Schotia Safari Eastern Cape: Big Five wildlife in open vehicle

Four hours spotting lions, elephants and rhinos in an open vehicle where you see them first

A half-day safari tour in Schotia Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, traveling in an open vehicle with a professional guide to spot the Big Five and over 40 mammal species. Choose a morning slot (8am–2pm), afternoon slot (1pm–6pm), or the Sunset Safari with a traditional South African dinner and night game drive. Bottled water, snacks and beverages are included. Children from age 6 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half-day Schotia Safari experience

• Travel to Schotia Safaris
• Choose morning or afternoon safari slot
• Enjoy 4-hour guided safari drive
• Spot Big Five and other wildlife
• Take snack break inside the park

The experience

Schotia is the oldest private game reserve in the Eastern Cape, operating for over 25 years with more than 2,000 animals across its land. The open safari vehicle puts you at eye level with the wildlife (no roof between you and the sightings), and the guide reads the landscape to find lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and giraffes as they move through the day. The reserve holds over 40 mammal species, so you're not tracking a single animal type but moving through a working ecosystem where the odds of seeing the Big Five stay high throughout the year.

You pick the timing that fits your day: morning (8am–2pm) or afternoon (1pm–6pm) both run four hours with a snacks stop built in. The Sunset Safari option adds a traditional South African dinner and a night game drive after the main safari, extending the experience and shifting the hunt to nocturnal animals the day shift misses. Bottled water, snacks and alcoholic beverages come with every departure. The vehicle is air-conditioned for the stretches between stops.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• bottled water and snacks.
• alcoholic beverages.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• all fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Schotia Tooth & Claw Safari: The Ultimate Big Five Wildlife ExperienceGuide in English · 08:00 and 13:00Pickup is included

Tooth & Claw Sunset SafariGuide in English · 13:30Lasts 6 hours and includes dinner and refreshments. Tooth & Claw: Departs from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and heads to Schotia Private Game Reserve. Enjoy the famous Tooth & Claw Safari in a custom-built 4x4 open-sided game viewer, designed specifically for safari trips. Enjoy unobstructed views, exce 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 dayDepartures at 08:00, 13:00 and 13:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20 · max 2 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Rawson Touring

Is this one for you?The open vehicle and four-hour window suit travelers who want unobstructed wildlife views and a half-day pace that leaves the rest of the day free. If you're after a full immersion with a night drive included, the Sunset Safari option adds the traditional dinner and nocturnal game drive in one booking.

Traveler reviews

4.92★★★★★★★★★★

12 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 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.

What's the difference between the morning, afternoon and sunset safaris at Schotia?

Morning (8am–2pm) and afternoon (1pm–6pm) are both four-hour open-vehicle drives with a snacks stop. The Sunset Safari runs the same four-hour daytime drive, then adds a traditional South African dinner and a night game drive to spot nocturnal wildlife. All three include a professional guide, water, snacks and beverages.

How many animals and species are in Schotia Private Game Reserve?

Schotia holds over 2,000 animals across more than 40 mammal species, including the Big Five (lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and giraffes). The reserve's size and diversity mean consistent game viewing throughout the year, not just seasonal sightings.

Is the safari vehicle open or enclosed?

The safari vehicle is open, which puts you at the same level as the wildlife and gives unobstructed views and photography angles. The vehicle does have air conditioning for the stretches between stops.