Schotia: Open Safari Jeep – Full Day Safari with Lunch

Schotia offers something Addo Elephant National Park cannot: a private reserve with no public self-drive traffic around animal sightings. That can mean calmer viewing, better chances of seeing lions, and access to animals such as giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and white rhinos. The open safari vehicle also gives you wide views and a real sense of the bush around you.

I like the full-day pace, with time for three separate safari periods instead of a rushed morning drive. I also like the food stop, where your guide prepares a South African braai with local ingredients while you enjoy drinks and help if you wish. The main consideration is the price, $196 per person, and the long day in open air. Weather can change quickly, so bring sunscreen and a warm top.

What makes this Schotia safari worth a full day

• A quieter wildlife setting: Public self-drives are not allowed at animal sightings, helping reduce traffic and noise.
• Animals beyond Addo’s usual draw: Schotia offers the chance to see giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, white rhinos, wildebeest, sable, and other antelope.
• A guide who also cooks: Your nature guide prepares a traditional braai lunch at the reserve.
• Three distinct safari chapters: Morning wildlife viewing, a midday meal, and a cooler afternoon search for predators and scavengers.
• A strong chance for personal guiding: Joel Manjoko is one named guide associated with this experience, praised for careful explanations and attentive service.
• Port Elizabeth transport included: Pickup and return are available from Port Elizabeth and places along the route to Schotia.

Arriving from Port Elizabeth at 8:00am

This experience is built for independent land-based visitors, not cruise ship passengers. If you stay in Port Elizabeth or somewhere along the route to Schotia, complimentary pickup begins at 8:00am. You then return to the same general starting point after the safari.

If you are staying elsewhere, meet at Schotia Safaris Reception at 9:00am. The reception is beside the N10 motorway, close to Nanaga Farm Stall. You will have time to handle administration and use the restrooms before boarding the open safari vehicle.

That meeting arrangement matters. The tour is not a port excursion, and the early start may not fit a ship schedule. It is best suited to someone spending at least one night in the Port Elizabeth area or already driving through the Eastern Cape.

The pickup included in the $196 price adds real value if you are staying in Port Elizabeth. You do not need to arrange a separate transfer to a reserve outside the city, and the return transport removes one more piece of planning from a long day.

Chapter One: open-air wildlife viewing before 10:00am

Once you board the customized open safari vehicle, the first chapter begins. The raised, open design gives you clear views in several directions. That is useful for wildlife watching, but it also exposes you to sun, wind, and rain. Bring sunscreen, and carry a warm top in case the morning turns cool.

The first part of the drive focuses on animals moving freely through Schotia Private Game Reserve, described as the oldest private game reserve next to Addo. The reserve’s location beside Addo is important, but Schotia is not simply a duplicate of the national park. It offers different animal types and a different style of viewing.

You may look for members of the Big 5, with particular emphasis on lions. The reserve is promoted as offering an increased chance of seeing lions within the Addo area. Wildlife is never guaranteed, of course, but the reserve’s restricted vehicle access can make sightings feel less crowded than a public park drive.

The animal list is one of the strongest reasons to choose Schotia. Along with lions, you may see white rhinoceros, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, wildebeest, sable, and other antelope. Some of these animals are not found in Addo Elephant National Park, so pairing Schotia with Addo can give you a broader view of Eastern Cape wildlife.

Your English-speaking nature guide does more than drive. The guide explains what you are seeing and helps you make sense of animal behavior and the surrounding bush. Joel Manjoko is specifically associated with this safari, and his guiding has been praised for clear explanations, close attention to individual wishes, and a strong focus on safety.

At 10:00am, you stop at a large open-air lapa for tea or coffee. A lapa is a covered outdoor gathering place, and this one is described as one of the largest in South Africa. You also receive traditional rusks, hard homemade biscuits that are made for dunking in a hot drink.

This is a useful break, not filler. After several hours in an open vehicle, you can stretch, warm up, use the facilities, and reset your attention before heading out again. The stop also gives you a taste of local food culture without taking you away from the reserve.

Chapter Two: a South African braai at noon

After the morning break, the safari continues through changing parts of the reserve until around noon. The route allows you to enjoy more wildlife viewing and scenery before stopping for the main meal.

Lunch is prepared at another lapa as a traditional South African braai. Think barbecue rather than a formal restaurant meal. The food uses fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers, and the standard offering includes three grilled meats, a selection of plant-based grilled alternatives, fruit juice, and a cold beverages bar.

The guide doubles as chef, which gives this stop a more personal feel than a packed lunch handed out from a cooler. You can watch the cooking, take photographs, and help with preparation if you want to take part. You can also simply sit back with a cold drink while the meal is made.

The food received some of the strongest praise attached to this experience. That makes sense: after a morning outdoors, a freshly cooked braai is far more satisfying than a sandwich eaten in the vehicle. It also connects the safari to everyday South African food traditions, rather than treating lunch as an afterthought.

Tell the operator about food allergies, vegetarian diets, or vegan diets in advance. Vegetarian and vegan grilled choices are available, but advance notice is important so the meal can be planned properly. If you have strict dietary needs, this is not the place to wait until lunchtime to explain them.

The lunch stop is also where the full-day price begins to make more sense. You are paying for entrance, guiding, transport from Port Elizabeth, drinks, two food stops, and a full day in a private reserve. The price remains a serious expense, especially for a family, but it includes more than a basic game drive.

Chapter Three: cooler afternoon searching for predators

After lunch, the vehicle heads into areas not covered earlier in the day. The timing works in your favor. Temperatures are cooler, and the focus shifts toward predators and scavengers.

