Local operators based in South Africa, ranked by the year each says it was founded, earliest first.
Which safari companies in South Africa have been operating the longest?
By the founding year each gives on its own website, Viva Safaris has been operating longest of the 10 operators below, then Jenman African Safaris. Each year is as the operator states it.
Viva Safaris: 1991.
Jenman African Safaris: Tour operator since 1998.
MoAfrika Tours: 1999.
Who is on this page and why. The Uncompromised Travel local safari operators table holds 245 companies with a head office in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia or Zimbabwe: the ones ChatGPT named on two or more days between 5 October and 1 November 2026 in answers to the safari questions Uncompromised Travel asks every day and the operators in those countries with 20 or more reviews on SafariBookings. Their websites were read on 2 November 2026, with their reviews on SafariBookings, Google and Trustpilot. This page carries the operators in it for which a line from its own website, as read, can be quoted showing that it is based in South Africa and gives the year it was founded: 10 operators. Where a website does not give its office, the office on its SafariBookings profile is used. Companies whose websites describe them as planners, agents or destination management companies, or do not say whether they run their own trips, are left out. Cards are ranked by the year each operator's own website gives (or its own wording beside the year, such as since) for its founding, the earliest first. Each year is as the operator states it and was not checked against a company register. Operators with the same year are listed alphabetically. Prices are shown as each company published them, in its own currency, never converted. No company paid to be on this page.
Based at Balule Nature Reserve, Hoedspruit, South Africa.
How it runs trips
Guaranteed daily departures.
Parks
Kruger National Park (full-day open-vehicle drives via Orpen Gate), Balule Private Game Reserve (Greater Kruger), Olifants West/Klaserie River area, Blyde River Canyon and Three Rondawels; the 7-day package adds Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and Isimangaliso Wetland Park (St Lucia).
Reviews
SafariBookings: 5.0 out of 5 from 368 reviews; Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 195 reviews; Trustpilot: 4 out of 5 from 3 reviews, read 2 November 2026.
Head office in Johannesburg, South Africa: 115 High Road, Eastleigh, Edenvale, Johannesburg, 1609.
How it runs trips
Private trips are offered (private Kruger safaris, private Pilanesberg and Cape Town tours, private Garden Route tours).
Published price
Ultimate Pilanesberg Open Vehicle Day Tour ZAR 2,995.
Reviews
SafariBookings: 4.9 out of 5 from 5,544 reviews; Google: 4.7 out of 5 from 332 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 565 reviews, read 2 November 2026.
The 4 Day Kruger and Panorama Tour is 'a private tour', departure date chosen by the guest (max 20, min 2 guests).
Parks
Kruger National Park (camps named: Satara, Skukuza, Berg-en-Dal, Letaba), Panorama Route (God's Window, Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondavels, Bourke's Luck Potholes, Berlin and Lisbon Falls, Pilgrim's Rest, Graskop), Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (Hilltop and Mpila camps), Royal Hlane National Park in Swaziland and Drakensberg (14 Day Eastern Circle).
Reviews
SafariBookings: 5.0 out of 5 from 262 reviews; Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 42 reviews, read 2 November 2026.
2 of the 10 operators on this page publish a price with its currency; for the others, nothing on their websites as read can be shown here.
MoAfrika Tours: Ultimate Pilanesberg Open Vehicle Day Tour ZAR 2,995.
Mmilo Tours: Day tours are priced for 1 or 2 adults, for example Cape Town Peninsula full day ZAR6231.00 for 1 adult.
How do they run their trips?
All 10 operators on this page say how they run trips (private, scheduled or overland).
Viva Safaris: Guaranteed daily departures.
Jenman African Safaris: Private tours and set-date guided group departures.
MoAfrika Tours: Private trips are offered (private Kruger safaris, private Pilanesberg and Cape Town tours, private Garden Route tours).
Mmilo Tours: Shared drives with other lodge guests are included in some packages (shared 3-hour drives on the budget Pilanesberg safari).
EuroZulu Guided Tours & Safaris: Day safaris depart daily from St Lucia accommodation with up to 9 per vehicle (shared)
Endless Summer Tours: Specialises in private tours and shared small group tours.
Moriti Private Safaris: Private departures only: one guide and one vehicle, on your own dates, not a fixed departure.
