Full-day and half-day game drives, cruise-port pickups, the Schotia private reserve and a two-day safari, compared on what decides the day: the vehicle, lunch, the park fee and where you are picked up.
Pick a day, or the first and last day you are around Gqeberha or Addo. We check the booking calendar of every safari and show which ones still have places.
Park: Addo National Park
Park: Addo National Park
Park: Addo National Park
Park: Addo National Park
Park: Addo National Park
Park: Addo National Park
Park: Schotia (private)
Park: Schotia (private)
Park: Addo National Park
Addo Elephant National Park lies about an hour’s drive from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), and it is best known for exactly what its name promises: elephants. It is also malaria-free and home to the Big Five, which makes it a popular safari stop at the eastern end of the Garden Route, both for travellers on a road trip and for cruise passengers with a day in port.
The guided safaris from Gqeberha look alike at first glance: similar durations, similar titles, and “all-inclusive” used for rather different packages. They differ in the vehicle, in what the package covers (lunch, the park fee) and in where you are collected: at your hotel or at the cruise terminal. The cards below carry those facts for each safari.
A day in Addo Elephant National Park, with the park fee included on each. Every card opens to the meeting point and what to bring.
A closed, air-conditioned 4x4 with the park fee and lunch both included, so the full day in Addo leaves nothing to add on. 9 hours.
A full day in Addo Elephant National Park from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in a closed, air-conditioned 4x4. The park entrance fee and lunch are both part of the package.
Meeting point, inclusions and notes as the safari operator lists them on GetYourGuide.
Built around a braai lunch with beer or wine, park fee included, and pickup from the cruise port available as an option. 9 hours.
A full-day Addo safari built around a South African braai (barbecue) lunch, with beer or wine included alongside it. The park entrance fee is part of the package, and pickup from the cruise port is offered as an option.
Hotel pickup or pickup from the Gqeberha cruise port, depending on the option you choose when you book.
Meeting point, inclusions and notes as the safari operator lists them on GetYourGuide.
A full day in the park with a braai lunch and the park fee included. 9 hours.
A full day in Addo Elephant National Park with a braai (South African barbecue) lunch and the park entrance fee included.
Meeting point, inclusions and notes as the safari operator lists them on GetYourGuide.
Closed, air-conditioned vehicle and park fee included, and a light lunch in the park according to the description. 8 hours.
A day safari from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in a closed, air-conditioned vehicle, with the park entrance fee included.
The list of inclusions names light refreshments; the description and the itinerary add a light lunch at a park restaurant, with about an hour for it.
Meeting point, inclusions and notes as the safari operator lists them on GetYourGuide.
Set up for cruise passengers: pickup at the Gqeberha harbour, an air-conditioned vehicle and the park fee included. Lunch is not included. 8 hours.
The Addo safari set up for cruise passengers: pickup at the Gqeberha harbour, a day in the park in an air-conditioned vehicle, and the park entrance fee included. Lunch is not included.
Gqeberha harbour: pickup at the cruise port.
Meeting point, inclusions and notes as the safari operator lists them on GetYourGuide.
A shorter game drive from Addo village, the neighbouring Schotia private reserve, or two days in the Addo area.
A four-hour guided game drive for travellers already staying near Addo. It starts in Addo village, and the SANParks conservation fee is paid on top.
A four-hour guided game drive that starts in the village of Addo, close to the park, which suits you if you are already staying in the Addo area.
The SANParks conservation fee is not included and is paid on top: R492 per international adult under the tariff valid until 31 October 2026 (SANParks adjusts its tariffs every 1 November).
Hermiston Farm in Addo. A transfer from accommodation in Addo village is available as an option.
Meeting point, inclusions and notes as the safari operator lists them on GetYourGuide.
An open-vehicle game drive in Schotia, a private reserve near Addo, with harbour pickup and reserve fee included. It does not enter Addo Elephant National Park. 5 hours.
A game drive in Schotia, a private game reserve near Addo, in an open safari vehicle, with pickup from the Gqeberha harbour and the reserve fee included.
This safari stays in Schotia and does not enter Addo Elephant National Park. That is worth knowing, because the product link on the booking platform suggests an Addo shore excursion.
Gqeberha harbour: pickup at the cruise port.
Meeting point, inclusions and notes as the safari operator lists them on GetYourGuide.
Six hours in the Schotia private game reserve in an open 4x4, with reserve entry included and pickup from your accommodation or the Gqeberha cruise terminal.
