leads the animal viewing.

“We were picked up on time from our hotel and driven to the park by a very informative driver. The staff at the Lion Park then took us on a fabulous tour ensuring we got great photos and time within each area to satisfy us. We then came bacRead more”

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4.From Johannesburg: Rhino & Lion Safari and Wonder Cave Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 49 reviews · 8 hours · from $121

Travel from Johannesburg to Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve for a small-group safari, wildlife centre visit, lunch, and the 2.2-billion-year-old Wonder Cave. You may meet guides such as Gabriel, Marvin, or Donald, with time to see lions, rhinos, cheetahs, wild dogs, and much more.

“Gorgeous views and sunshine. Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable tour guides. I didn’t expect to see so many animals as we saw. And the cave- it’s really a wonder cave, full of evolutionary magic. Special thanks to the Moja Tours guide Mr Marvin, who took me to that tour. He provided extra knowledges and kindness to make the day memorable.”

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5.Pretoria City and Lion Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 41 reviews · 8 hours · from $167

Spend eight hours with an English-speaking guide such as Sipho, Thabang, or Pule, combining a Lion Park game drive with Pretoria’s Union Buildings, Voortrekker Monument, Paul Kruger House, and notable civic buildings. Pickup is included from Johannesburg or Pretoria. Expect wildlife, Afrikaner history, comfortable transport, and a full day on the road.

“Perfect tour to see Lion Park and Pretoria in one day. Bunch of historical information provided by the guide. Would recommend.”

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6.Johannesburg: Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $121

You’ll travel from your Johannesburg hotel to Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve for a guided 1.5 to 2-hour drive in an open safari vehicle. Look for lions, white rhinos, wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, and antelope. The small group is limited to 15, with English guiding, bottled water, and hotel transport included.

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7.Half Day Tala Game Reserve & Natal Lion Park from Durban

★★★★★★★★★★3.3 · 16 reviews · from $190

Travel from Durban to Tala Game Reserve for a 4x4 safari among rhino, giraffe, zebra, hippo, kudu, and more, then visit Natal Lion Park for lions and elephants. English-speaking guides provide regional context, with pickup from hotels, the airport, or cruise ships. Vehicle and pickup reliability deserve careful attention.

“The trip itself was worth seeing. We saw many animals, and were able to get very close to some of them. Unfortunately, the weather put a damper on our plans (persistent, torrential rain). The guides made the most of it.”

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8.Tala Game Reserve & Natal Lion Park 1/2 Day Tour from Durban

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 13 reviews · from $190

Leave Durban at 7:30am for a two-hour game drive at 3,000-hectare Tala Game Reserve, then visit Natal Lion Park for lions, elephants, and smaller animals. Hotel, airport, and port pickup is included. English-speaking guides such as Timba share wildlife and KwaZulu-Natal information, though park delays and vehicle arrangements can affect the day.

“Very nice guide and everyone on the safari in general. The only downside was that the air conditioning in the bus was much too cold, so everyone was freezing.”

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9.Johannesburg: Lion Park Safari and Cultural Village Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 12 reviews · 1 day · from $219

Leave your Johannesburg hotel at 8am for a 4x4 game drive at Lion and Safari Park, then visit Lesedi Cultural Village and its five traditional homesteads. You may see lions, hyenas, wild dogs, cheetahs, giraffes, and antelope. English, French, and Portuguese guides are available, including Pascal.

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10.Lion Park Tour in Open Safari Vehicle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 4 hours · from $118

You’ll leave the city for the Lion & Safari Park in North West, with hotel pickup, bottled water, entry, and an English-speaking guide included. The main event is a one-hour open vehicle drive past lion prides, white lions, wild dogs, cheetahs, giraffes, and antelopes. Animal interactions are not allowed, keeping the focus on observation and conservation.

“It was wonderful. We had a full day before our flight so checked out of our hotel and did the lion park safari. We thoroughly enjoyed our experiences.”

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11.Drakenstein Lion Park Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 5 reviews · 1 day · from $10Best value

Spend a day at Drakenstein Lion Park, a 60-acre sanctuary for rescued big cats in the Cape Winelands. You’ll walk through viewing areas, learn about the park’s rescue work, and see lions in spacious, fit-for-purpose habitats. There is no breeding, trading, petting, or animal interaction. Entry costs about $10 per person.

“Seeing the lions, unfortunately it was difficult to see all of them as they were at the back of their compounds or sleeping in the bushes. Wonderful to see the great job Drakenstein are doing rescuing these magnificent animals from such cruel places.”

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12.Lion park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5 reviews · 6 - 8 hours · from $183

You’ll spend the day in a 1,000-hectare wilderness reserve, riding with a qualified guide through lion, cheetah, and wild dog areas. Hotel pickup is offered from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Sandton, Midrand, and East Rand. The day also includes time in Hartbeespoort, bottled water, park entry, and return transport in a group of up to 13.

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13.Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve Self Drive

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3 reviews · 1 day · from $14

Spend a full day driving your own vehicle through Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve in Gauteng. See lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, hippos, waterfowl, and wildlife displays, then stop at restaurants, picnic areas, or the pool. Most passenger cars can manage the maintained dirt roads, though some routes require a 4x4.

“We kwamen vroeg aan en de leeuwen, cheetahs en wilde honden werden net gevoerd. Veel gezien dus! Maar ook een park verdeeld in hokjes.. makkelijk spotten maar minder gevoel van een open park”

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14.Elephant & Monkey Santuary with Lion Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3 reviews · 10 hours · from $373

This 10-hour small-group tour takes you from Johannesburg to Lion and Safari Park for a two-hour game drive, then to the Elephant Sanctuary in Hartbeespoort for a guided elephant visit and a one-hour monkey tour. Hotel pickup, drop-off, and an English-speaking guide are included. Lunch needs confirming before you book.

“The elephant and monkey sanctuary were incredible. The monkeys were pets that people had abandoned and the sanctuary takes care of them in large treed area. The elephants are also rescues. You get to feed, walk, and touch the elephants. We really enjoyed this part of the tour. Why I didn’t give this tour 5 stars is because it includes lunch, but we never received a lunch. I am hoping the company will contact me to refund me the lunch portion of the tour price that we did not receive. The lion park was also sad and the ethics were questionable. Please do your research before going to the Lion…”

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15.Johannesburg: Lion and Safari Park tour. Pick up Privately

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 5 hours · from $143

You’ll travel in a small group of up to three from selected Johannesburg, Midrand, Centurion, or Pretoria areas to Lion and Safari Park. Expect a two-hour guided drive past white lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, leopards, zebra, and giraffe, with optional lunch and shopping afterward.

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