How to travel to Eastern Cape’S Game ReserveS
Depending on your individual travel needs you can get to the Eastern Cape’s Game Reserves in a variety of ways. Most people choose a scheduled flight or shuttle flight to the reserve (where available). Or you can easily access all of the reserves by rental car.
nullGPS co-ordinates
- Amakhala Game Reserve: -33.5686, 26.1411
- Kariega Game Reserve: -33.579722, 26.603611
- Lalibela Game Reserve: -33.470578, 26.25462
- Shamwari Game Reserve: -33.477995, 26.036359
- Kwantu Private Game Reserve: -33.416667, 26.166667
Getting to Eastern Cape by road
Direction to Amakhala Game Reserve:
From Port Elizabeth take the N2 towards Grahamstown. Approximately 50 km from Port Elizabeth is an intersection, keep left on the N2 towards Grahamstown. From the intersection travel for a further 13km towards Amakhala Game Reserve (see road signs of various lodges along the way).
Direction to Kariega Game Reserve:
Kariega is about a 1.5-hour drive east of Port Elizabeth. Regardless of which lodge you’re staying at, you’ll start off driving east on the N2 from Port Elizabeth before getting on the R72 at the Port Alfred turnoff. The entrance to Settlers Drift will be on your left 6 miles (10 km) after passing through the town of Alexandria. If you’re staying at River Lodge, the entrance is another 3 miles (5 km) beyond the entrance to Settlers. If you’re staying at any of the other lodges, you’ll follow the R72 to Kenton on Sea, where you’ll get on the R343 heading north. The entrance is about 8.5 miles (14 km) north of Kenton on Sea.
Direction to Lalibela Game Reserve:
The closest town is Grahamstown, a historic 1820 Settler town. It has most amenities and a university. Excellent beaches can be found in Port Elizabeth and further up the coast at Kenton-on-Sea (about 40 minutes drive from Lalibela Game Reserve). The nearest national airport is in Port Elizabeth, affectionately known as ‘The Friendly City’. Guests at Lalibela can also visit the Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth.
Self Drive Directions
Take the N2 highway out of Port Elizabeth in the direction of Grahamstown. After about 51km (32 miles) you will come to a large ‘spaghetti’ junction. Follow the signs for N2 Grahamstown. Drive along the N2 until you cross the Bushman’s River. Exactly 13km (8 miles) later you will see the large Lalibela sign on your left-hand side.
Direction to Shamwari Game Reserve:
From Port Elizabeth
Follow the N2 on the Grahamstown road for 65kms, turn left at the Shamwari sign on to gravel (R342) for 7 km, turn right at the Shamwari sign.
From Johannesburg
(R32) turn left at Paterson (R342), follow the road for 11kms, turn left at the Shamwari sign.
From Grahamstown
Follow the N2 towards Port Elizabeth for 58kms, turn right at the Shamwari sign (R342) for 7kms, and right at the Shamwari sign.
Most car rental companies have branches in the major cities and airports. Check with Avis, Budget, Imperial, Europcar, Tempest.
Direction to Kwantu Private Game Reserve:
From Cape Town
Take the N2 towards Port Elizabeth, enjoying the scenic Garden Route and all its splendor, en-route to Kwantu. A drive from Durban will see you traveling along the N2 as well, and should you be visiting us from Bloemfontein, enjoy the beautiful countryside whilst driving along the N10. Visitors will take the N2 to Grahamstown from Nelson Mandela Bay, and continue for approximately 80 km turning left at the Sidbury turnoff and following the signs to Kwantu (approximately 15km later).
From Port Elizabeth or Grahamstown
From the N2 take the turnoff signed “Sidbury”
At the T-junction turn right to the gate to Kwantu Game Reserve.
Airlines & ticket prices
How about you let our consultants find you the best rates on flights.
Getting to Eastern Cape by air
Amakhala Game Reserve
Most visitors to Amakhala Game Reserve arrive via O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg or Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. You may start your tour from either of these destinations by organized safari or by driving yourself. Many choose to drive via the Garden Route from Cape Town, taking a leisurely week or two to do so before arriving at Amakhala.
Domestic Flights
Tour operators can arrange charter flights to parks and accommodations for you as part of your tour package. As an alternative to driving, you can take a flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Port Elizabeth Airport (PLZ), where you can rent a car. The distance from Port Elizabeth to the park is about 70km/43mi on a paved road. There are several domestic carriers through which scheduled flights to Port Elizabeth may be booked, as well.
Passport, visa and other entry requirements
Passports
Please note that anyone travelling to Southern Africa must have two consecutive blank pages in their passport which lie side by side when the passport is open (i.e. a left and a right-hand page). Passengers travelling to Southern Africa with passports which do not comply with these requirements will either be stopped from boarding the aircraft or risk deportation on arrival in Southern Africa.
Visa’s
To enter South Africa, a passport valid for at least 30 days after the intended date of departure is required by all nationals. Passports must have at least two blank pages for entry stamps. Our recommendation is to ensure you have three or even four blank pages if you are traveling through more than one country. If there are insufficient pages, entry could be denied. See country specific VISA requirements here.
For more relevant information please see our terms and conditions.