Game Reserve, National Park or Wildlife Conservancy? What do the names mean?

Is it a national park or a game reserve, a nature reserve, or a wilderness area you want to visit in South Africa? Maybe a biosphere reserve, or wildlife sanctuary? Or perhaps a wildlife concession area or conservancy would be best for your safari... What do all the different names mean? 

Find out what makes each of these unique to understand your South African safari options.

National Parks in South Africa

A national park is an area designated and run by the government. In South Africa, most of the national parks fall under the governance of SANParks (South African National Parks).

They are protected areas of important natural beauty, fauna, and flora. The designation offers legal protection to the habitats and species within these national park borders.

SANParks does however promote use for recreation or education. So, national parks have infrastructures like roads and huts and are therefore accessible and easy to navigate. While each national park is unique they will all offer different activities such as game drives, hiking trails, guided walks, 4x4 trails, mountain biking, and even golfing just to mention a few.

The big and famous national parks tend to steal the limelight but it is equally rewarding to visit some of the smaller and less-known parks which will invariably be quieter and offer a more intimate nature experience. The jewels in the SANParks crown are the Kruger National Park and Table Mountain National Park.

National Parks in other African countries work similarly to South African national parks. They are state-owned and run by the government agency responsible for managing public wildlife parks and nature reserves.

See South Africa National Parks by Province and Best National Parks in Africa’s Top Safari Countries.

South African Game Reserve vs Nature Reserve

A Game Reserve, or Game Park (often called a Wildlife Park in East Africa), exists specifically for the preservation of wild animals. In these areas, wildlife like antelopes, rhinos, and giraffes are protected. There are activities like hiking and game viewing but hunting may also be permitted.

If hunting is prohibited then a Game Reserve can be classified as a Nature Reserve in South Africa. 

That does not mean that sports hunting is permitted in a reserve, just because it is called a game reserve. But, it cannot be called a nature reserve if hunting is allowed.

One of the most well-known game reserves in South Africa is the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve in the North West province. Often called Pilanesberg National Park, this is technically not a national park as it is not managed and owned by the national government. This reserve was set aside as a protected area before animals were introduced to the environment. It is today one of the most popular game parks in the country.

Another of South Africa's most famous game reserves is the prestigious Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, the oldest game reserve in Africa, located in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. 

More about South African Game Reserves:

• Budget: The best private game reserves for affordable South African safaris
• Cape Town: Best Big 5 Game Reserves for Cape Town Safaris (on a budget)
• Greater Kruger: Greater Kruger vs Kruger Park - First Hand and Breaking Down the Greater Kruger National Park
• Johannesburg: Best Game Reserves for Short Safaris near Johannesburg
• Eastern Cape: The Eastern Cape’s Best Malaria-free Big 5 Game Reserves

A Nature Reserve (bio-reserve, preserve, conserve, or natural reserve) is an important area, set aside for the value of its fauna and/or flora. It could also refer to an area of geological or other special interest like biomes and ecosystems. 

In nature reserves, large animals are often absent, especially big predators. In South Africa, these reserves commonly only host a few antelope species and smaller animals and birds. 

Ultimately they are managed for the purpose of conservation and can be designated either privately or by the relevant provincial government. A good example is the Kogelberg Nature Reserve just outside of Cape Town. This nature reserve is managed by CapeNature, the governmental organization that runs parks in the Western Cape Province. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Kogelberg Nature Reserve forms part of the larger Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, which is the oldest biosphere reserve in South Africa. 

Biosphere Reserves

A protected area designated by UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program for biodiversity conservation. These are large protected areas that include marine and land habitats of ecological importance, as well as human settlements where sustainable resource use is practised.

There are about 10 biosphere reserves in South Africa and over 700 worldwide. Other South African Biosphere Reserves include the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve, Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve, and Cape Winelands Biosphere. 

Game Farms in South Africa

A Game Farm is quite different from any of the above categories. They are usually privately owned and run as a means to produce animals for resale, hunting, and for meat, skin, and horn. It is a carefully managed process where the breeding and culling of animals is combined with sports hunting.

