Schotia: Open Safari Jeep – Full Day Safari with Lunch

Schotia’s best trick is simple: it gives you a full-day open-jeep safari beside Addo, where you can look for lions, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, and other animals without the usual self-drive traffic at sightings. The day also includes a proper South African braai, prepared in the reserve.

I like the clear views from the customized open safari vehicle, and I like the mix of wildlife and local food. Guide Joel Manjoko is singled out for his calm, attentive approach, and he also handles the cooking. The main drawback is the long day outdoors, with weather changes and no guarantee that every hoped-for animal will appear.

Key things to know before you book

• Schotia adds animals not found in Addo: Look for white rhinos, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, wildebeest, sable antelope, and other species.
• The open vehicle matters: You get broad views for photography and a better sense of the surrounding scenery than you would from a closed vehicle.
• The day is built around three safari chapters: Morning wildlife viewing, a midday meal, and an afternoon search for predators and scavengers.
• The lunch is part of the experience: A guide-led traditional braai includes three grilled meats, plant-based alternatives, fruit juice, and a cold drinks bar.
• Morning may be the quietest period: Early sightings can feel more private, while more vehicles may be present later in the day.
• It is a full-day outing: Plan on roughly 9:00am to 5:00pm at the reserve, with Port Elizabeth pickup starting around 8:00am.

Why Schotia is different from a standard Addo drive

Schotia Private Game Reserve sits next to Addo Elephant National Park, but it offers a different kind of safari day. You are not simply driving through Addo in a public park vehicle. You ride in a customized open safari vehicle with a professional nature guide, and public self-drives are not allowed at Schotia.

That rule changes the feel of animal sightings. At Addo, a popular animal can draw a line of cars, especially when elephants gather near a road. At Schotia, fewer vehicles can mean less congestion and a calmer setting. It does not guarantee a private sighting, but it improves your odds of watching animals without a traffic jam framing the view.

I also like the range of species here. Addo is famous for elephants, but Schotia gives you a better chance to see animals that are not available in Addo Elephant National Park, including white rhinoceros, giraffe, hippopotamus, crocodile, wildebeest, and sable antelope. The reserve is also promoted as a good place to search for lions within the Addo area.

That variety is important if you have already planned an Addo visit. Schotia is not merely a duplicate drive with a different vehicle. It can fill in some of the gaps in a classic Addo itinerary.

Getting there from Port Elizabeth at 8:00am

If you stay in Port Elizabeth or along the route to Schotia, complimentary pickup and return transport are included. Pickup begins at about 8:00am, and you then travel to the reserve reception beside the N10 motorway, near Nanaga Farm Stall.

If you are staying elsewhere, you can meet at Schotia Safaris Reception at 9:00am. You will have time to handle administration and use the restrooms before boarding the open safari vehicle.

This arrangement works best for independent land visitors who can reach the area on their own schedule. It is not suitable for cruise ship passengers, so do not try to fit it around a port call. The timing is designed for a full reserve day, not a short shore excursion.

The meeting point is also the end point. That makes the day fairly simple once you arrive, but remember that the open vehicle returns to the reception at about 5:00pm. If you are driving yourself, leave enough time for the return journey after a long day outside.

Chapter One: morning animals and the first cup of coffee

Once you board the open safari vehicle, the first part of the day focuses on finding freely roaming wildlife across Schotia. Your guide leads the search and explains what you are seeing as the vehicle moves through the reserve.

An open vehicle gives you a wide field of view. You can look across the sides without a window in the way, and the higher seating position helps when animals are spread across open ground. It is also useful for photography, though you should still keep your equipment secure and follow the guide’s instructions around wildlife.

The morning is a strong time to focus on animal sightings. One person who spent the day with guide Joel found the morning especially enjoyable because the reserve felt quiet, with animals and the group having more space. That calm can be one of Schotia’s biggest advantages over a busy public park road.

Still, wildlife is wildlife. No responsible safari can promise lions, the Big 5, or a perfect sequence of sightings. The reserve increases your chances, particularly for species not seen in Addo, but your guide works with what the animals offer that day.