This final safari chapter lasts until about 5:00pm, when you return to the starting point. A full day gives your guide more time to adjust the route and keep looking after a quiet sighting or a slow morning. It also avoids the feeling that you paid for a long transfer to enjoy only two or three hours in the reserve.

Still, the long format is not for everyone. You spend much of the day seated in an open vehicle, and there is no promise of constant animal action. Wildlife viewing includes pauses, careful scanning, and stretches of driving. You will enjoy it most if you like watching patiently rather than expecting a nonstop parade of animals.

The afternoon may also be busier than the morning. The best chance for a quiet reserve experience is early in the day. One practical note is that the morning can feel especially special because there may be fewer vehicles around, while more people may appear later. If having the animals to yourself matters most, keep your expectations focused on the early hours.

Why the open safari vehicle matters

An open safari vehicle gives you a broad view that a closed minibus cannot match. You can look left, right, and above the sides of the vehicle without relying only on windows. That makes it easier to follow movement across open ground and to keep watching while the vehicle is stationary.

The tradeoff is exposure. Sun, wind, rain, and sudden temperature changes are part of the deal. Waterproof warm ponchos are provided, and bottled still water is available throughout the tour, but you should still bring a warm layer and sunscreen.

The vehicle also affects photography. You may have fewer window reflections, but the ride is open to weather and road movement. Bring a camera or phone if you like, but do not bring a drone. Drones are not allowed.

Schotia compared with a standard Addo drive

Addo Elephant National Park is the famous name in the area, but Schotia gives you a different reason to go. Public self-drives are not allowed around Schotia sightings, so the reserve can avoid the lines of cars that sometimes gather around a popular animal.

That does not mean every sighting will be private or every animal will be close. It means the setup is designed for a calmer viewing experience, with a professional guide choosing the route and explaining what you see.

Schotia also adds animal variety. The chance to see giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, white rhinos, wildebeest, and sable is a major point for anyone who has already planned to visit Addo and wants something different nearby.

If you have only a short time in the Eastern Cape, this tour offers a strong one-day option. If you want to explore at your own pace, stop often, or control your own route, a self-drive in Addo may suit you better. Here, you trade independence for guiding, transport, meals, and a more managed wildlife experience.

Food, drinks, and practical comfort

The food provision is unusually generous for a safari day. You receive tea, coffee, cappuccino, and rusks in the morning, followed by a cooked braai lunch. Fruit juice, cold beverages, and bottled water are also included.

A guide preparing lunch creates one of the experience’s most memorable details. You can see the braai being made and learn a little about the cooking tradition through the process. It is a social pause that breaks up the hours in the vehicle without feeling disconnected from the reserve.

No guide tip is included, so plan to tip separately if you feel the service deserves it. The feedback attached to this experience places particular emphasis on the guide, especially Joel, the food, and the small-group feel. Those are the elements I would weigh most heavily when judging value.

The activity is not suitable for children under three or for wheelchair users. The provider also does not recommend it for cruise ship passengers, mainly because the schedule is designed around Port Elizabeth accommodation and a full day at the reserve.

Who should book this safari?

I would choose this experience if you want a full safari day without driving yourself. It suits couples, families with older children, and small groups who care about a guide’s attention, varied wildlife, and a proper meal rather than a short game drive.

It is also a good fit if you have already considered Addo and want access to animals not found there. The private-reserve setting and lower traffic at sightings may appeal to anyone who finds crowded wildlife viewing frustrating.

I would think twice if you dislike early starts, open-air exposure, long vehicle rides, or uncertain wildlife viewing. The tour cannot promise lions or any other particular animal, and the $196 price is high if you only want a quick introduction to safari.

The experience is conducted in English. Pickup and drop-off are included from Port Elizabeth and areas along the route, while others meet at the Schotia reception at 9:00am. Cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Should you book the Schotia open safari?

Book it if you want a complete day built around wildlife, food, and guiding rather than a bare-bones game drive. The strongest reasons are the quieter animal sightings, the wider range of species beside Addo, and the traditional braai cooked during the day.

The price is easier to justify if you use the included Port Elizabeth transport, enjoy the meals and drinks, and value a full-day search for animals. For the best chance at a calm start, be ready for the early pickup and bring sunscreen plus a warm top.

I would not book it for a tight cruise schedule or if you need wheelchair access. For everyone else, Schotia offers a thoughtful alternative to a standard Addo outing, with Joel Manjoko and the cooking stop adding a personal touch to the wildlife day.

FAQ

Where does the Schotia safari start?

The safari starts at Schotia Safaris Reception beside the N10 motorway, close to Nanaga Farm Stall. Visitors staying in Port Elizabeth or along the route can use the included pickup service.

What time does pickup begin in Port Elizabeth?

Pickup from Port Elizabeth begins at 8:00am. If you are not staying in Port Elizabeth or along the route, meet at Schotia Game Reserve Reception at 9:00am.

What animals might I see?

The reserve offers the chance to see lions, white rhinoceros, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, wildebeest, sable, other antelope, predators, scavengers, and additional members of the Big 5.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is a traditional South African braai with three grilled meats, plant-based grilled alternatives for vegetarian and vegan diets, fruit juice, and access to a cold beverages bar. Tell the operator about allergies or special diets in advance.

What should I bring?

Bring sunscreen and a warm top. The safari takes place in an open vehicle, and weather can change during the day. Warm waterproof ponchos and bottled still water are provided.

Is the safari suitable for children and wheelchair users?

The activity is not suitable for children under three or for wheelchair users. It is also not suitable for cruise ship passengers.