Don’t get us wrong — iconic destinations like the Serengeti, Okavango Delta, Mana Pools, and Kruger National Park offer truly remarkable safari experiences. However, years of crafting dream holidays across Africa has helped us identify a few drawbacks that often affect travelers visiting these world-famous safari regions:
(things you wish you knew before you booked)
🦟 Malaria Risk: All of these destinations are located in malaria zones, which means you’ll need to take preventive medication — something many travelers prefer to avoid.
🚐 Long, Bumpy Safari Days: Most game drives in these areas are full-day expeditions, with long hours spent bouncing around in a vehicle — which can become exhausting after a few days.
🕒 Lengthy Travel Times: The distances between lodges and attractions are often very long, meaning more time in transit and less time enjoying your holiday.
🏖️ Limited Variety: These destinations are safari-only zones — after 3 or 4 days of game drives, even the most enthusiastic wildlife lover may crave a change of scenery.
✈️ Complicated Safari + Beach Combos: If you want to end your safari with a relaxing beach break, getting there often requires a full day of travel — eating into your precious holiday time.
We asked ourselves the million-dollar question:
(things you wish you knew before you booked)
🦟 Malaria Risk: All of these destinations are located in malaria zones, which means you’ll need to take preventive medication — something many travelers prefer to avoid.
🚐 Long, Bumpy Safari Days: Most game drives in these areas are full-day expeditions, with long hours spent bouncing around in a vehicle — which can become exhausting after a few days.
🕒 Lengthy Travel Times: The distances between lodges and attractions are often very long, meaning more time in transit and less time enjoying your holiday.
🏖️ Limited Variety: These destinations are safari-only zones — after 3 or 4 days of game drives, even the most enthusiastic wildlife lover may crave a change of scenery.
✈️ Complicated Safari + Beach Combos: If you want to end your safari with a relaxing beach break, getting there often requires a full day of travel — eating into your precious holiday time.
We asked ourselves the million-dollar question:
What could be better than an amazing safari and beach holiday combination?
The answer: An amazing safari and beach holiday with no wasted hours on lengthy destination transfers, long waits at airports or queueing for customs!
With most destinations being less than a 2-hour drive apart you eliminate these time consuming flights and long road transfers. The close proximity of these destinations makes for relaxed tour itineraries and maximises your holiday experience.
Here, it’s even possible to see the Big Five, humpback whales, and giant sea turtles — in one day.
With most destinations being less than a 2-hour drive apart you eliminate these time consuming flights and long road transfers. The close proximity of these destinations makes for relaxed tour itineraries and maximises your holiday experience.
Here, it’s even possible to see the Big Five, humpback whales, and giant sea turtles — in one day.
The Elephant Coast is home to many cheetahs
At Tailor Made Safaris, we say “No!” to exhausting, back-to-back safaris. Instead, we offer the perfect balance of wildlife adventure and beach relaxation by alternating world-class safari destinations with tropical Indian Ocean beaches — all within one spectacular region.
The Elephant Coast in KwaZulu-Natal is malaria-free, making it a safer and more family-friendly alternative to Kruger and the Okavango Delta. This region also boasts the highest density of game reserves in South Africa, including:
The Elephant Coast in KwaZulu-Natal is malaria-free, making it a safer and more family-friendly alternative to Kruger and the Okavango Delta. This region also boasts the highest density of game reserves in South Africa, including:
- Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park – South Africa’s oldest game reserve
- iSimangaliso Wetland Park – the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site
Unmatched Biodiversity & Ecosystem Variety
The Elephant Coast features an incredible mix of ecosystems:
savannas, grasslands, forests, mountains, wetlands, estuaries, rivers, lakes, and the Indian Ocean’s sub-tropical beaches.
As a result, it offers higher biodiversity than both the Kruger National Park and the Okavango Delta combined.
Ideal Climate Year-Round
Thanks to the warm Benguela Current flowing from Mozambique, the Elephant Coast enjoys one of South Africa’s most pleasant climates — never too hot or too cold. It’s truly perfect for year-round travel.
The Elephant Coast features an incredible mix of ecosystems:
savannas, grasslands, forests, mountains, wetlands, estuaries, rivers, lakes, and the Indian Ocean’s sub-tropical beaches.
As a result, it offers higher biodiversity than both the Kruger National Park and the Okavango Delta combined.
Ideal Climate Year-Round
Thanks to the warm Benguela Current flowing from Mozambique, the Elephant Coast enjoys one of South Africa’s most pleasant climates — never too hot or too cold. It’s truly perfect for year-round travel.
Convinced?
Do you want to explore the phenomenal accommodations the Elephant has to offer?
Adjacent to the Elephant Coast are another two great destinations: The majestic Drakensberg Mountains and the historic Battle Field region, home to numerous historically significant sites related to the Anglo-Boer-Zulu wars of the 19th century. Both these destinations can easily be included in your safari and beach holiday to the Elephant Coast.
The unspoilt coastline of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in the Elephant Coast
This maps shows how the mighty Drakensberg, many battlefield sites and many game reserves and 200 miles of golden coastline, are all within a few hours driving distance away from each other
