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Safari in the Eastern Cape Route: Port Elizabeth - Safari lodge - AddoThis module is brimming with natural beauty and opportunities for wild game spotting on the Eastern Cape of South Africa. After a night at Port Elizabeth you'll continue on towards Kenton-on-Sea where a boat will take you on a voyage to a private reserve. You'll spend the night in a luxurious tent on the banks of a winding river or surrounded by trees in the forest. Accompanied by a professional ranger you'll search for wild game throughout the stunning reserve. A 4WD will take you across glowing hills, through dense forests and over the wide African plains. Our ranger will share with you the secrets of the area's wildlife inhabitants and their natural habitat. Everything you learn about safaris from him will be put to good use when you finally head out on your own personal safari in Addo Elephant National Park. Don't worry; you won't have to look for elephants for long, the park is known for its large population of these giant grey creatures. Aside from elephants, keep on the look-out for the rest of the 'Big 5' roaming around the vast natural park... |
| Duration | 6 days - 5 nights | Departure | Daily |
| Comfort level (1-5) | 3 and 4 See accommodation | Accommodation | Double occupancy rooms with private sanitation, 1 night in a Port Elizabeth guest house, 2 nights in a luxurious safari tent, 2 nights in an Addo guest house (see pictures below), Comfort level 3-4. |
| Price | £549 per person - based on 2 people | Includes | Accommodation including breakfast in Port Elizabeth and Addo, full board accommodation at safari lodge (drinks included), 4 wild game activities, boat transfers and route information. |
| Transportation | Rental car | Excludes | Car rental, park entrance fees. |
Day 1: Arrival in Port ElizabethOur Eastern Cape safari module starts off in Port Elizabeth, South Africa's fifth largest city, located on the shores of Algoa Bay. PE (as Port Elizabeth is known as among locals) is a breezy, hospitable city. While you're here, don't miss out on Bayworld; South Africa's largest museum. Bayworld is not only home to the Port Elizabeth Museum, it also has a colourful aquarium and an intriguing snake park. PE also has several tropical beaches nearby for you to choose from where you can either sit back and relax or get your adrenaline pumping with water sports. This evening will be spent in a charming guest house with swimming pool within walking distance from the beach, restaurants and shops. |
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Day 2: Port Elizabeth - Safari LodgeTravel time: approximately 3 hours - total distance about 190kmAfter breakfast you'll drive to Kenton-on-Sea. Once you arrive in this sleepy town at the mouth of the Kariega River, you'll leave your car behind at a guarded parking lot. Make sure that you arrive on time, because the boat that will take you to the reserve sets sail at noon. The 45-minute winding river voyage is a lovely introduction to all of the wonders that lay ahead waiting for you. As you sail upstream towards camp, our professional ranger will share stories about the area as you sip on a cold drink. Try to keep an eye on your surroundings though... there's plenty to see as you go along. You may see a cormorant swooping down to scoop up a tasty fish, a kudu grazing with a newborn or a friendly fisherman waving as you pass by. After lunch, the rest of the afternoon is yours. This is the perfect time to read a book on your veranda or to chat with other guests at the lounge. If you can't wait to start off on your safari adventure, hop into a canoe for a river tour. At afternoon's end our ranger will escort you deeper into the massive reserve in an open 4WD. Crossing through the reserve, you'll see some of the diversity of this area's landscape. You'll see herds of zebras grazing on hillside and large groups of antelopes gathering on the open plain. A solitary rhino may stand around soaking up the last of the sunrays as a family of giraffes bows their long necks to quench their thirst at a water pool. Today's game drive ends in a typical Africa way; with a 'sundowner' in hand you'll watch the real thing slowly sink below the wide opens plains stretching out before you. Back at camp you'll sit down to a tasty dinner at the boma. Beneath a starry African sky, you'll find your way across oil lamp-lit paths to your comfortable home-away-from-home safari tent where the sounds of nature will lull you to sleep. |
Day 3: Safari LodgeAs the dawn's first rays of sunlight spill into your safari tent, you'll be awakened by the sound of birds chirping. After a light breakfast you'll head off on a morning safari with the ranger. As the world slowly awakens all around you, you'll get to see Africa at its best! Experience the intense scents and colours of the African dawn. Perhaps you'll see a herd of elephants or a macho lion searching for his lionesses. Watch buffalos stare sleepily into the distance as impalas jump and run away at the first sign of danger. You'll stop off for a cup of tea of coffee at the watering hole, where curious large brown eyes may try to size you up. A baby giraffe will likely be just as surprised to see you as you are to see him. All of these new impressions are bound to work up a healthy appetite, so luckily an elaborate breakfast will be waiting for you when you get back from safari. The rest of the day is yours to spend in leisure... relax, unwind and let the impressions of the day sink in. Enjoy the sensation of being in an stress-free environment without TV, cell phone or internet. There's one more safari planned for late afternoon, but otherwise you have the rest of the day to yourself. No need to be bored though. You can go on an extra game walk, make reservations for a massage on your veranda, cast out a fishing line from the pier or jump into the river for a swim (don't worry, crocs and hippos won't bother you here). If you feel the need to get out and about, you could go for a horseback ride on the beach, go deep-sea fishing or go on an historic trip through the surrounding area. |
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Day 4: Safari Lodge - AddoTravel time: approximately 2.5 hours - total distance about 190kmToday you'll say goodbye to the camp and its friendly staff... but not until you've had the pleasure of going on one more morning safari. After breakfast you'll board a boat for a downstream sailing trip to where the Kariega meets the Indian Ocean. From here you'll drive in the comfort of your own rental car to the town of Addo. You'll spend the night nearby in a lovely Cape Dutch-style villa with an elaborate garden. If you arrive early, you'll have enough time to head into the Addo Elephant National Park on the same day as your arrival. This remarkable park is nestled in green valleys and owes its name to the 11 elephants that lived here in 1931. This park was founded in order to save these gentle giants from extinction. Successfully so, since there are currently about 450 elephants living in the park. Not only will you see elephants in the park, you could also spot buffalos, lions, black rhinos and several different kinds of antelopes. There are major expansion plans in the works for the park and a neighbouring Marine Reserve may also be added to the park. This would mean that visitors could actually see the 'Big 7' in the park (including the Great White Shark and the Southern Right Whale). |
Day 5: AddoToday you'll have an entire day to spot wild animals at Addo Elephant National Park. The park as reasonably decent sandy roads, fine for driving through the park and spotting wild animals with your own rental car. Keep your camera handy, because there'll undoubtedly be opportunity for some excellent pictures here. If you like, you can join an organised game drive in the evening to for instance the nearby Schotia Game Reserve. Your accommodation will have more information available to you. You'll spend one more night in the charming villa.If you would like an opportunity to truly be pampered, you could also spend the night in a luxury safari tent with Jacuzzi and a breathtaking view. This accommodation option is based on full board and includes two game activities per day, one of which being a ride on the back of an African elephant. Aside from the elephant ride you'll also have an opportunity to feed them. |
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Day 6: Addo - End of the Eastern Cape safari moduleTravel time: approximately 3 hours - total distance about 290km |
Accommodation pictures |
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|  Guest house in Addo |
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