South Africa Golf & Safari Adventure

South Africa has to be one of the most picturesque countries I have ever been to and having been fortunate enough to experience Cape Town and the Garden Route on a previous trip, getting to visit the most iconic golf resort in South Africa whilst also visiting Kruger National Park for safari game drives was definitely an experience of a lifetime.

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Day 1: Steyn City
Day 2: Sun City
Day 3: Sun City
Day 4: Kruger
Day 5: Kruger
Day 6: Kruger

Upon landing in Johannesburg, we headed straight to Steyn City which is where our first night's stay was and our first round of golf. The Jack Nicklaus designed course was immaculate start to finish and was the perfect opening round being friendly enough for all golfers whilst still tricky around the fast greens to keep you on your toes.

The food and drink at the resort was impressive but the Steyn City Lagoon was certainly unforgettable with its 300 metre long beach style facility which was ideal after a hot day on the golf course.

Our next stop was Sun City, where we spent two nights at the incredible Palace of the Lost City. This is potentially the most unique hotel I have ever stayed at with a luxury 5* feel whilst keeping to an animal safari theme throughout. The breakfast is something everyone hyped up before the trip and it certainly didn't disappoint, there was literally every type of cuisine you could imagine, from sushi to pancakes to fresh fruit.

Gary Player Golf Course
After a night's rest we set foot onto the Gary Player Golf Course which is famous for featuring on the DP Tour for the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Mandatory caddies may seem unnecessary but as it's a walking only course having someone carry your bag and give you the best advice possible definitely made me feel like a tour player for the day.

Dining & Relaxation
That evening we had to pick from the vast restaurant options available scattered all over the resort but decided on the Legends Restaurant which was a fantastic steakhouse. The beers are such good value with the exchange rate being so good, so after a couple drinks that evening we took some rest for the final night at Sun City.

Lost City Golf Course
The final day we played Lost City Golf Course which was just as good of an experience as Gary Player but a little more playable for all level of golfers with a lovely touch of a halfway house inclusion for a sit down lunch after 9 holes. It was a blast at Sun City but it was then time for us to head over to Kruger National Park and play Leopard Creek.

A short flight took us to Nelspruit for the second half of our journey, where the focus shifted to Kruger National Park.

Over our 3 nights we stayed at different lodges each night but started at Buhala Lodge. As soon as we walked inside to check in, there were 2 elephants viewed from the lodge which made quite the first impression, then we quickly headed off that afternoon for our first game drive of the trip. Elephants, giraffes, zebra and rhino were amongst some of the animals we were able to see which was a great start for a first drive. We headed back for our dinner and again the prices of the food and drink was such good value it was very much worth a couple night caps before heading to bed.

The next day we played Kambaku Golf Club which was definitely the most underrated golf course on our trip which borders Kruger National Park and again saw some elephants from the clubhouse which was epic. The 8th and 9th hole was awesome where you could view the animals in the park whilst enjoying the final couple holes on the front 9, and because of the layout of the course you loop back round and get to play them again for your 17th and 18th holes too which was truly worth playing twice with how spectacular they were.

Our next nights stay was at Lukimbi Safari Lodge which was actually based inside the National Park, so it was a much more immersive experience, as even when we drove to check in for the evening we stumbled across 5 lions on the road which delayed our check in time taking plenty of pictures and truly stunned by our luck. Lukimbi has its own private area so only residents can experience animals in their concessions which definitely made it feel like a very high end, luxury safari lodge. Our game drive got even better as we saw the same 5 lions having a standoff with a herd of buffalo, as we sat in the vehicle waiting in silence to see who would make the first move and was definitely a highlight of all our safari game drives this trip. Another day in paradise left us with a couple more Amarula drinks in hand before getting some rest.

Our final full day then took us to the iconic Leopard Creek, this was definitely the round of golf all of us were looking forward to even before this trip. Having seen this course on the DP Tour for the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Leopard Creek's 9th and 18th that run adjacent to each other were my personal favourites with the clubhouse in the background and the water surrounding both greens. The proshop had to get a visit as well as the merchandise is fantastic and a great way to remember the trip.

After a quick final drink in the clubhouse we left back to Johannesburg airport with 9 holes on route at Highlands Gate, which was in an isolated location but with stunning views of the rolling hills it's definitely worth playing if you have time.

We eventually then arrived at the airport and dropped off the rental car to sign off what was one of the best trips I have certainly been on!

Ready for Your Own South African Golf Safari?

This incredible journey combining world-class golf with unforgettable wildlife encounters is an experience that will stay with you forever. From the luxury of Sun City's Palace of the Lost City to the thrill of seeing lions on safari drives, South Africa offers the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.

Start planning your dream golf and safari adventure today. Whether you're drawn to championship courses like Leopard Creek and Gary Player Country Club, or the excitement of staying in luxury lodges within Kruger National Park, South Africa delivers experiences that exceed every expectation.

Contact our Golf Experts to create your personalized South African golf safari itinerary and discover why this destination should be at the top of every golf enthusiast's bucket list.

Handicap: 5
Favourite Course: Pebble Beach Golf Links
My 'Expert' areas: USA, UAE, South Africa, Mauritius
Best trip I've done: Monterey, California
Where my next trip is to: New Zealand

Give Simon a call on 0800 043 6644 to arrange your next golf break.