Safari

From Johannesburg: Half-Day Lion & Safari Park Tour

Spot South African wildlife in Lion & Safari Park's 600 hectare reserve, then let kids enjoy the supervised playground while you relax nearby.

Enjoy pickup from Johannesburg hotels, ride in an air-conditioned vehicle to Lion & Safari Park, then get a safety briefing before your game drive.

Your ticket includes park entry and a 2-hour guided game drive in a specialized safari vehicle through key wildlife areas of the reserve.

Enjoy close wildlife encounters from the safari vehicle while your guide shares insights about the park, in a malaria-free reserve open all year round.

Enhance your day by choosing the Soweto plus Lion Park option, adding time to explore this historic township alongside your wildlife adventure.

Entry to Lion & Safari Park

2-hour game drive in a safari vehicle

Pick-up and drop-off from any accommodation in Johannesburg

Transfers in an air-conditioned tour vehicle

Visit to Soweto [as per option selected]

Food and drinks at Wetlands Restaurant

TOTAL DURATION4 hours 30 minutes - 5 hours
MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Van
Timeline
Map
Start point
Johannesburg
Get direction
51 min by a/c van
55 km
1. Lion & Safari Park
Tickets included
2 hr
2 activities
Safety briefing, Guided tour & Vehicle tour
Lion & Safari Park offers close-up encounters with iconic African wildlife in a managed, family friendly environment. During the guided drive, you travel through bushveld habitats as guides look for lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, and antelope while explaining conservation efforts.
Things to do
Park Orientation and Safety Briefing
Included in price
2-Hour Guided Game Drive
Included in price
53 min by a/c van
61 km
2. Soweto (if option selected)
1 activity
Explore place
26 min by a/c van
25 km
End point
Johannesburg
Get direction
Your ending point would be same as your start point

You can cancel these tickets up to 41 days before the experience begins and get a full refund.

110 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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What our guests say
Aug 2026
Honestly, I had NO idea lions could be this chill. Came with my two kiddos (7 & 11) and they were glued to the windows the whole drive. The guide, Blessing, was super patient with all the 'why do zebras have stripes' questions. Heads up, you can’t get out in the lion section (which my youngest took as a personal challenge, lol), but we felt 100% safe. The snack shop by the exit does killer samosas. Whole thing took like 3 hours but didn’t feel rushed. FYI, bring a hat – sun is a BEAST by midday. Definitely a highlight for the fam!
Aug 2026
Ok, so I’m not a morning person, but we did the 8am tour and it was SO worth it. Cooler temps, fewer crowds. Our guide, Sipho, had the best animal facts (did you know giraffes sleep like, 2 hours a day??). Highlight for me: seeing cheetahs gliding through the grass. And they let us hang back for extra photos! Will say, the gift shop is a trap for impulse-buyers like me (left with 3 lion mugs).
Jul 2026
Went alone, kinda nervous at first but staff are sooooo friendly. I lucked out & got a seat up front next to the guide—best views! Saw a pride of lions snoozing under a tree (they really just lay there, don't expect wild chases lol). Only minus was there’s a wait for the bathrooms, and ugh, they ran out of cold water in the vending machine. But would def do it again if I’m back in Joburg.
Aug 2026
Took my parents for their anniversary and we had the BEST time. The guides made them feel special (shoutout to Zama!). We spotted lions, wild dogs, and my mom swears a hyena winked at her (who knows). Not too rushed, plenty of time for pics. Btw, wear closed shoes, the sand gets everywhere.
Jul 2026
Me, my wife, and our three kids (all under 10) had a blast. The guide, Blessing, had stickers for the kids and made animal noises that cracked them up. Giraffes got super close to our van. Bathrooms surprisingly clean for a wildlife park. Bring a hat, sun is insane!

Visit Lion & Safari Park from Johannesburg with hotel transfers and a 2-hour game drive on this half-day safari.

Getting started

Get collected from your accommodation in Johannesburg within the specified pickup window and board your air-conditioned tour vehicle. Travel directly to Lion & Safari Park, where your entrance will be handled for you. After a brief orientation and safety briefing before the game drive, you transfer into a specialized safari vehicle to start exploring the park.

What to expect

Lion & Safari Park

Lion & Safari Park is your main destination on this half-day safari, reached by road from Johannesburg. You spend your core experience time here on a guided game drive in search of wildlife.

Features

Ride in a specialized safari vehicle on a 2-hour game drive, with raised seating that helps you look for animals in the bush while maintaining a safe distance at all times.

Experience entry to Lion & Safari Park included as part of your tour, so you move from arrival to game viewing without handling separate tickets.

Travel to and from Lion & Safari Park with collection and drop-off from any accommodation in Johannesburg, using round-trip transfers in an air-conditioned tour vehicle.

Follow clear guidance from park staff and your driver-guide, who conduct a safety briefing before the game drive and remind you to stay seated, avoid loud noises or sudden movements, and never feed or touch the animals.

Soweto (as per option selected)

If you choose the Half-Day Soweto Tour + Safari Park variant, your day also includes time in Soweto in addition to the park visit.

Features

A visit to Soweto is included on this option, adding a township stop alongside your Lion & Safari Park experience before you return to Johannesburg.

Your transport arrangements remain the same, with pick-up and drop-off from your Johannesburg accommodation and all transfers in an air-conditioned tour vehicle managed for you.

Wrapping up

After your game drive at Lion & Safari Park, and the Soweto visit if selected, you are dropped back at your hotel or chosen address in Johannesburg within the stated afternoon time window, leaving the rest of your day free.

What’s not allowed

Animal interaction: Do not attempt to feed or touch the animals at any point during the tour.

Noise: Do not make loud noises or sudden movements near the animals.

Viewing areas: Stay within designated viewing areas throughout your visit.

Additional information

Suitability: The tour is suitable for all ages, making it ideal for families and groups.

Health note: The tour route is malaria-free, so you do not need malaria prophylaxis for this experience.

Seasonality: The tour is available year-round, so you can book it in any season.

Pickup window: Pick-up from Johannesburg hotels runs between 7:30am to 9:30am, and 1:30pm to 2pm.

Drop-off window: Drop-off at Johannesburg hotels is typically between 1:30pm and 5:30pm.

Flight timing: If flying from OR Tambo, book domestic flights from 7:30pm and international flights from 9pm or later.

Safety briefing: A safety briefing is included before your game drive starts.

Guides and staff: You must follow all instructions from park staff and your guide and take the advised precautions.

Tour type upgrade: If you select the private tour option, it will be arranged at an additional cost.

Dining: Food and drinks at Wetlands Restaurant are not included and must be paid for separately.

Personal spend: Personal purchases such as souvenirs are not included in the tour price.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.