A six-hour safari in the Schotia private game reserve near Addo, with the reserve entry included.
Meeting point, inclusions and notes as the safari operator lists them on GetYourGuide.
Two days in the Addo area instead of one, park fee included, with a night in 4-star accommodation. Listed meals: one breakfast, two lunches and one dinner.
Two days in the Addo area instead of one, with the park entrance fee included. The package includes a night in 4-star accommodation, a boat trip on the Sundays River with the dunes, and giraffe tracking on foot. The listed meals are one breakfast, two lunches and one dinner; drinks are extra.
Meeting point, inclusions and notes as the safari operator lists them on GetYourGuide.
Closed and air-conditioned or open to the air, lunch in the package or a braai in the bush, hotel or harbour pickup: the full-day safaris differ in ways their titles do not show. We line them up point by point.
Compare the full-day safarisOne safari per priority, chosen on the facts in its listing. The full comparison follows further down.
A full day in a closed, air-conditioned 4x4 with a window seat for every guest. The park fee and lunch in the park are included, with pickup in Gqeberha, Bluewater Bay, Colchester or Addo. 9 hours, groups of up to 10.
Built for cruise passengers: pickup at the harbour and a return planned with a buffer before all-aboard. Closed, air-conditioned vehicle and park fee included; meals are not, so lunch at Main Camp is extra. 8 hours.
Four hours in a closed Toyota Land Cruiser from Hermiston Farm in Addo, with drinks and snacks. The SANParks conservation fee is paid on top, and children under 6 cannot join.
A full day in Addo with a braai lunch, drinks and the park fee included, in closed vehicles with windows that open. Free pickup in Gqeberha, Bluewater Bay and Colchester. 9 hours.
Tell us where you start and what counts most. The suggestion takes the pickup into account.
Question 1 of 2
Question 2 of 2
No tour fits every answer, so here is the closest one.
Six hours in the Schotia private game reserve in an open 4x4, with reserve entry included and pickup from your accommodation or the Gqeberha cruise terminal. Schotia is not part of Addo Elephant National Park.
Harbour pickup, an open safari vehicle and the reserve fee included, in about 5 hours. The game drive stays in the private Schotia reserve and does not enter Addo Elephant National Park.
Set up for cruise passengers: pickup at the Gqeberha harbour, an air-conditioned vehicle and the park fee included. Lunch is not included, and the day runs for about 8 hours, so compare that with your all-aboard time.
A four-hour guided game drive in a closed Land Cruiser, starting at Hermiston Farm in Addo village, with a transfer from accommodation in the village as an option. The SANParks conservation fee is paid on top, and the safari is not suitable for children under 6.
Sort by duration or price with a tap on the column header.
| Photo | Safari | What's in it | Rating ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
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All-inclusive full-day safari | Closed air-con 4x4 · park fee + lunch included · 9 h | ★ 4.8 (966) | R 3,100 per person | Book now |
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Full-day safari with braai lunch | Park fee + braai lunch with beer/wine included · port pickup option · 9 h | ★ 4.8 (380) | R 2,995 per person | Book now |
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Schotia private reserve (port pickup) | Schotia only, not Addo · open vehicle · harbour pickup · reserve fee included · 5 h | ★ 4.6 (310) | R 4,079 per person | Book now |
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Shore excursion with port pickup | Harbour pickup · air-con vehicle · park fee included · lunch not included · 8 h | ★ 4.6 (222) | R 2,850 per person | Book now |
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Half-day safari from Addo village | Starts in Addo · closed Land Cruiser · conservation fee not included · 4 h | ★ 4.7 (213) | R 1,435 per person | Book now |
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“All-inclusive” day safari | Closed air-con vehicle · park fee included · light lunch per description · 8 h | ★ 4.7 (205) | R 3,150 per person | Book now |
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Schotia Big 5 safari | Schotia private reserve · open 4x4 · reserve entry included · 6 h | ★ 4.5 (172) | R 3,299 per person | Book now |
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Full-day safari with braai | Park fee + braai lunch included · 9 h | ★ 4.8 (98) | R 2,990 per person | Book now |
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Two-day Addo safari | Park fee included · 1 night, 4-star · 1 breakfast + 2 lunches + 1 dinner · 2 days | ★ 4.3 (49) | R 9,595 per person | Book now |
Safari prices in this table come live from GetYourGuide, with taxes and booking fees included. On the half-day safari from Addo village, the SANParks conservation fee comes on top of the price shown. “What’s in it” summarises the inclusions listed on the product page. Check the full details there before you book.
