Addo and Kragga Kamma Safari: Big Five Close Wildlife

Two parks, two safari styles: elephants and open bush at Addo, then rhinos and cheetahs within meters at Kragga Kamma

A full-day guided safari from Port Elizabeth pairing Addo Elephant National Park with Kragga Kamma Game Park, combining Big Five viewing in a vast reserve with intimate wildlife encounters in a compact sanctuary. The tour includes round-trip transport from Port Elizabeth, entry to both parks, lunch at Taste of Africa, and a professional English-speaking guide who leads the game viewing at both sites. Children from age 3 are welcome. The vehicle and facilities are wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife safari and game park visit

• Drive 50 minutes from Port Elizabeth
• Explore Addo Elephant National Park
• Enjoy lunch at Addo Elephant Main Camp
• Visit Kragga Kamma Game Park

The experience

Eight hours from Port Elizabeth takes you through two distinct African landscapes. The morning drive covers 50 minutes to Addo Elephant National Park, where you enter on the southern side near Matyholweni Gate and move through thick bush and dense thickets searching for the park's elephants, lions and rhinos. The park's size means sightings vary (elephants are reliably present, while lions and rhinos are rarer finds), but the guide reads the terrain and adjusts the route to maximize encounters. At midday you break for lunch at Addo Elephant Main Camp, refueling before the afternoon leg.

Kragga Kamma Game Park operates differently. Nestled just outside Gqeberha, it is compact enough that animals often appear just meters from the vehicle: rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and various antelope species move through coastal forest, open grassland and watering holes. Over 200 bird species inhabit the park alongside smaller wildlife like monkeys and warthogs. The guide leads a self-drive experience here, meaning you move through the park in the air-conditioned vehicle under expert direction, stopping where animals are spotted or where the habitat shifts. The intimacy of the space makes the wildlife feel immediate in a way larger reserves cannot match.

Transport is included throughout: pickup and return from Port Elizabeth, movement between the two parks, and all driving within them. Bottled water travels with you. The guide speaks English and shapes the day around what appears and what the group wants to photograph. Small group sizes keep the vehicle from feeling crowded and allow the guide to tailor pace and stops to the travelers present.

What’s included

• Round-trip transport from Port Elizabeth.
• entry to both Addo Elephant National Park and Kragga Kamma Game Park.
• lunch at Taste of Africa.
• bottled water.
• and a professional English-speaking guide leading the game viewing at both sites. Gratuities for the guide or rangers are optional and arranged at checkout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Buddy's Tour & Shuttle Service

Is this one for you?Small groups and a professional guide mean the day is led rather than self-directed, which suits travelers who want expert knowledge of where to look and what to listen for without navigating the parks alone. The two-park format works for anyone wanting both the scale and wildness of a major reserve and the close-range encounters a smaller sanctuary offers, all in a single day from Port Elizabeth.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How much of the day do I spend actually driving versus watching wildlife?

The 50-minute drive to Addo is the longest single stretch. Once inside each park, you move slowly through the reserves with frequent stops for animals and photography. The guide controls the pace and can linger where wildlife is active or move on if an area is quiet. Lunch at midday breaks the rhythm.

What's the difference between Addo and Kragga Kamma, why visit both in one day?

Addo Elephant National Park is vast and wild, built around elephant herds and the possibility of Big Five encounters, though lions and rhinos are elusive due to the park's size. Kragga Kamma is a smaller, denser sanctuary where the same species (rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes) appear much closer to the vehicle and more frequently, offering a different kind of safari experience in the same day.

What wildlife am I most likely to see?

Elephants are reliably present at Addo, especially in the morning. At Kragga Kamma, rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and buffalo are commonly spotted, along with various antelope and over 200 bird species. Lions and rhinos at Addo are possible but not guaranteed due to the park's vastness and the animals' elusive nature.

Is the vehicle air-conditioned, and what about facilities for wheelchair users?

Yes, the vehicle is air-conditioned throughout the day. Both the transport and park facilities are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for wheelchair users, though the terrain and wildlife viewing involve time in the vehicle rather than walking.