Port Elizabeth:2-Day Schotia Safaris & Addo Wildlife Reserve

The best part of this two-day safari is the contrast between Addo’s elephant country and Schotia’s private reserve, where guides work hard to find lions, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, birds, and smaller animals. I like the open-sided 4×4 vehicles, which give you a clear view and better photographs, and I like that the price includes your lodge, meals, park fees, and transfers from Port Elizabeth.

I also like the sunset drive and bush dinner, when the reserve takes on a completely different mood. Guide Richard has earned special praise for explaining the plants and animals as he drives. The main concern is organization: pickup and activity times may not always be communicated clearly, so confirm every departure time with the operator before setting out.

Key points to know before booking

• Sunset safari at 4:30 pm: Your first game drive begins soon after check-in, giving you a chance to see the bush change as daylight fades.
• Two different wildlife areas: Addo Wildlife Private Reserve and Schotia Safaris offer separate settings and guiding styles.
• Small group of up to 10: The vehicle is not a huge coach, which helps with wildlife viewing and questions.
• Meals are included: You receive dinner, breakfast, and lunch, including a bush-style dinner when availability and capacity allow.
• Richard is a strong guide: He has been especially praised for finding animals and explaining Eastern Cape plants and wildlife.
• Port Elizabeth transfers are included: Pickup is available from the airport or cruise ship terminal, but timing needs careful confirmation.

Why this two-day safari works well

At $716 per person, this is not a cheap day trip. It is a packaged overnight safari with accommodation, food, reserve entry, two game drives, and transportation from Port Elizabeth. That changes the value calculation. You are paying for a complete short safari rather than simply buying a few hours in a park.

I like this format for people arriving by cruise ship or flying into Port Elizabeth who want to see wildlife without arranging several separate bookings. The tour keeps the moving parts together: transfer, lodge, meals, guide, and reserve access.

The two-day schedule also gives you more than one chance to see animals. Wildlife does not perform on command, and one drive can be quiet. A sunset outing followed by a longer Schotia safari the next day improves your odds and gives you different light conditions for photographs.

The trade-off is that the schedule is fairly full. You spend time in vehicles, and the transfer between Port Elizabeth and the Addo area takes about 70 minutes by coach. This is not a slow, private lodge holiday with long periods of rest. It is an active wildlife trip built around set departure times.

From Port Elizabeth to the Addo area

Pickup is scheduled for noon from Port Elizabeth, either at the airport or the cruise ship terminal. If you are coming off a ship, pay close attention to the exact meeting point. One difficult pickup involved a wait at the port exit while the driver sorted out who belonged in the vehicle and where everyone was going.

That sort of confusion can be stressful after a long journey. I would contact Rawson Touring before arrival and ask for the driver’s name, phone number, and precise pickup point. If you are on a cruise, also allow enough time to clear the ship and reach the designated meeting area.

The drive to the accommodation and reserve area takes roughly 70 minutes. It is a useful transition from city to bush, but you will not be starting the safari immediately at the airport. Check-in is listed for 2 pm, followed by the afternoon program.

The accommodation is listed as Africanos Country Estate, with a luxury stay in the Addo area. The chalet has received particularly strong praise for its beauty and comfort. The available information does not give a full room-by-room description, so I would not book this solely for a specific facility. Book it for the convenience of sleeping near the reserves after your first game drive.

Your first afternoon at Africanos Country Estate

Once you arrive, you have a short window to settle in before the sunset safari. Bring comfortable clothes, sunscreen, water, a hat, and a camera where you can reach them quickly. A change of clothes is useful after a dusty drive, and the supplied information also recommends beachwear, though no beach activity is part of the main safari schedule.

The itinerary also includes a three-hour visit and guided walk at Bellevue Forest Reserve. The exact placement of this walk in the day is not fully clear from the schedule, so ask the operator how it fits with your arrival and safari times. A walk gives you a different view of the area than a vehicle drive, especially for plants and smaller details, but it also requires comfortable shoes and reasonable mobility.

This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. You need to manage vehicle access and a guided walk, so ask about the physical demands before paying.

The 4:30 pm sunset safari

The first main drive begins at 4:30 pm in an open-sided 4×4. This vehicle style is one of the strongest parts of the experience. You sit higher than you would in a standard car, with fewer barriers between you and the bush. That makes it easier to watch animals and take photographs, though you should still keep your camera ready and follow the guide’s instructions.

The sunset timing matters. You may see animals that were less active during the heat of the day, and the light changes quickly. Even familiar animals look different in late afternoon, when long shadows stretch across the ground and the guide listens for movement as well as watching for it.

Addo is especially known for elephants, and this first drive gives you a good chance to focus on them. The experience also includes the wider plant and animal life of the Eastern Cape. Guides explain the local fauna and flora, so the drive is not only about collecting a list of large animals.

Richard has been singled out for his work in the Addo Wildlife Park and for sharing a great deal of information during the drive. That makes a real difference. A guide who simply points at an animal gives you a sighting. A guide who explains behavior, habitat, and plant life helps you understand the place.

Bush dinner under the evening sky

After the sunset drive, the program can include a bush dinner under the stars, subject to availability and capacity. The meal is included, but the exact setting and format can vary. Think of it as a memorable outdoor safari meal rather than a formal restaurant service.

This is one of the details that makes the overnight stay feel worthwhile. You have spent the afternoon looking for wildlife, then sit down to eat while the sounds of the African night continue around you. It is a simple pleasure, but it gives the first day a clear sense of place.