At about 10:00am, you stop for tea or coffee and traditional rusks. A rusk is a hard homemade biscuit, usually made to be dipped into a hot drink. It is a small food detail, but it gives the morning a distinctly South African touch rather than turning the break into an ordinary coach-tour coffee stop.

The refreshment stop takes place in a large open-air lapa, described as one of the biggest in South Africa. A lapa is a roofed outdoor gathering space, well suited to a safari break. It gives you a chance to stretch, use the facilities, and warm up before the next section of the drive.

Chapter Two: a traditional braai at midday

After the morning break, the vehicle continues through the reserve until around noon. This section is still about wildlife, but it also brings you toward the lunch stop and the day’s most distinctive cultural element.

Your nature guide doubles as the chef. At the lapa, the guide prepares a traditional South African braai, or barbecue, using fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers. The meal includes a variety of three grilled meats, along with plant-based grilled alternatives for vegetarian and vegan diners.

I like this part because it is more than a meal placed in front of you. You can watch the food being prepared, help if you want, and take photographs of the cooking process. The guide’s role shifts from reading animal tracks and behavior to explaining a familiar South African way of eating.

The drinks also make this a generous midday stop. Included are bottled still water, 100 percent fruit juice, and a cold beverages bar. Tea, coffee, and cappuccino are served during the earlier break with the rusks.

You need to report food allergies and special diets in advance. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, but the kitchen needs notice to prepare them properly. If you have a strict allergy, state it clearly when booking rather than waiting until lunch.

The practical weakness is that the lunch break takes time away from the drive. That is not a flaw if you want a slower day with food and conversation. It may feel less ideal if your only goal is to maximize every possible minute looking for animals. Schotia is selling a full safari day with a local meal, not a nonstop wildlife chase.

Chapter Three: cooler air, predators, and the return at 5:00pm

After lunch, the safari continues into other parts of the reserve. The afternoon chapter focuses more heavily on predators and scavengers, while also giving you a chance to see areas not covered earlier in the day.

The cooler temperatures can make this part of the day more comfortable. You may also find the changing light useful for photographs, although sightings remain unpredictable. The guide’s job is to search, interpret tracks and behavior, and choose where to go next rather than follow a fixed parade of guaranteed stops.

This is the section where the promise of lions becomes especially appealing. Schotia is presented as a strong place to improve your chance of seeing lions in the Addo environment. You should treat that as an opportunity, not a promise. The same applies to the rest of the Big 5.

The safari returns to its starting point at about 5:00pm. By then, you have had a long day in the vehicle, with several hours of wildlife viewing and two substantial breaks. That length gives you more time than a short morning drive, but it also means you should be ready for sun, wind, dust, and changing temperatures.

What the open safari vehicle feels like

The customized OSV is the heart of the outing. You sit in an open-air vehicle rather than behind closed glass, so views are broad and the connection to the surroundings feels immediate.

Bring sunscreen, even if the morning begins cool. A warm top is also a good idea because sudden weather changes are possible. Warm waterproof ponchos are supplied, which is useful in rain or wind, but practical clothing still matters.

Rain does not automatically end the experience. One particularly wet day still produced many animal sightings under Joel’s guidance, but rain can affect your comfort and visibility. A waterproof layer, secure footwear, and protection for cameras or phones are sensible additions.

Drones are not allowed. That rule protects the reserve’s setting and avoids disturbing wildlife, so leave yours at home. Binoculars are provided, which is helpful if you do not want to pack your own.

The vehicle is not wheelchair accessible, and children under three cannot join. Those limits matter because the safari is conducted in an open vehicle over a full day rather than in a standard accessible transport setup.

The guide makes a real difference

Joel Manjoko receives especially strong praise for his guiding and cooking. The useful point for you is not simply that he is friendly. He is described as attentive, careful, safe, and willing to explain what you are seeing while also responding to the group’s wishes.

A safari guide has to do several jobs at once. The guide must watch the road, understand animal behavior, manage distance, explain the reserve, and keep everyone comfortable. Here, the same person may also prepare lunch and involve you in the braai.

That combination gives the day a personal rhythm. You are not only transferred from sighting to sighting. You spend time with the guide at the lapa, then return to the vehicle for the next search. If Joel is leading your outing, expect an involved guide rather than a silent driver.

The small-group feel is another plus. The exact group size is not specified, so I would not assume a fixed number when booking. Still, the experience is described as a small-group outing, and a smaller vehicle group usually makes it easier to ask questions, share a sighting, and take in the meal without a crowd.

What $196 includes, and where the value lies

At $196 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see wildlife near Port Elizabeth. The price makes more sense when you count the full package: reserve entrance, a professional English-speaking guide, transport from Port Elizabeth and along the route, an open safari vehicle, binoculars, ponchos, bottled water, hot drinks, rusks, a full braai, juice, and cold beverages.

You are also paying for time. The safari runs through the morning and afternoon rather than ending after a short drive. More hours do not guarantee more animals, but they give your guide more chances to search different areas and let you experience the reserve at different times of day.

The food adds real value, especially if you care about local experiences rather than only wildlife photographs. A meal cooked in the reserve, with the option to help prepare it, feels more connected to South Africa than an anonymous packed lunch.

I would compare the cost with a standard Addo drive by asking what you want from the day. If you want the lowest possible price and are happy to drive yourself, this may feel expensive. If you want transport, a guide, an open vehicle, a quieter private reserve, and a substantial meal in one booking, the price is easier to justify.

Tips for the guide are not included. Set aside a little extra if you feel the guiding and meal service deserve it.

Who will enjoy this full-day safari most

I would recommend Schotia to you if you want a relaxed safari day with time for food, conversation, and several rounds of animal viewing. It is especially appealing if you have already seen Addo and want species such as giraffe, white rhino, hippo, crocodile, wildebeest, or sable antelope.

It also suits first-time safari visitors who prefer a guided experience over driving themselves. You can focus on the animals and scenery while the guide handles the vehicle and the search.

The tour is less suitable if you want a fast, tightly scheduled outing, or if you are hoping for guaranteed Big 5 sightings. It is also a poor fit for cruise ship schedules, wheelchair users, children under three, and anyone who dislikes spending most of a day outdoors.

For the best chance of a quiet reserve, I would value the early part of the day. Afternoon drives may have more people in the park, so the morning can offer the calmer atmosphere that makes a private reserve worthwhile.

Should you book Schotia?

Book this safari if you want more than a checklist of animals. The strongest reasons are the open vehicle, the chance to see species outside Addo, reduced traffic at sightings, and the traditional braai prepared by your guide.

I would skip it only if you need a short excursion, cannot manage a full day in an open vehicle, or want to control the route yourself. For most independent visitors based in Port Elizabeth, $196 is a fair price for transport, guiding, reserve access, refreshments, and a full local meal wrapped into one long wildlife day.

FAQ

Where does the Schotia safari start?

The safari starts at Schotia Safaris Reception beside the N10 motorway, close to Nanaga Farm Stall.

What time should I arrive at Schotia Reception?

If you are meeting at the reserve, arrive at about 9:00am. You will complete administration and use the restrooms before boarding the open safari vehicle.

Is pickup available from Port Elizabeth?

Yes. Complimentary pickup and drop-off transport is available for people staying in Port Elizabeth and areas along the route to Schotia. Pickup from Port Elizabeth begins at about 8:00am.

What animals might I see?

The safari searches for the Big 5 and may also include white rhinos, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, wildebeest, sable antelope, and other wildlife not found in Addo Elephant National Park.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is a traditional South African braai with three grilled meats, plant-based grilled alternatives, 100 percent fruit juice, and a cold beverages bar.

Can vegetarians and vegans join the safari?

Yes. Vegetarian and vegan plant-based grilled alternatives are available. Tell the operator about your diet or any food allergies in advance.

What drinks and snacks are provided?

Tea, coffee, cappuccino, and traditional rusks are provided during the morning break. Bottled still water is available throughout the tour, along with fruit juice and cold beverages.

What should I bring?

Bring sunscreen and a warm top. Sudden weather changes are possible, although warm waterproof ponchos and binoculars are supplied.

Is this safari suitable for children or wheelchair users?

It is not suitable for children under three or for wheelchair users. It is also not suitable for cruise ship passengers.