The best thing about finding a cheap car hire in South Africa was that it allowed us to go on safari over and over and over again. With our South Africa national park pass in hand, our little car and a tent, we were able to camp our way through South Africa’s amazing national parks at a fraction of the cost of a bit tour. Better still, we were able to stop and watch the animals as long as we wanted, giving us plenty of time to wait for this little guy to look directly at us.

Doing a safari for ourselves was the best tip anyone gave us for South Africa. We loved driving through the parks at our own pace, hunting for the animals with our own eyes, and exploring how far our little two door 1.4 liter engine could go!  When we spotted this guy in the brush, we were just on our way into our camp for a mid-day rest.  He and his family were trotting through the underbrush  not more than 30 feet from our camp gate.  Fortunately we had time to wait and caught him staring back at us!

IF YOU GO: South Africa’s national parks are very tourist friendly. Each park has a range of lodging options, from camping (all the site we visited had access to a full kitchen and clean restroom facilities), to cabins, hotels and luxury lodges. Reserve in advance around holiday times. It’s worth it to stay in the park, the camp gates often open before the park gates giving you some extra time in the early morning and at dusk to watch the animals.  Check out our DIY Safari tips for more advice on doing your own safari in Southern Africa and our South Africa on a Budget Guide for more country information.