Taken from the listings. Where a listing does not say, the field says so.
| Safari | Park | Park fee | Food | Pickup | Vehicle | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-inclusive full-day safari in Addo Elephant National Park from Gqeberha | Addo National Park | Included | Lunch | Hotel | Closed | 9 h |
| Full-day Addo Elephant National Park safari with braai lunch | Addo National Park | Included | Braai lunch | Hotel or harbour | Not stated | 9 h |
| Full-day Addo Elephant National Park safari with braai | Addo National Park | Included | Braai lunch | Hotel | Closed | 9 h |
| “All-inclusive” day safari in Addo Elephant National Park from Port Elizabeth | Addo National Park | Included | Light lunch (per description) | Hotel or harbour | Closed | 8 h |
| Addo Elephant National Park shore excursion with port pickup | Addo National Park | Included | No meals | Cruise harbour | Closed | 8 h |
| Guided half-day safari in Addo Elephant National Park from Addo village | Addo National Park | Paid on top | Snacks and drinks | Addo village (option) | Closed | 4 h |
| Schotia Private Game Reserve safari with port pickup | Schotia (private) | Included | Snacks and drinks | Hotel or harbour | Open | 5 h |
| Schotia Private Game Reserve Big 5 safari | Schotia (private) | Included | Snacks and drinks | Hotel or harbour | Open | 6 h |
| Two-day safari in Addo Elephant National Park | Addo National Park | Included | Breakfast, lunches, dinner | Hotel | Not stated | 2 days |
From the GetYourGuide listings, checked in October 2026. The duration is the provider’s figure. Schotia safaris include the private reserve’s own fee.
The Big Five are not a promise. Addo is home to all five, but leopard and rhino are rare sightings and lions turn up some of the time; elephants are the animal the park is known for. Summer is hot. From November to March temperatures in the park can climb above 40 °C, which is when a closed, air-conditioned vehicle earns its keep; bring a hat, sunscreen and water either way. Rain and crowds follow the calendar. February and March are among the wetter months, and the December–January school holidays are the park’s busiest weeks (more on the best time to visit). “All-inclusive” covers different things. On the braai safaris it means a braai lunch, on the Into Tours day safari a light lunch according to the description, and the Into Tours shore excursion includes no meals at all. The cards above say what each safari covers.
The SANParks conservation fee for Addo is R492 per international adult under the tariff valid until 31 October 2026; SANParks adjusts its tariffs every 1 November. It is included on the full-day and two-day safaris here and paid on top on the half-day safari from Addo village. The Schotia safaris include the private reserve’s own fee instead.
Gqeberha’s cruise season falls in the southern summer. Look for a harbour pickup (the Into Tours shore excursion includes it, the Addo Game Drives braai safari offers it as an option) and compare the 8 to 9 hours of an Addo day trip with your ship’s all-aboard time. The Schotia port safari is shorter, but it stays in the private reserve and does not visit Addo. Our shore excursion page goes through the port options in detail.
Safari guests in Addo, quoted from their GetYourGuide reviews.
★ 4.8 (966 reviews)
“We had the best day in the park. It was a very windy day so we were really happy about the closed vehicle. Our guide John was amazing and we saw so many different animals throughout the day. He even spotted a rhino none of us would have ever noticed. Lunch was delicious and plenty so all in all an amazing day that went by way too fast.”
“King Elvis was a fantastic guide , he always made sure we were at the right place at the right time, we managed to see 4 of the big five which was beyond our expectations for the day. As a bonus the lunch was tasty. Highly recommend”
“The trip was way too long. We didn't see nearly enough for that. After a 6-hour drive, we finally saw an elephant. We had a flat tire, and the driver didn't have any tools with him.”
Most reviews of this safari praise the guides and the close elephant sightings. The critical reviews collected tell of a long day: four describe a lot of driving with long spells without animals beyond the elephants. Two mention a flat tyre that cost time, and two the heat: one in a vehicle whose air-conditioning did not work properly, one with too little water. One found the “all-inclusive” catering thin. The 9 hours include the drive from Gqeberha and back, and no safari can promise what the park shows on the day.