Dinner is included along with the next morning’s breakfast and lunch. Personal expenses are not included, so bring money for anything outside the stated meals and transport.

The second day: Addo and Schotia

The second day is the main wildlife day. The route takes you through the Addo area toward Schotia Safaris Private Game Reserve, where you spend about six hours on a guided game drive. The schedule describes this as an exclusive full-day safari, though the listed duration is six hours, so plan for a substantial half-day to full safari block rather than a quick visit.

Schotia gives you another chance to look for the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. Sightings are never guaranteed, and a good guide cannot control where animals go. Still, having a dedicated six-hour drive gives the group time to search rather than rushing through a short circuit.

The wildlife list extends beyond the Big Five. Giraffes, birds, and other animals may appear, and the tour’s guides also discuss plants. One Japanese-speaking visitor specifically enjoyed seeing many animals, plants, and birds across the two days, as well as the sunset drive and the barbecue-style meal the next day.

The Schotia guides are also described as strong. The combination matters: Richard leads the Addo portion, while Schotia has its own guiding team. You get local interpretation in both reserves rather than one guide trying to cover every part of the trip.

Lunch at Schotia and the pace of the day

Lunch at Schotia is included. The supplied schedule also describes a safari lunch and a barbecue-style meal, so expect a relaxed meal connected to the reserve rather than a packed snack eaten in transit.

A six-hour game drive can be tiring. You will want layered clothing, sun protection, water, and a hat. Mornings and late afternoons can feel different from the warmer middle of the day, so a change of clothes is sensible. Comfortable shoes matter most if the Bellevue walk is part of your program.

The small-group limit of 10 is a useful middle ground. You get more space and access than on a large coach tour, while the shared vehicle keeps the cost below a private safari. The drawback is that you still share viewing decisions with other people. If one side of the vehicle has the best view, the guide will need to manage the group fairly.

The guides are a major part of the value

The clearest strength of this experience is the guiding. Richard and Rawson have received particularly warm praise, with repeated appreciation for their effort, animal spotting, and explanations. A guide who keeps searching for wildlife can turn an ordinary drive into a productive one.

The tour is conducted in English. That is important if you want detailed explanations about the Eastern Cape’s fauna and flora. The guides do more than provide transportation, since they lead the drives and help interpret what you are seeing.

There is also a practical warning here. Strong guiding does not always mean strong administration. A pickup problem in Port Elizabeth and a badly communicated morning walk time created avoidable confusion. Confirm the full schedule, especially the time of any Bellevue activity, directly with the operator.

One morning, a guest was told the giraffe walk began at 9 am, only to learn from the driver at 8:40 am that the group had needed to leave at 8 am. That is exactly the sort of detail you should check the night before. Ask what time you must be ready, not just what time the activity itself begins.

Is $716 a fair price?

The price makes the most sense if you need an organized connection between Port Elizabeth and the Addo area. It includes:

• One night of luxury accommodation
• Entry to Addo Wildlife and Schotia Safaris
• Transfers from Port Elizabeth and back to the airport or cruise terminal
• Dinner, breakfast, and lunch
• Two game drives
• English-speaking guides
• A small group limited to 10 people

If you arranged these parts separately, you would need to compare lodging, park access, vehicle hire, fuel, meals, and guiding. The package saves you from managing that puzzle, which is especially useful on a short visit.

The price is less attractive if you already have a car, accommodation, and a private guide arranged in the Addo area. It is also not ideal if you want a slow schedule with lots of free time. You are paying for convenience and access, not a cheap park entrance and a basic transfer.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to first-time safari visitors based in Port Elizabeth, cruise passengers with limited time, and anyone who wants a short wildlife break without handling every booking independently. It suits people who value guided interpretation and included meals more than complete control over the schedule.

It is also a good fit for photographers who want open-sided vehicle access and two different safari periods. The sunset drive is especially appealing for changing light, while the longer Schotia outing gives you more time to look for animals.

I would be cautious if you have mobility limitations, dislike long vehicle periods, or need perfectly precise scheduling. The walk and 4×4 access require mobility, and the communication problems reported around pickup and the morning activity are worth taking seriously.

Cancellation is flexible, with a full refund available when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if your Port Elizabeth plans are still shifting.

FAQ

Where does the safari start and finish?

Pickup is available in Port Elizabeth, including the airport or cruise ship terminal. The tour returns you to Port Elizabeth, the airport, or the cruise terminal.

How long does the experience last?

The safari lasts two days and includes one overnight stay in the Addo area.

What time is pickup?

Pickup is listed for 12 pm. You should confirm the exact meeting point and driver details with Rawson Touring before the day of arrival.

What time is the sunset safari?

The sunset safari is scheduled for 4:30 pm on the first day.

Which meals are included?

Dinner, breakfast, and lunch are included. The first evening may include a bush dinner, subject to availability and capacity.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

Should you book this Addo and Schotia safari?

Book it if you want two active days of wildlife viewing, a comfortable Addo-area stay, open 4×4 vehicles, and transport from Port Elizabeth all handled in one package. The strong guiding from Richard and the Schotia team, the sunset drive, and the included meals give the trip real value.

Before paying, confirm your pickup point, the full morning schedule, and the timing of the Bellevue walk. If Rawson Touring can keep those details clear, this is a solid short safari for seeing elephants and a broad mix of Eastern Cape wildlife without arranging the pieces yourself.