Big Five Safari at Schotia Private Game Reserve, Port Elizabeth

Watch lions and leopards move through grassland and forest from an open vehicle.

A guided game drive at Schotia Private Game Reserve near Port Elizabeth puts you in an open vehicle with a live English-speaking guide to track the Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and Cape buffalo) across savannahs, grasslands and forests. The reserve also holds zebras, giraffes, antelopes, wildebeests, hyenas and numerous bird species. Pickup is included. The drive lasts around four hours and comes with drinks, water and snacks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Safari at Schotia Private Game Reserve

• Arrive at Schotia Private Game Reserve
• Join guided game drive in open vehicle
• Spot the Big Five animals
• Observe other wildlife like zebras and giraffes
• Explore savannahs, grasslands, and forests
• Learn about conservation efforts

The experience

The reserve sits in South Africa's Eastern Cape, and the game drive is built around what you'll see from the open vehicle: the Big Five are the draw, but the landscape itself changes as you move through it. Savannahs give way to forests, and the animals you encounter shift with the terrain. A live guide narrates what's happening, not just which animal is which, but how the reserve's conservation work keeps the habitat intact and the wildlife thriving. That context is part of what makes the sighting stick.

You travel in an open vehicle, which is why the encounters feel close and unfiltered. The guide handles the route and the timing. Your job is to watch, listen and ask. Drinks, water and snacks travel with you, so you're not managing hunger or thirst during the drive. The whole outing runs about four hours, which is long enough to cover ground and hit multiple habitat zones without burning the day.

Pickup is arranged as part of the booking, so you don't coordinate a separate transfer. Two options are available (the standard Big Five Safari or the Tooth and Claw variant), and you choose at checkout. Both run the same reserve and the same four-hour window. The difference lies in what each option emphasizes or includes, so read the details before you book.

What’s included

• Pickup from your accommodation.
• guided game drive in an open vehicle with a live English-speaking guide.
• drinks, water and snacks during the outing.

Options for this experience

2 options

Big Five Safari at Schotia Private Game Reserve in Port ElizabethGuide in English · 09:00 and 13:00Pickup is included

Tooth and clawGuide in English · 13:30Lasts 8 hours and includes dinner and pickup

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 13:00 and 13:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Aza Addo

Is this one for you?Choose this if you prefer watching wildlife from an open vehicle with a guide rather than hiking. You'll cover multiple landscapes and spot a wider range of animals in four hours than on foot.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What animals will I actually see on the game drive?

The Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and Cape buffalo) are the primary focus, but the reserve also holds zebras, giraffes, antelopes, wildebeests, hyenas and numerous bird species. What you encounter depends on where the animals are on the day you visit.

How long is the game drive and what's included?

The drive lasts around four hours and includes pickup, a live English-speaking guide, drinks, water and snacks during the outing.

What's the difference between the Big Five Safari and the Tooth and Claw option?

Both options run the same four-hour game drive at Schotia Private Game Reserve with a live guide. The Tooth and Claw variant offers a different emphasis or experience. Check the option details at checkout to see which suits your interests.

Will I be in a closed vehicle or open air?

Game drives use open vehicles, which gives you unobstructed views and closer sightings of wildlife as you move through the reserve.