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Frequently asked questions.
How much does a safari from Port Elizabeth cost?
Self-drivers in Addo pay a Conservation Fee of 492 ZAR per international adult and 246 ZAR per child (2025/26 rates) plus the hire car. Operator prices for day programmes are from 2,500 ZAR at Schotia (Tooth & Claw with dinner), and at Amakhala 2,270 ZAR for the half day and 2,985 ZAR for the full day with lunch. Kragga Kamma costs 150 ZAR entry. Booked Addo day tours with hotel pickup usually include transfer, guide and park fee.
Drive yourself or book a tour?
If you have a hire car, driving Addo yourself is the cheapest option; SANParks confirms that an ordinary car is enough, and hop-on guides are available at the Main Camp for 400 ZAR per vehicle. A tour is worthwhile without a hire car, if you are unsure about driving on the left, or if you want to visit Schotia or Amakhala, where only guided drives are possible.
How many hours do you need in Addo?
One day is enough for the main game area. The drive alone from the Matyholweni Gate to the Main Camp through the park takes about 2 hours with game viewing according to SANParks. Four to six hours in the park plus an hour's drive each way from Port Elizabeth make a day of roughly 07:00 to 16:00.
Can you see the Big Five from Port Elizabeth in a day?
Yes, according to SANParks all of the Big Five live in Addo's main game area, and Amakhala lists them as well. Realistically, day visitors almost always see elephants and buffalo, lions and rhinos with luck, leopards almost never. Schotia has no leopard and no black rhino, but lion sightings are very likely.
Does a safari from Port Elizabeth work with children?
Yes. Addo in your own car is possible for all ages; children under 2 pay nothing, up to 11 half the entry fee. Children are only allowed on the open SANParks game drives from age 6, at Kragga Kamma from age 5. For small children, Kragga Kamma at two to three hours is the shortest option.
Which time of day is best?
The early morning after the gates open at 07:00 and the late afternoon. According to SANParks, lions are most likely to show themselves early in the morning or on sunset and night drives; on hot days the elephants come to the Hapoor Dam in the afternoon. The Tooth & Claw Safari at Schotia covers exactly the afternoon and evening.
Can you visit Addo from Cape Town in a day?
No. From Cape Town it is around 750 to 850 km depending on the route, that is 8 to 9 hours of pure driving in one direction. Addo is the typical end of the Garden Route with an overnight stay in Port Elizabeth, Colchester or inside the park.
Does Addo work as a day trip from the Garden Route?
From Jeffreys Bay or St Francis Bay, yes; the approach is about an hour longer than from Port Elizabeth. From Plettenberg Bay or Knysna the day gets long with around three to four hours of driving each way; an overnight stay in Port Elizabeth or near Addo is better.
Do you need malaria prophylaxis?
No. According to the German Federal Foreign Office the Eastern Cape is malaria-free; South Africa's risk areas are only the north-east of Limpopo and Mpumalanga plus parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Can you visit Kariega or Shamwari as a day guest?
Kariega lists no day programme on its website; day visits are only offered through cruise and tour operators, and the reserve is around 145 km from Port Elizabeth. The verifiable day-trip destinations with day programmes of their own remain Addo, Schotia and Amakhala.
