Half-Day Addo Elephant National Park Tour from Port Elizabeth

Nearly 700 free-roaming elephants share the reserve with lions, rhinos and leopards you might spot on the same morning.

A half-day game drive in Addo Elephant National Park departing from Port Elizabeth, with an expert local guide leading you through a 300-square-kilometer reserve to view elephants, buffalo, Big 5 wildlife and diverse antelope in their natural habitat. The tour runs 9am to 2pm with hotel or port pickup included. A lunch stop at Taste of Africa restaurant on the Sundays River follows the drive, with meals available at your own cost. Children from age 3 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Addo Elephant Park and Lunch

• Drive to Addo Elephant National Park
• Enjoy half-day game drive
• Stop for lunch at Taste of Africa
• Return to Port Elizabeth

The experience

Five hours gets you from Port Elizabeth to the park entrance (35 minutes by road) and into the reserve for a guided safari where elephants, zebra, buffalo and antelope move freely across more than 300 square kilometers. Your guide navigates the park roads to position you for sightings. Lions, rhinos and leopards inhabit the reserve too, though spotting them is never guaranteed. The drive itself is the whole point. You sit in an open vehicle watching animals in their own space, not in enclosures or staged settings.

Around 12:45pm the tour stops at Taste of Africa, a restaurant overlooking the Sundays River where you can order from a full menu (burgers, seafood, steak, or lighter options) at your own expense. The meal break is built into the schedule but not mandatory. You can eat or rest as you choose. By 2pm you're heading back to Port Elizabeth.

Pickup is included from your hotel or the cruise port. Bottled water and all park entry and conservation fees come with the booking. The guide speaks English and knows the park well enough to explain what you're seeing and where animals are likely to be found at different times of day.

What’s included

• Hotel or port pickup from Port Elizabeth.
• entry fees and conservation fees for Addo Elephant National Park.
• guided game drive with an expert local guide.
• bottled water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 75 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

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

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Zasendle Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a compact wildlife experience that fits a half-day schedule and includes transport from the port or your hotel. The small-group format with a knowledgeable guide means you're not driving yourself or navigating the park alone, so you can focus on spotting animals instead of finding your way.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: 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 many elephants actually live in Addo Elephant National Park?

Nearly 700 free-roaming African elephants inhabit the park, making it one of the largest elephant populations in the world. You'll see herds of them during the game drive, though the exact number you encounter depends on where they are on any given morning.

What time does the tour leave Port Elizabeth and when do we get back?

The game drive runs from 9am to 2pm. The 35-minute drive to the park means you leave Port Elizabeth around 8:30am to arrive at the reserve by 9am, then return to the city by mid-afternoon.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. The tour stops at Taste of Africa restaurant around 12:45pm where you can order from a full menu (burgers, seafood, steak and other options) at your own cost, typically R100 to R200 per person. The meal break is part of the schedule but eating is optional.

What wildlife besides elephants might we see?

Buffalo, zebra, antelope and warthog are common sightings. Lions, black rhinos and leopards live in the park too, but they are harder to find and sightings are not guaranteed. The park is also home to diverse bird and reptile species.

Does the tour pick up from the cruise port?

Yes, pickup is included from the cruise port in Port Elizabeth as well as from hotels. This makes the tour convenient for cruise passengers with limited time in the city.