★ 4.8 (380 reviews)
“What an amazing day and an amazing guide! We booked for a family of 6 and ended up having a whole jeep to ourselves! Steve, our guide, was truly authentic and engaging throughout our time at Addo. He provided us with a traditionally Braai lunch, which there was plenty to have including a few bottles of wines and soft drinks! The best part was being able to see the lion cubs and the lionesses. …”
“Everything was perfect - from the pickup at our guesthouse to the tour through a magnificiently blooming Addo, a delicious veggie-braai (thanx for going the extra mile: ) to o´course, the game watching! Steve is en excellent guide, experienced, friendly and very attentive.”
“The organization was very good. Unfortunately, the guide's search was limited to elephants. We saw many herds and also solitary animals, and even two buffalo at a waterhole. When we asked about the "Big Five," we were simply told they were in another sector. There were also many zebras and warthogs to be seen. Sadly, there were no gazelles or antelopes of any kind. That was a shame. The braai (barbecue) was very good”
The braai is the constant in these reviews. It is praised in the glowing ones and in three of the critical ones too, alongside attentive guides and smooth pickups. Where reviewers are disappointed, it is about the animals: four critical reviews say sightings beyond the elephants were thin, from no Big Five to hardly any animals at all (two of them date from 2023 and 2024). One found almost ten hours in a jeep without air-conditioning too much, and one would have liked an earlier start. Elephants are what Addo delivers most reliably; everything else is a matter of the day.
Reviews collected from the safaris' GetYourGuide pages. Shortened for length (marked with …), wording unchanged; names reduced to first name and country.
We are not SANParks and we run no vehicles. This guide lists the Addo and Schotia safaris you can book online, with the vehicle, lunch, park fee and pickup for each, so the comparison happens in one place. When you book through a link on this page, the booking platform pays us a small commission. It comes out of their margin, not out of your ticket price.
Park fee, lunch, cruise days, the Big Five and cancellation.
The park’s southern Matyholweni gate is roughly 30 to 45 minutes’ drive from Gqeberha, and Main Camp about an hour. That is why the full-day safaris from the city run for 8 to 9 hours: the drive there and back is part of the day.
On the full-day safaris from Gqeberha and on the two-day safari listed here, yes: the park entrance fee is part of the package. The half-day safari from Addo village is the exception: there the SANParks conservation fee is paid on top, which is R492 per international adult under the tariff valid until 31 October 2026. SANParks adjusts its tariffs every 1 November.
Lunch is included on the Afroventures full-day safari and on the braai safaris (Addo Game Drives also includes beer or wine). The Into Tours day safari includes a light lunch at a park restaurant, according to the description. The Into Tours shore excursion includes no meals or drinks, so you buy lunch in the park. The two-day safari lists one breakfast, two lunches and one dinner.
It depends on the season and what you want from the day. A closed, air-conditioned vehicle is more comfortable in the summer heat and keeps the dust out; an open vehicle gives all-round views and easier photography. The Afroventures full-day safari uses a closed, air-conditioned 4x4 with a window seat for every guest, the Into Tours safaris closed, air-conditioned vehicles, the African Sightings safari closed vehicles with windows that open, and the half-day safari a closed Toyota Land Cruiser. Both Schotia safaris run in open vehicles. The Addo Game Drives listing does not name its vehicle.
Look for a harbour pickup. The Into Tours shore excursion collects you at the Gqeberha port, and the Addo Game Drives braai safari offers port pickup as an option. The Schotia safari also starts at the harbour, but it visits a private reserve instead of Addo. Compare the duration (8 to 9 hours for the Addo day trips) with your ship’s all-aboard time before you book.
Addo is home to the Big Five, but no safari can promise them. Elephants are the animal the park is known for; lions are seen some of the time, while leopard and rhino are rare sightings. Treat every sighting beyond the elephants as a bonus.
Yes, Addo lies in a malaria-free area. If your wider trip includes other parts of southern Africa, check the current health advice for those regions separately.
Schotia is a private game reserve near Addo, not part of the national park. The Schotia safaris on this site stay inside that reserve. The port-pickup Schotia safari in particular does not enter Addo Elephant National Park, even though its booking link mentions an Addo shore excursion.
The safaris on this site offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. The policy shown at checkout on the product page is the binding one, so give it a quick look before you book.
Coming from Cape Town? Our sister site gardenroutetour.com compares the multi-day Garden Route trips, including those that end in Gqeberha or pass through Addo. How much Addo those trips include, and when a separate safari day makes sense, is on our page from Cape Town and the Garden Route.
Compare the Addo safaris side by side.
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