Bellevue Big 5 Safari & Giraffe Tracking Adventure

This full-day shore excursion from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) pairs a Big 5 safari with a guided giraffe tracking experience at Bellevue Forest Reserve, where forests blend into sweeping plains. Riding in open vehicles with passionate expert guides, you'll look for lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino, alongside giraffe, zebra, antelope, and vibrant birdlife. What sets Bellevue apart is its rare forest ecosystem — one of the Eastern Cape's most diverse private reserves and a setting you won't find elsewhere.

The safari is combined with a two-hour giraffe tracking experience on foot, trekking through thicket, fynbos, forest, and open grasslands while your guide shares insights into wildlife, ecosystems, and medicinal plants. The day runs roughly 8 hours, departing at 8:30 a.m. aligned to your cruise ship's arrival and returning by 5:30 p.m. The operator monitors ship schedules for smooth pickup and drop-off at the Port Elizabeth Harbour meeting point, and will contact you with updated instructions if your ship docks at a different pier. Allow at least 45 minutes from docking to clear customs.

Included are transfers to and from the reserve, an expert English-speaking guide, the open-vehicle Big 5 safari, the 2-hour giraffe safari, and a Boma lunch. Gratuities and personal purchases are not included, and you should have breakfast on the ship before docking. The area is malaria-free, fitness requirements are moderate, and the minimum age for the open-vehicle safari is 6 years. Bring a passport/ID copy, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, and binoculars, and wear enclosed walking shoes with a light jacket for coastal breezes.

Location: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa, departing from the Port Elizabeth Harbour meeting point. The tour visits Bellevue Forest Reserve in Paterson before returning to the harbour.

Duration: Full-day excursion of 8 hours on April 20, 2028 — departing 8:30 a.m. (aligned to your cruise ship's arrival) and returning by 5:30 p.m. Allow at least 45 minutes from docking to clear the terminal and meet your guide.

Activity Type: Guided Big 5 game viewing and giraffe tracking. The safari uses a shared open-sided 4x4, and the two-hour giraffe experience includes an open-vehicle drive followed by tracking on foot through thicket, fynbos, forest, and grassland. Fitness level is moderate — you must be able to step into a high-clearance safari vehicle and manage some walking. Minimum age is 6 years for the open-vehicle safari. The area is malaria-free.

Accommodation: No accommodation is included — this is a single-day shore excursion timed to your cruise ship. Package options:

• Early Bird 10% saver: 8,520 ZAR per person (available until April 21, 2027 — secure your booking before May 2027 with a 20% deposit to save 10%, balance due in 2028; limited spots)

A non-refundable 20% deposit of 1,704 ZAR is required within 72 hours of booking, with the total balance due 45 days prior to the trip.

Day 1 — Bellevue Big 5 Safari & Giraffe Tracking

Meet your driver/guide at the Port Elizabeth Harbour parking lot after clearing customs, departing at 8:30 a.m. Transfer to Bellevue Forest Reserve for an open-vehicle Big 5 safari, searching for lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino alongside giraffe, zebra, antelope, and abundant birdlife across a rare forest-and-plains ecosystem. A Boma lunch is included. The day also features the two-hour giraffe experience — an open-vehicle drive followed by tracking on foot through thicket, fynbos, and grassland, with your guide sharing insights on wildlife, ecosystems, and medicinal plants. Return to the harbour by 5:30 p.m.

• Transfers To/From Park
• Expert Guide
• Big 5 Safari
• 2-Hour Giraffe Safari
• Lunch

• Gratuities - Tips
• Personal Purchases