That said, it is not exclusively a hunting enterprise and Game Farms may also render income streams through things like photographic safaris and even eco-safaris. Hunting wild animals is an extremely contentious issue with many varied opinions and complicated dimensions. If this does worry you and is not to your taste then be sure to ask specific questions before your safari in South Africa, and elsewhere in Africa.

Our online travel agency, African Budget Safaris, does not offer hunting safaris. We do not support sports hunting or wildlife interactions. For advice, talk to one of our travel experts to find out more. 

See Responsible Safari: how to travel ethically and The Essential Safari Anti-Bucket List - Things to Avoid & Helpful Alternatives for tips.

Wilderness Areas in South Africa

Wilderness areas are really the only truly “wild” places left. They are conservation areas that cover tracts of bushveld, forest, and mountain that are pristine and virtually untouched by man.

They allow the area to evolve in as natural a state as possible and are protected by law. There are no roads, no development and no marked trails. It is just you and the wild and accommodation options usually fall into the rustic, basic, and camping variety. Some of the most well-known of these wilderness areas in South Africa are Cederberg Wilderness Area, Groot Wintershoek Wilderness Area, and Mkhomazi Wilderness Area.

Needless to say, wilderness areas are not for everyone. The extreme nature of the experience is not for the faint of heart or those who prefer the comfort of lodges and more well-trodden pathways. But for those who want to nestle shoulder to shoulder with the great outdoors, this is a full immersion activity, just you and the wild.

Wildlife Sanctuaries and Trusts

In South Africa, a Wildlife Sanctuary is a place set aside for the rescue and rehabilitation of animals, endangered or otherwise. Often these are fantastic places to get up close with animals that are only seen in the wild and so offer an educational-type experience. Volunteer opportunities abound and they can offer life-changing experiences.

While many animal sanctuaries do excellent work homing animals that cannot be returned to the wild as well as running excellent breeding programs, the governance and regulations around these institutions are quite blurry and open to abuse. Recently, for example, it has been shown that sanctuaries that offer lion cub petting also act as a supply chain for canned hunting. It is worth doing your research to make sure that you do not inadvertently support these nefarious activities.

See African Wildlife Centres We Love for recommended wildlife sanctuaries and trusts. Or Why visit Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre? and Hang out with giraffes at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya, or Predator Trap: the plight of ‘canned lions’ & how to help?

Wildlife Trusts, on the other hand, are set up specifically for conserving animals. Interestingly their work often focuses on the animals and they seldom offer volunteer opportunities or visitor centres as exposure to humans often means that animals cannot be released back into the wild.

One of Africa's most successful Wildlife Trusts is the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. Founded in 1977 this organization has grown into one of the most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation programs in the world. They are considered to be pioneers in conservation and habitat protection in East Africa. A visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust can easily be added to one of our upcoming tours departing from Nairobi and is included in many of our Kenya Safaris.

Wildlife Concessions or Concession Areas

Concession Areas are private wildlife areas inside or next to national parks. Wildlife concessions are typically leased to private safari companies and lodges for a fixed period (often 10 or 20 years). These concession areas are not open to the public and only allow guests staying at the lodges to enter. 

Concessions are usually governed by the same rules as the national parks that own them and their use is conditional. Conditions commonly include low-impact tourism operations (eco-friendly lodges). In many wildlife concession areas game walks and night drives are permitted, as well as off-road game drives, but not in all. In South Africa concession areas are more exclusive, often offering luxury safari experiences. Of course, there are exceptions and African Budget Safaris knows where to find them. 

Concession areas are not the same as private game reserves which are privately owned and run according to their own regulations. Depending on the concession area sport hunting may or may not be allowed. In the case of Kruger Park concession areas, the land is owned by SANParks, and hunting is permitted in some areas.

Other African countries also have concession areas but things are slightly different. Botswana and Kenya, for example, are both leaders in community-based conservation where wildlife concession areas are owned and/or run by local people. In Kenya, the concession areas are called wildlife conservancies and most are not state-owned.

See Kenya’s Private Concessions: Safari Paradise and Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps in Kenya.

Before you go on safari in Africa...

It is always a good idea to check where you will visit, what kind of establishment it is, and what their policies are regarding game and wildlife. Don't hesitate to ask an expert travel advisor before you go, to make sure you get exactly what you want out of your African safari.

[Post First published 2018. Updated 2022]