Sundays River Cruise & Kragga Kamma Game Park: 3 of the Big 5

River cruise, dune walk and game drive in one morning: see three of Africa's big five without leaving the Port Elizabeth region.

A full-day tour from Port Elizabeth combining a 1.5-hour river cruise on the Sundays River, a walk across the Alexandria dune fields (the largest coastal dune field in the Southern Hemisphere), and a guided game drive through Kragga Kamma Game Park where you spot lions, buffalo and white rhinos. The tour includes entry to both reserves, a farm stall lunch with a roosterkoek or homemade pie, biltong, a soft drink, binoculars and bottled water throughout. A live English-speaking guide leads the full experience, and hotel pickup is included.

The experience

The Sundays River sits 50 kilometers from Port Elizabeth and earns its nickname (Africa's Best Kept Secret) on the water itself. Your 1.5-hour cruise heads upriver where the bird life is dense enough that binoculars matter. The river is a recognized bird-watching destination, so you'll spot species most visitors to the region miss. The route takes you to the river mouth, where the Alexandria dune fields rise behind the beach: the largest coastal dune field in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the least degraded. Walking to the top of the dunes, you can see Saint Croix Island, which sits inside the Marine Protected Area of Addo Elephant Park.

Lunch breaks at Nanaga Farm Stall, where the kitchen makes roosterkoeks (a South African roll cooked on a grill until slightly charred), and homemade pies. You choose your main, pick a soft drink (the homemade pineapple juice is noted as worth trying), and sample biltong, the country's traditional cured meat. The stall sits on the route between the river and the game reserve, so it feels like a real stop rather than a rushed refuel.

Kragga Kamma Game Park covers 203 hectares on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth: smaller than the famous reserves but dense with wildlife. The afternoon is a guided self-drive game tour where you watch for lions, buffalo and white rhinos (three of the Big Five), plus giraffes and other species moving through their habitat. The guide directs from your vehicle, so you stay alert for movement in the grass and the tree line rather than scanning on your own.

What’s included

• Entry to Kragga Kamma Game Park and the Sundays River Mouth.
• a 1.5-hour river cruise on the Sundays River.
• a walk across the Alexandria dune fields.
• use of binoculars.
• lunch at Nanaga Farm Stall with a roosterkoek or homemade pie, biltong and a soft drink.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Experience combining a Sundays River cruise with a visit to Kragga Kamma Game ParkUp to 10 people · Guide in English · 09:00Pickup is included

Solo Traveler SupplementUp to 1 people · Guide in English · 09:00Pickup 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

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Carlin's Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see three of the Big Five without committing to a full-day drive into a distant reserve: the game park sits on Port Elizabeth's outskirts, so the river cruise and dune walk fit inside the same morning. Children from age 4 are welcome, and the mix of water, walking and vehicle time suits travelers who want variety rather than one long activity.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 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 long is the river cruise on the Sundays River?

The Sundays River cruise runs 1.5 hours and takes you upriver to the mouth where the Alexandria dune fields meet the water. You'll use binoculars to spot the bird life the river is known for.

What animals can I see at Kragga Kamma Game Park?

Kragga Kamma is home to three of the Big Five (lions, buffalo and white rhinos) as well as giraffes and other species. The guided self-drive tour keeps you watching the habitat as the guide points out movement.

What's included in the lunch at Nanaga Farm Stall?

Lunch includes your choice of a roosterkoek (a grilled South African roll) or homemade pie, a soft drink of your choice, and biltong to sample. The stall is known for its homemade pineapple juice if you want to try that instead of another drink.

Does the tour include hotel pickup from Port Elizabeth?

Yes, hotel pickup is included in the tour. The guide speaks English and leads the full experience from start to finish.

What are the Alexandria dune fields like?

The Alexandria dune fields are the largest coastal dune field in the Southern Hemisphere and among the least degraded. You walk to the top where you can see Saint Croix Island, which sits inside the Marine Protected Area of Addo Elephant Park.