You don't have to spend a fortune to experience South African wildlife.
Image: Rachel Claire / Pexels
With the school holidays around the corner and April price increases already on everyone's mind, this is a good time to be reminded that a proper wildlife experience does not have to cost a fortune.
Kruger sits at the top of the SANParks pricing scale at R134 per adult per day for South African residents, which adds up quickly for a family over a few days.
But several parks across the country sit quietly at the other end of the price range, with fewer crowds and experiences that are just as memorable.
Here are five worth putting on your radar.
Camdeboo is the most affordable national park in the SANParks network and it sits on the edge of Graaff-Reinet, one of the most charming towns in the country.
Its standout attraction is the Valley of Desolation, where towering dolerite columns rise from the open plains below and the views stretch as far as the eye can see.
The park offers self-drive game viewing, hiking trails, fishing and 4x4 routes, with wildlife including Cape buffalo, Cape mountain zebra, gemsbok and meerkats.
If you are planning a Karoo road trip, this one belongs on the list.
Small but genuinely lovely, Bontebok sits six kilometres outside of Swellendam, just under three hours from Cape Town.
The Breede River runs along its southern edge, with braai facilities, swimming spots and fishing available for day visitors and overnight guests.
Hiking trails, mountain biking and over 200 bird species make it easy to fill a day here, and the surrounding Cape Winelands scenery makes it feel like a proper escape without the long drive.
Twelve kilometres outside the Karoo town of Cradock, Mountain Zebra is one of those parks that rewards visitors willing to go a little off the beaten path.
The wildlife list is impressive for a smaller park: cheetah, Cape buffalo, black rhino, eland, gemsbok and over 270 bird species.
One of its more unusual offerings is guided cheetah tracking on foot, something very few parks in the country offer.
The Karoo scenery is rugged and beautiful, and the nearby town of Cradock is worth a wander on its own.
Named for the golden sandstone cliffs that glow warm amber in the afternoon sun, Golden Gate is set in the Maluti Mountains of the northeastern Free State.
It is the kind of park where the landscape itself is the main event.
Hiking, horse riding and game viewing fill the days, and it pairs beautifully with a night or two in the nearby art town of Clarens.
April is one of the best months to visit: the summer heat has eased, the air is crisp, and the mountain light is beautiful.
If you are based in or travelling through Durban, iSimangaliso is worth the drive up the north coast.
The park stretches along a breathtaking stretch of KwaZulu-Natal coastline and packs an extraordinary amount into one destination.
Game drives, warm Indian Ocean beaches, snorkelling, estuary boat trips and some of the best birdwatching in the country are all available within the same park boundaries.
The St Lucia Estuary alone is home to hippos and crocodiles in numbers that will stop you in your tracks.
It is bush and beach in one place, which is a hard combination to beat.