Wild Planet Safari: The 4 Day Kruger and Panorama Tour is 'a private tour', departure date chosen by the guest (max 20, min 2 guests).
Afroventures Tours & Safaris: Private tours are sold.
Armadillo Overland Safaris: Small group safaris (mixed groups, maximum 8 guests), family safaris (minimum 6 guests) and private safaris (minimum 4 adults).
What do they say about children?
6 of the 10 operators on this page publish a child or family policy; for the others, nothing on their websites as read can be shown here.
Viva Safaris: Child rate (under 12) published on each package (for example 4 Day Tremisana/Masango 2026 R7795).
Jenman African Safaris: Terms: indemnity forms must be completed by a parent or guardian aged 21 or over for children aged 12 to 18 on scheduled tours.
MoAfrika Tours: Terms: a children's rate is available on request; children 6 and under are not permitted on open safari vehicles for game drives and the minimum age for a guided bush walk is 16, following FGASA recommendations.
Mmilo Tours: Pilanesberg 2026: children aged 12 and younger sharing with adults ZAR768.00 per child; aged 13-17 ZAR1875.00.
EuroZulu Guided Tours & Safaris: Children of all ages are welcome; for babies guests must bring their own car seat and all vehicles have seat belts.
Armadillo Overland Safaris: Children accepted from 2 years; 10% discount for a family safari of 6 or more guests; children's books, games and activities, mattresses and pillows for naps and a flushing toilet on board.
Longest-running South Africa safari companies: the questions people ask
How is the order on this page worked out?
Cards are ranked by the year each operator's own website gives (or its own wording beside the year, such as since) for its founding, the earliest first. Each year is as the operator states it and was not checked against a company register. Operators with the same year are listed alphabetically.
Which run private trips on your own dates?
7 of the 10 do: Jenman African Safaris, MoAfrika Tours, Endless Summer Tours, Moriti Private Safaris, Wild Planet Safari, Afroventures Tours & Safaris and Armadillo Overland Safaris. Each one's own website says so.
Which run scheduled departures you can join?
1 of the 10 does: Jenman African Safaris. Each one's own website says so.
Which help with self-drive trips?
2 of the 10 do: Jenman African Safaris and Endless Summer Tours. Each one's own website says so.
Which run mobile camping safaris?
2 of the 10 do: Jenman African Safaris and Moriti Private Safaris. Each one's own website says so.
Which use vehicles of their own?
2 of the 10 do: Jenman African Safaris and Mmilo Tours. Each one's own website says so.
Which publish a child or family policy?
6 of the 10 do: Viva Safaris, Jenman African Safaris, MoAfrika Tours, Mmilo Tours, EuroZulu Guided Tours & Safaris and Armadillo Overland Safaris. Each one's own website says so.
Which publish a deposit?
6 of the 10 do: Viva Safaris, Jenman African Safaris, EuroZulu Guided Tours & Safaris, Endless Summer Tours, Moriti Private Safaris and Wild Planet Safari. Each one's own website says so.
Which have guest reviews on SafariBookings, Google or Trustpilot?
All 10 do. Each platform's rating and count are on the card, never added together.
Can I book these trips through Uncompromised Travel?
No. Uncompromised Travel is a publication and does not sell safaris. Each card has the company's own enquiry link.
How were these operators chosen?
Each one is an operator in the Uncompromised Travel local safari operators table whose own website shows that it is based in South Africa and gives the year it was founded. A company is on the page because its published facts fit the question, never because it paid.
How current are these facts?
Each company's website was read on 2 November 2026. Prices, departures and reviews change, so confirm them with the operator before you book.
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: facts each operator published on its own website, read on 2 November 2026, with reviews per platform (SafariBookings, Google and Trustpilot), from the Uncompromised Travel local safari operators table. Operators whose websites would not open are not on this page. Cards are ranked by the year each operator's own website gives (or its own wording beside the year, such as since) for its founding, the earliest first. Each year is as the operator states it and was not checked against a company register. Operators with the same year are listed alphabetically. No company paid to appear or for its place. Prices are in the currency each company showed and were not converted. How this site earns · How we work.
Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 2 November 2026 · updated 2 November 2026
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