The BIG 7 - Slow and Easy (OV13)
Highlights
- Marine Safari into the protected waters of Port Elizabeth’s Algoa Bay searching for Dolphins, Seals, Sharks and seasonal Whales.
- Game Safari in the malaria free Addo Elephant National Park with close to 700 free roaming elephants
- Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino, Leopard Zebra and Warthog
- Diverse Birds and Reptiles
Overview
Come and join us to explore Port Elizabeth's shores in Algoa Bay and search for dolphins, seals, sharks and seasonal whales. The best time of year to see these incredible migrating whales is between July and December however, permanent species of whales such as the Minke and the Bryde’s whales which are smaller and more athletic, allowing them to feed all year round in these waters and can occasionally be seen on the trips. And of course there are the Dolphins and Penguins and other marine life as mentioned. We circumnavigate St Croix Island to view a large breeding colony of African Penguin.
We visit the malaria free Addo Elephant National Park for an exciting safari, one of the most popular national parks in South Africa, searching the thickets for the more traditional members of the BIG 5. Densest population of elephants in the world, close to 700 free roaming elephants, herds of Buffalo, Lions and Leopard amongst Zebra and Warthog and many species of antelope, as well as the rich and diverse bird and reptile life that inhabit this National Park.
The Alexandria dune field in Woody Cape is often referred to as a sea of dunes. It is considered to be the best example of a coastal dune field in South Africa. It is the largest and least degraded coastal dune field in the southern hemisphere. The dune field imparts a unique experience of spatial freedom, solitude and infinity. It has a surface area of about 15 800ha, width of up to 5km and stretching over 80km in length. Some 375 000 cubic tons of sand is deposited into the dune fields each year.
- Day 1 - Port Elizabeth, Algoa Bay and Addo Elephant National Park
7:30 am pick up in Port Elizabeth at place of residence. We start the morning on the waters of Port Elizabeth’s Algoa Bay searching for seasonal Humpback and Southern Right Whales, Dolphins, Seals and Sharks.
We circumnavigate St Croix Island for close up view a large breeding colony of African Penguin.
We return to the harbour for a satisfying light lunch in the nearby restaurant.
After lunch, we board the tour vehicle and depart for the malaria free Addo Elephant National Park for exciting game drives. After entering, we check in and immediately start our game viewing experience searching for the many and diverse creatures in the thickets and on the open plains while learning about the habitat in which they live.
Arriving at the main camp we check into our accommodation. After relaxing, we again prepare for an exciting game drive before dinner at the restaurant and a well-deserved rest.
Overnight accommodation in the main camp, lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast.is the Eastern most point of Algoa Bay, one of the largest inlet bays
- Day 2 - Addo Elephant National Park to Woody Cape Section
Early morning wake up for coffee, tea and rusks and depart for a safari in the tour vehicle, viewing a wide variety of African big game in these vast thickets and plains.
This is the best time to catch the predators wandering the thickets before they lie up for the day.
In this 48 thousand hectare section of the National Park the awesome Lion live side by side with Warthog, Zebra, Kudu, Eland and Red Hartebeest . We return to the main camp for breakfast before checking out.
We pack up and leave on a game drive, making our way out of the Park to continue to the Woody Cape dune fields on the north eastern shore of Algoa Bay. Woody Cape was once home to the first nation, the Khoikhoi people when they inhabited this area thousands of years ago.
After checking into our forest cabins we enjoy a picnic lunch before setting out to explore the spatial freedom, solitude and spiritual aeolian (wind driven) dune fields and their abundant remnants of an ancient culture and a view of Bird Island.
On our return, we light the evening fire for our traditional South African evening meal prepared on the coals under the canopy of these spectacular forest accompanied by the bewitching call of the tree Dassies and other sounds of the African forest before a peaceful night’s rest in our log cabins.
Overnight National Park, log cabin, lunch, dinner (braai), bed and breakfast
- Day 3 - Woody Cape Section to Port Elizabeth
Wake to the chorus of the forest birdlife before morning tea or coffee and a short walk, searching for the little Blue Bushbuck, Duiker while reading the myriad of tracks left in the sand telling a tale of the nocturnal meandering of the residents of this wooded wonderland.
Listen to the delightful song of the Chorister Robin or the rough purr of the brilliantly coloured Knysna Turaco through the forest as we prepare to return to Port Elizabeth.
- 3 Day guided tour, fuel, vehicle, guide
- 2 Night accommodation as per itinerary
- Entrance/conservation fees
- Community levy
- Boat tour
- Meals as per itinerary
- Bottled water in tour vehicle
- Bar bills
- Activities not mentioned in the above
- Personal shopping
- Gratuities