Amazing South Africa Safari near Cape Town

A safari in the Eastern Cape of South Africa provides a great opportunity to enjoy a great experience from Cape Town without breaking the bank. 

Situated at the far end of the picturesque Garden Route, the Eastern Cape is a beautiful region known for its exclusive private reserves. This area provides opportunities for Big Five wildlife viewing in a malaria-free environment. The Addo Elephant National Park is located here, and it offers a thrilling experience of drives to encounter wildlife firsthand.

South Africa Safari Cape Town

An authentic Safari Experience is possible.

Choosing a safari in the Eastern Cape is an ideal opportunity to blend a wildlife adventure with a holiday in Cape Town and along the Garden Route. The reserves in this region are conveniently located, with a travel time between 60 to 90 minutes from Port Elizabeth. This accessibility not only saves time and money on travel but also makes it an easy option for families.

Safari Eastern Cape

Apart from Addo Elephant National Park, the wildlife reserves in the Eastern Cape are privately owned, varying in size from 5,000 to over 25,000 hectares. Each reserve operates independently and offers its own unique array of wildlife. The larger reserves, such as Kwandwe and Shamwari, have larger wildlife populations, making them comparatively more expensive than their smaller counterparts.

Home of the Big Five

Shamwari Game Reserve, spanning 25,000 hectares, stands as the longest-running private reserve in the Eastern Cape. It is home not only to the Big Five but also to wild dogs, cheetah, hyena, hippo, giraffe, and zebra.

Kwandwe Game Reserve is the second largest in the region at 22,000 hectares. So, in this reserve you can experience excellent cheetah sightings and is a haven for birders due to its population of highly endangered blue cranes.

Smaller reserves like Amakhala, Pumba, Kariega, and Lalibela range from 5,000 to over 10,000 hectares, so they limit the number of predators to maintain ecological balance. Despite their relatively smaller wildlife populations, these reserves offer captivating game drives in a beautiful African setting and are generally more affordable.

Some of the smaller reserves, like Pumba and Amakhala, are now categorized as ‘split’ reserves. This means that the more dangerous wildlife stays in a separate fenced-off area to protect the overall wildlife population levels. While not identical to an authentic safari experience in a natural habitat like Kruger, these reserves provide a convenient way to witness the Big Five if you have limited time and money.

South Africa Safari Port Elizabeth

For those on a brief visit to Port Elizabeth, some reserves, including Pumba and Amakhala, offer day visitor safari experiences. This way, visitors can have a taste of the African safari experience in a shorter time frame.

The Eastern Cape is home to the unique Addo Elephant National Park. This area has lush forests, rolling green hills, valleys, and meandering rivers. Housing over 450 elephants, Addo boasts the highest density of elephants per hectare in Africa. It provides an unforgettable sight as these majestic creatures roam freely through the expansive 180,000-hectare park.

Go to a Safari in South Africa for less!

So, for overseas adventure travel last minute deals is always good to check what cruise lines are offering. We just saw February and March deals with Norwegian Cruise Lines on cruises to Africa. For less than a thousand dollars per person you can book a 12-night cruise to South Africa.