Addo Elephant Safari from Port Elizabeth: Big Five in 8 hours

See the Big Five without leaving Port Elizabeth for the day

A full-day safari from Port Elizabeth to Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa's third-largest malaria-free reserve, with a live guide, prepaid park entry, lunch and hotel pickup included. The 8-hour tour departs between 8:30–9:00 AM, includes a 35-minute drive to Matholweni Gate, and covers varied terrain (bush, plains, hills, forests and coastal dunes) with frequent stops at watering holes and lookout points. Lunch is a traditional South African braai at the main camp, with time to browse the visitor centre and curio shop before returning to the park for more wildlife viewing.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day safari in Addo Elephant Park

• Pickup from Port Elizabeth
• Drive past Campanile landmark
• Pass Alexandria Dune Field
• Enter Addo Elephant National Park
• Enjoy guided wildlife safari
• Stop at watering holes and lookouts
• Lunch at main camp with curio shop visit
• Continue afternoon wildlife exploration
• Return to Port Elizabeth

The experience

How do you get from Port Elizabeth to a working safari without spending a full day on logistics? This tour handles the drive, the entry fees and the guide in one booking. You're picked up from your hotel between 8:30 and 9:00 AM and travel 35 minutes in an air-conditioned vehicle to Matholweni Gate, where prepaid conservation fees let you skip the queue and start exploring immediately. The guide shares stories about the park's wildlife, history and conservation work as you drive along gravel roads through the reserve's varied landscapes: dense bush, open plains, rolling hills, forests and the Alexandria Dune Field, which stretches over 80 km along the coast.

The route is built around watering holes and lookout points where elephants, lions, zebras, antelope and birdlife gather. You stop frequently for photos and wildlife viewing, with restroom breaks included. Around midday, the group pauses at the main camp for a traditional South African braai lunch (vegetarian options available), then has free time to visit the curio shop and visitor centre before heading back into the park for the afternoon drive. The tour exits south and returns to Port Elizabeth, arriving back in the late afternoon.

Small-group tours keep numbers manageable so the guide can tailor the pace and stops to what the group wants to see. Bottled water is provided throughout the day, and the air-conditioned vehicle means you're comfortable between stops even in the heat.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return to Port Elizabeth.
• 35-minute drive to Matholweni Gate in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• prepaid park entry and conservation fees.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• game drives through bush, plains, hills, forests and coastal dunes with stops at watering holes and lookout points.
• a traditional South African braai lunch with vegetarian options.
• time at the main camp visitor centre and curio shop.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• restroom breaks.

Options for this experience

2 options

Shore excursion from the harbourGuide in English · 09:00Lasts 8 hours. Lunch is South African, featuring flame-grilled meats served with salads, bread and a drink; vegetarian options are available if you let us know in advance. The safari uses closed, air-conditioned vehicles that keep you comfortable and shielded from rain or wind, and door seats have an opening window. Pickup is included.

Small-Group Shared SafariGuide in English · 09:00Lasts 8 hours. Lunch is South African, featuring flame-grilled meats served with salads, bread and a drink; vegetarian options are available if you let us know in advance. The safari uses closed, air-conditioned vehicles that keep you comfortable and shielded from rain or wind, and door seats have an opening window. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to8h before

GroupPrivate

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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Into Tours

Is this one for you?Book the shared safari if you're meeting other travelers and want to split costs, or choose the cruise-ship shore excursion if your arrival or departure time is fixed by your port schedule.

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Top questions

What animals can I actually expect to see in Addo Elephant National Park?

Addo is known for the Big Five (elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo and rhino) along with zebras, antelope, abundant birdlife and other wildlife. Sightings depend on where animals are on the day you visit, but the guide knows the park well and drives to watering holes and areas where wildlife congregates.

How long is the drive from Port Elizabeth to the park?

The drive to Matholweni Gate is 35 minutes each way. The full tour is 8 hours from pickup to return, including the drive, game drives inside the park, lunch and visitor centre time.

What's included in the lunch at the main camp?

Lunch is a traditional South African braai with vegetarian options available. The meal is included in the tour price, and you have free time to eat, rest and browse the visitor centre and curio shop before the afternoon game drive.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the meeting point?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour, so you don't need to arrange transport to a meeting point. The guide picks you up between 8:30–9:00 AM and returns you to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Is Addo Elephant National Park malaria-free?

Yes, Addo is South Africa's third-largest malaria-free reserve, so you don't need malaria precautions for this safari.