East London Cruise: Private Beach Lodge & Giraffe Interaction

You stand next to a giraffe and realize how tall they actually are.

A shore excursion from East London that combines a private beach lodge with giraffe interaction, designed for cruise passengers with limited port time. You spend the morning swimming, walking the beach and eating lunch at the lodge, then transfer to meet Abby the giraffe at a nearby resort before heading back to port. An English-speaking guide accompanies you throughout, and the tour includes lunch, two alcoholic beverages, water and coffee or tea. The whole experience runs about 7 hours, with travel time built in.

Step-by-step itinerary

Beach lodge visit and giraffe interaction

• Drive to Private Beach Lodge
• Relax by pool or walk on beach
• Enjoy lunch at the lodge
• Transfer to Areena resort
• Change to safari vehicle
• Find and interact with ABBY the giraffe
• Return shuttle to cruise port

The experience

The day starts with a drive to a private beach lodge on East London's east coast, set back in indigenous sea bush with views across the water. Once there, you choose how to spend your time: swim in the pool or ocean, walk the miles of golden beach, or settle into the surroundings and let the pace slow down. Lunch arrives mid-day (a buffet, traditional braai or set menu depending on the day), and you have drinks included throughout your stay.

After lunch, your guide takes you by shuttle to a nearby wildlife resort (about 15 minutes away) where you'll board a safari vehicle to find Abby, a giraffe you get to interact with and feed. Your guide shares facts about giraffes while you're up close, which shifts how you think about their size and presence. Once the interaction ends, you transfer back to the shuttle for the return to port, timed so you're back in time to board your ship.

This is a small group tour, so you won't feel like one of dozens. Your guide is with you the whole way, and the lodge and wildlife resort are both built around a relaxed pace. There's no rushing between stops or cramming in extra attractions. For a cruise passenger with a port day in East London, it's a way to step off the ship and into a completely different setting without the stress of arranging transport or timing your own return.

What’s included

• Pickup from East London cruise port and return transport.
• lunch at the private beach lodge.
• two alcoholic beverages, bottled water, coffee and tea.
• giraffe interaction and feeding at the wildlife resort.
• English-speaking guide throughout.
• air-conditioned vehicle.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (2 to 12 years)

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 3 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 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendly

Operated by LangLoe -Travel, Events and Consulting

Is this one for you?Book this if your ship docks in East London and you want both a beach lodge experience and close encounter with a giraffe. Two distinct settings you can fit into one morning before your return.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years).

How much time do I actually spend at the beach lodge versus traveling?

Travel time is included in the 7-hour total, so you have a solid block at the lodge for swimming, the beach and lunch, then a separate window for the giraffe interaction. The shuttle between the lodge and the wildlife resort takes about 15 minutes.

What is Abby the giraffe like, and will I actually get to feed him?

Abby is a giraffe at the wildlife resort where you'll transfer after lunch. You have the chance to interact with him and feed him while your guide explains giraffe behavior and facts. It's an up-close experience that puts their size into perspective.

What's included in the lunch at the beach lodge?

Lunch is a buffet, traditional braai (BBQ) or set menu, depending on the day. Two alcoholic beverages, bottled water, coffee and tea are included throughout your time at the lodge and during the tour.

Will I have time to relax, or is this a packed itinerary?

The lodge is designed for unwinding. You can spend as much time as you want swimming, walking the beach or simply taking in the views. The pace is built around relaxation, not rushing between stops.