Port Elizabeth is a city that is found on the southeastern coast of South Africa and has not only beautiful beaches, but also serves as an entry point a number of the most breathtaking safari parks and game reserves within the country. You may be a dedicated wildlife lover or a photographer, or you may just want to have an adventure that is unique and incomparable and the best safari parks and the game reserve around Port Elizabeth provides you with the best of opportunities of seeing the iconic wildlife of Africa in the wild. In this guide we are going to consider some of the most popular safari parks and reserves around Port Elizabeth and provide you with a detailed insight of what can be expected and what types of animals you are likely to find as well as how to get the most of the safari tour.
1. Addo Elephant National Park: One of the best Safari Destinations.
Addo Elephant National Park is one of the best places of sightseeing in South Africa as this is the best place to experience wildlife and conservation and it is only 45 minutes away at Port Elizabeth. It is a park that is reputed to have more than 600 elephants making it one of the preferred locations where people can view these grand animals close to their vicinity.
On top of the elephants, the big five (lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino) can be found in Addo which is also one of the best places to enjoy a complete safari including all the animals. Other creatures that are found in the park include the zebras, the wildebeest, the kudu, and a variety of bird species including the endangered black eagle and the elusive blue crane.
The park is special in the sense that it moves across many ecosystems, including green bushveld and thickets, to dry semi-desert areas to experience the wide range of landscape. Addo boasts a number of well-kepten game watching roads that one can explore easily on self drive safari or you are allowed to take an optional guided tour where you under the guidance of a trained ranger who will watch out wildlife and tell you interesting facts about the conservation program.
The Addo Rest Camp has a budget and luxury accommodation, including a viewing deck and restaurant on the premises, and on the one hand, you can see animals in the distance, which is why it is a good place to spend the night. To have a more addictive experience, it is better to reserve a hotel room at one of the surrounding lodges or personal game reserves that would provide them with a customized safari experience in the region.
2. Shamwari Game Reserve: Conservation Driven Luxury Safari.
Shamwari Game Reserve is the right place to be when one wants to enjoy his/her luxury safari tour. Shamwari is just an hour drive out of Port Elizabeth, and this is one of the most popular private gambling fields found in South Africa, with a very luxurious safari experience available. The reserve covers 25,000 hectares of untainted wilderness giving the guests a chance to experience wildlife in a rare and intimate view.
Shamwari falls within the big five circle of safari and therefore you will also have an opportunity to see the elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards and buffalo among an incredible variety of wildlife including cheetahs, giraffes, hippos and more than 200 species of birds. Shamwari does not only revolve around luxury and adventure but is also dedicated to conservation and is interested in the protection of endangered species and the rehabilitation of animals through its wildlife rehabilitation unit.
The reserve has some luxurious lodges and tented camps all made to complement the natural environment. Within the Shamwari there is a variety of high-end accommodation facilities (like Eagle Crag, Riverdene, and Long Lee Manor) that in addition to other amenities include their own plunge pools, spa, and even gourmet food. In game drives, the efforts of professional guides ensure that visitors receive informative remarks regarding how the wildlife is reacting and the efforts being made towards conservation.
3. Lalibela Game Reserve: A Wildlife Secret of the Road Less Traveled.
Lalibela Game reserve is a little-known gem a mere 1.5-hour drive off Port Elizabeth and provides a truly unique and intimate safari experience. Lalibela, has a varied landscape and offers extraordinary wildlife viewing which makes it a good option when one wants to have a more magnified and serene safari vacation.
The Big Five may be found in Lalibela, and there are cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, wildebeest, and several antelope species. Topography of the reserve is very diverse with dense bush, savannah, and riverine habitats, providing the wildlife with a good home. The rangers at Lalibea are educated and you can be sent out on game drives where you have an opportunity within close range of the iconic animals of Africa and get to know more about the ecosystem and the conservation work in the locality.
Walking safaris are also provided in the reserve; the visitors are able to walk in the African bush, which gives them a clearer view of the smaller things about the nature that is viewed with little attentiveness. To stay, Lalibela has a variety of luxurious lodges and tented camp, some of which include Marks camp, and Zuurberg Mountain village, whereby you can relax after one day of wildlife watching, in great comfort and style.
4. Kwantu Private Game Reserve: Luxury Safari at a Low cost.
Kwantu Private Game Reserve is only 45 minutes away in Port Elizabeth, a fantasticallet of low prices and high quality. It is also a good safari destination with a reserve of 6,000 hectares which is ideal to those who are on a budget yet would not be compromised on quality.
Kwantu hosts the Big Five and other numerous wild animals species, including cheetahs, giraffes, impalas, and kudu. The reserve is known to have successful breeding services especially the cheetahs and has an opportunity to have these marvellous creatures in front of your eyes. Kwantu provides the day and night game drive where the visitors can watch the animals at various times of the day and night.
Guided walking safaris are also offered at the reserve, which gives visitors an opportunity to explore the bush by walking around and know the many plant and animal species that are found in the region. The choices of accommodation at Kwantu include the Kwantu Lodge that has a mixture of luxurious rooms, family suites, and a swimming outdoor pool. It is also a perfect place to spend your time after a day of exciting adventures with a safari: the lodge has not only a wellness center, but also a restaurant.
5. Seaview Predator Park A family-friendly Safari Experience.
When you are traveling with family and want a hustle-free safari Seaview Predator Park, with only 25 kilometers of distance to Port Elizabeth, you are provided with the family-like environment when you can get close to the African iconic predators.
Seaview predator park accommodates an assortment of wild animals such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas among others and also different species of birds. It is not as big as some of the other reserves in the area but Seaview provides an insightful and entertaining experience to any visitor. Children are able to know about conservation of wildlife and behavior of animals in a participatory and entertaining manner. The guided tours in the park enable the visitor to view these mighty animals at a distance thus making a safe viewing of the animals and also be in a position to view other animals like the monkeys, antelopes and diversity of birds.
It is a great safari park and game reserve among children and beginners because it makes this park the best place to both enjoy safari adventure and learn with the family around Port Elizabeth.
6. Kwandwe PR: Diverse Safari Destination.
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, some 1-hour drive out of Port Elizabeth is a good choice to explore luxury, adventure and conservation. Kwandwe covers 22,000 hectares and is a rich habitat comprising of wetlands down to open grasslands and thick bushveld, which forms an ideal habitat of a variety of wildlife.
Big five, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, and more than 200 bird species find their homes in Kwandwe. Reservation conservation is also a feature of the reserve such as breeding of endangered animals such as the Eastern Cape black rhino. The visitors will be able to have morning and evening game drives along with walking safari to have a more in-depth experience.
Kwandwe accommodations have the Great fish river Lodge; Kwandwe Uplands homestead, which has luxurious and secluded accommodation, both of which serve those clients who are looking to experience the high end of safari experience. Be it a bush walk that is guided or just by the infinity pool at the lodge, Kwandwe offers a unique wildlife experience with an assurance of doing what is right.
Summary
Port Elizabeth provides an ideal location to make a visit into few of the best safari parks and game reserves in South Africa. The Big Five experiences at Addo Elephant National Park and the more upscale of the experiences at Shamwari Game Reserve, as well as the more affordable ones such as Kwantu, have an experience suited to any kind of traveler.
Be it because you want to seek an up close experience with the wildlife, a conservation experience or even a family oriented experience, the safari parks and game reserves around Port Elizabeth are the best places to be. The diversity of the ecosystems, availability of wildlife and guided tours that will be administered by experts will make the visit to these parks one of the best experiences of your life.
