In a nutshell

Depart the quayside and embark on a city tour of Port Elizabeth, the third largest port and fifth largest city in South Africa and visit the Addo Elephant National Park, home to some 300 elephants and other rare animals.

Main stops

CAMPANILE MONUMENT
DONKIN MEMORIAL
FORT FREDERICK
ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK

The programme

When leaving the harbour, you will pass a 52 metre high memorial, the Campanile, built in 1923 in memory of the first British settlers who arrived in 1820. It is situated on the site where the settlers landed and contains a carillon of 23 bells. Stop for a quick photo and continue along the beachfront, stopping off at Shark Rock Pier for a photo-stop (subject to coach accessibility).

From here, continue along the beachfront to the suburb of Summerstrand, which is a very popular beach area, with many guesthouses and hotels.

Take a drive through the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Campus before continuing to the Donkin Memorial, a stone pyramid erected in memory of Sir Rufane Donkin's wife Elizabeth - Port Elizabeth was named after her.

From here continue to Fort Frederick, a monument which was named after Frederick, the Duke of York.

Thereafter, proceed to the Nelson Mandela Stadium, passing the Horse Memorial and St. George’s Cricket Ground en-route.

Turn inland to the flat valley of the Sunday’s River and arrive at the Addo Elephant Park. Your journey time to the Addo National Park is approximately 1 hour.

The Addo Elephant Park, which consists of + 51 000 ha of bush country, is the home to some 300 elephants, which have bred from the few that remained in the area after the herd was almost wiped out by the hired game hunter Major P.J. Pretorius in the 1920's. Although it belongs to the same species as the African Elephant, the reddish Addo Elephant is smaller with more rounded ears, while the females generally have no tusks.

On a game drive through the park by coach, you will hopefully be able to encounter this rare animal, as well as a variety of other game, which was recently introduced to the reserve. This includes lion, hyena, cheetah, zebra, eland, kudu and red hartebeest and wild dogs.

Also, quite notable is the unique flightless dung beetle, which is found almost exclusively in Addo.

Stop at the main reception area with some time to browse the curio shop. After your time at leisure, board your coach and transfer back to the harbour and re-join your ship.

Good to know

Comfortable clothing, binoculars and a sun hat are strongly recommended
For safety reasons, no children under the age of 6 years allowed on the open vehicles
No food may be taken into the reserve on the open vehicles
Smoking is not permitted during the game-drives
The roads in the game reserve are gravel. There are also inclines and certain parts of the game-drive can be bumpy. Not recommended for pax with back & neck problems
Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed