Schotia: Open Safari Jeep – Full Day Safari with Lunch

Schotia Open Safari Jeep is interesting because it lets you hunt for wildlife right next to Addo Elephant National Park, but from an open-air safari vehicle that makes spotting animals feel up close and unfiltered. I like that the guide, Joel Manjoko, runs the day with a calm, safety-first tone.

I also like the traditional braai lunch included in the middle of the safari day, with time to watch the cooking and then actually taste the results. The main thing to consider is that this is an early, full-day plan in a safari setting that is not built for wheelchair users, and it does not work for cruise-ship schedules.

Key Highlights You Should Know

• Open Safari Vehicle for clear viewing: You sit in a customized OSV design built for seeing wildlife without the usual vehicle barriers.
• Better odds near Addo, with fewer cars at sightings: Public self-drives are not allowed, which helps keep the animal activity less pressured.
• Animals that may not be in Addo Elephant National Park: White rhinoceros, giraffe, hippopotamus, crocodile, wildebeest, sable, and more.
• Tea break in a big open-air lapa with traditional rusks: A break that feels like part of the reserve experience, not just a pause.
• Lunch braai picnic in lapa style, plus vegetarian and vegan options: You get grilled meat plus plant-based alternatives if you tell them your needs ahead of time.
• Bring sunscreen, and dress for changeable weather: Ponchos and warm waterproof gear are included, but a warm top helps for sudden shifts.

Schotia Near Addo, Seen From an Open Safari Jeep

Schotia Private Game Reserve sits right beside Addo Elephant National Park, so you get that classic Eastern Cape wildlife-country feel without being stuck in the same kind of traffic rhythms you can run into at popular public parks. The big win here is the open safari setup. When the vehicle is open and customized for game viewing, you tend to get clearer lines for photos and a better sense of distance, movement, and body language.

Another practical plus is that the guide is not just a driver. Joel Manjoko is described as attentive, safety-focused, and very good at finding animals even when conditions are not perfect. If it rains, you still keep moving, and you still keep your eyes on the right areas.

One more reason I think this works well is the focus on a peaceful viewing environment. Public tourists are not allowed to do self-drives, so sightings often come with less vehicle congestion. Less chaos tends to mean less stressed animals, which is good for both comfort and chances of seeing normal behavior, not just animals that bolt the moment you arrive.

Your Day at a Glance: Pickup at 8:00 or 9:00, Return at 5:00

This is a true full-day safari. You start in the morning and you finish in the late afternoon, coming back around 5:00pm.

Pickup depends on where you stay:

• If you are in Port Elizabeth and areas along the way to Schotia, pickup is at 8:00am from Port Elizabeth.
• If you are staying farther out, you meet at Schotia Game Reserve Reception at 9:00am.

Once you meet, you handle admin and restroom use, then you hop onto the open safari vehicle. The day is split into three safari chapters, with a tea break and a lapa lunch in the middle.

If you like a structured plan, this timeline helps. You know when you will be actively driving, when you will eat, and when you might get the best animal time. If you hate long days, this might be a lot, but it is built to use the hours efficiently.

Safari Chapter 1: Big 5 Search, Plus Animals Beyond Addo

Chapter 1 is your early-morning push, when animals often feel more active and the reserve tends to offer better visibility. You are traveling in an open safari vehicle, which matters because you can scan quickly and keep your sightlines broad when the guide calls out movement.

This safari is designed to boost your chances of seeing Big 5 members while also focusing on animals you may not get in Addo Elephant National Park. That list is what makes Schotia stand out for many people. You have a real possibility of white rhinoceros, giraffe, hippopotamus, crocodile, wildebeest, and rare antelopes such as sable, along with other Big 5 members.

Why I think that matters for your day: Addo is famous, but it is not the only wildlife experience in the region. If you want a checklist-style safari day, or you just want variety, Schotia gives you more angles. Chapter 1 is where you try to connect with the animals most linked to Big 5 excitement, while still keeping room for other species.

There is also a calmer rhythm at sightings. Because public self-drives are not part of your game-drive day, you are less likely to hit the kind of jam where everyone piles in at once. Less congestion often means you get to watch behavior longer, even if the animal appears briefly.

The 10:00am Tea Break in a Massive Open-Air Lapa

At 10:00am, you stop for a tea and coffee break with traditional rusks. The rusks are not fancy in a restaurant way. They are a hard homemade-style biscuit, built for dunking and snacking, and they fit right into the outdoor rhythm of a safari day.

This break happens in a huge open-air lapa, which is basically a roofed structure for shade and comfort without closing you in. You get a breather from the vehicle and you reset your eyes before the next driving session.

Practical tip: treat this like part of the plan, not a random snack stop. If you arrive chilled or dehydrated, you lose the ability to enjoy the rest of the day. The safari includes bottled mineral still water throughout, but the tea break is where you actually slow down and feel human again.

Safari Chapter 2 Lunch Braai: A Real South African BBQ Picnic

After the morning drive, Chapter 2 keeps rolling until around 12:00pm, when lunch is served. Your guide, who also works as the chef for the day, treats you to a lapa-style picnic built around a traditional braai (BBQ).

This is not just a plate handed to you and then you rush back into the vehicle. You get a whole braai experience. Fresh ingredients are sourced from local farmers, and during the cooking you are welcome to assist if you want, while you relax with a cold beverages bar.

The lunch is described as a grilled picnic with a variety of three meats. If you eat a plant-based diet, or you have vegetarian preferences, you get options too. They specifically mention vegetarian and vegan plant-based grilled alternatives, as long as you tell them about allergies and dietary requirements in advance.

One of the smarter touches here is the cook-show feel. You can watch the meal being prepared, and if you want photos, you can take them during the preparation. That helps the day feel more like a local experience and less like a scripted tourist lunch.

If you are the type who worries about timing, this lunch sits right at midday when temperatures can shift and when visibility may change. It is a good match for a break from driving. And when you leave lunch, you get back into the game drive with a calmer, fuller stomach.

Safari Chapter 3: Predators, Scavengers, and the Late-Day Scans

After lunch, the temperature typically cools, and Chapter 3 focuses on what happens next. You head into other areas not covered earlier, with an emphasis on predators and scavengers.

This is where the day can start to feel extra rewarding, because you stop chasing only the biggest-name animals and start looking for the behavior that ties an ecosystem together. Predators often show up after midday when conditions shift, and scavengers can be easier to spot once you are used to the reserve patterns.

The plan includes a sunset safari that takes you back by 5:00pm. Sunset drives are tricky, because light changes fast. The open safari vehicle helps, though. You can keep scanning and you can read movement instead of being stuck waiting for a perfect angle.

Also, based on how the day is set up, morning tends to be quieter. There is still a human schedule, but the approach is built around less vehicle crowding at sightings. If you care about having the place feel peaceful, prioritize the earlier chapters and be ready for a bit more busier energy later in the afternoon.

Guide Joel Manjoko, Binoculars, and the Comfort Stuff That Matters

A safari lives or dies on the guide. Here, the guide experience stands out because the day is described as well-run, attentive, and safe. Joel Manjoko is specifically praised for making the day feel smooth, even in rain, and for delivering animals without rushing.

You also get practical extras included:

• Binoculars for better scanning
• Warm waterproof ponchos (a big deal if you get drizzle)
• Bottled mineral still water throughout
• 100% fruit juice
• A cold beverages bar

Those items are not gimmicks. They directly affect your day. Binoculars help you spot animals faster, and ponchos keep you comfortable enough to keep watching instead of retreating into frustration when the weather turns.

And because this is an open vehicle, sunscreen is on the list. If you forget sunscreen, you will pay for it later. The safari is also not suitable for children under 3, and it is not meant for wheelchair users, so you should match your expectations to the vehicle type and the outdoor format.

Food on Safari: Why the Lapa Braai Feels Like Part of the Reserve

Food on safari can be a weak point. Not here. The day includes tea, coffee, and cappuccino with traditional rusks, then a full braai lunch with grilled meats. The food is positioned like a real reserve meal, not a boxed-in picnic.

I also like that the meal is handled by the guide, meaning the day’s pace stays consistent. You are not waiting for a separate kitchen team. That matters when you are in wildlife time, where minutes can count.

If you have dietary restrictions, this tour is set up to handle them, but you need to communicate early. They ask you to let them know your food allergies and dietary preferences in advance. That is the key. If you do not tell them, you can end up with the wrong expectation, and safari meals are not the place to gamble.

So think of lunch as two things at once: fuel for the afternoon drive, and a cultural moment. The lapa setting, the braai cooking, and the chance to assist or photograph the cooking all make the meal feel like a shared experience.

Price and Value: What You Get for About $196

At $196 per person, this is not the cheapest safari outing. But it is also not just a vehicle ride. The value comes from the full-day format and the built-in support.

What is included that adds real cost in the real world:

• Pickup and drop-off in Port Elizabeth and nearby areas
• Professional English-speaking nature guide
• Entrance fees
• Binoculars and warm waterproof ponchos
• Bottled mineral still water throughout
• Tea, coffee, cappuccino with traditional rusks
• A traditional braai lunch picnic with grilled meats
• Vegetarian and vegan plant-based grilled alternatives (with advance notice)
• 100% fruit juice plus a cold beverages bar
• Guide tip is the only thing called out as not included

Then there is the less tangible value: a smoother viewing environment. Since public self-drives are not allowed, you are less likely to face the same vehicle congestion that can make animal viewing feel rushed. That can mean longer viewing windows and more relaxed animals, which is what most people actually want from a safari.

If you want a Big 5-adjacent day with extra animal variety beyond Addo, plus a proper lunch, the price starts to look fair. If you are strictly chasing one or two animals and you dislike long drives, you might decide a shorter half-day tour could fit better.

When This Safari Fits Best (and When It Might Not)

I think this safari fits best if you want:

• Open-vehicle viewing with clear sightlines
• A full day built around wildlife plus a real braai lunch
• Animals beyond what you might expect in Addo Elephant National Park
• A day with fewer cars at sightings, which tends to feel calmer
• A guide who can handle finding animals and cooking the meal

It might not be your best match if:

• You are on a cruise ship schedule (it is not suitable for cruise ship guests)
• You need wheelchair access (not suitable for wheelchair users)
• You are traveling with a very young child under 3
• You dislike early starts and long outdoor days

One more small reality check: this is an outdoor experience, so weather can affect comfort. They provide warm waterproof ponchos, but you should still pack sunscreen and consider a warm top for sudden changes.

Should You Book Schotia’s Full-Day Open Safari Jeep?

Book this if you want a full wildlife day with Big 5 chances, plus specific animal possibilities like white rhinoceros and sable, and you also care about the lunch experience. The open safari vehicle, the calmer viewing approach, and the lapa braai meal make it feel like more than a checklist outing.

Skip it if you cannot handle an early, full-day plan, or if accessibility needs do not match an open safari vehicle setup. If those constraints do not apply, this is one of the strongest ways to experience Schotia while keeping Addo close enough to shape the entire wildlife story.

FAQ

What time does the safari start from Port Elizabeth?

Pickup starts at 08:00am from Port Elizabeth and areas along the way to Schotia Game Reserve Reception.

If I am not staying in Port Elizabeth, when do I meet?

If you are staying outside Port Elizabeth and areas along the way, you meet at Schotia Game Reserve Reception at 9:00am.

When does the safari end?

The sunset safari returns you to the starting point at 5:00pm.

What is included in the tour price?

It includes pick-up and drop-off (for land guests in the specified areas), a professional English-speaking nature guide, entrance fees, binoculars, warm waterproof ponchos, bottled mineral still water, tea and coffee with traditional rusks, a traditional braai lapa picnic lunch, vegetarian and vegan grilled alternatives (with advance notice), 100% fruit juice, and a cold beverages bar.

Is lunch included, and what type of food is it?

Yes. Lunch is a full traditional braai (BBQ) lapa picnic. The braai includes a variety of three grilled meats, and there are vegetarian and vegan plant-based grilled alternatives if you notify them in advance.

Can you accommodate vegetarian or vegan diets?

Yes. Vegetarian and vegan plant-based grilled alternatives are included, but you should let them know of diets and allergies in advance.

Are drones allowed?

No, drones are not allowed.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen is advised, and it is also recommended to carry a warm top in case of sudden weather changes.

Who is this safari not suitable for?

It is not suitable for cruise ship guests, wheelchair users, children under 3 years, and it notes it is for land guests.

Is the guide tip included?

No. Guide tip is not included.