Port day · SAFARI
Good off-road safaris sell out weeks before the sailing date and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Ride with a local guide such as Ellen, Troy, Dave, or Lori through Hilo’s volcanic country. Walk into a Mauna Loa lava tube, see lava tree molds, visit black-sand shores, and trace Kilauea’s destruction near Pahoa and Leilani Estates.
“It was really good the driver was really knowledgeable about the entire trip she was very helpful and friendly”
Travel from Port Elizabeth Harbor to Schotia Private Game Reserve for a guided open-vehicle safari beside Addo Elephant National Park. Guides such as Norman, Donald, Marilyn, and Robert are praised for finding wildlife. Expect Big Five searches, giraffes, hippos, snacks, drinks, and a substantial food stop.
“We had a lovely day, with Maralyn,(?) our guide. We saw all of the animals we had hoped to see, plus a few extras and numerous birds.”
From Dominica’s cruise pier, ride 30 minutes inland to Wacky Rollers, gear up, and spend about 90 minutes tubing the Layou River. Guides such as Garvin help you through mild rapids and rocky spots, then you can change and enjoy rum punch and local fruit before returning to port.
“The river tubing was fantastic- guides were very talkative and explained the conditions of the island and their heritage.”
Spend a full day at Addo Elephant National Park with an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, park fees, lunch, snacks, and drinks included. Expect elephants, zebras, warthogs, lions, and more across five biomes, with pickup from Port Elizabeth, the harbor, airport, Addo, Bluewater Bay, or Colchester.
“Netter Guide. Toller Ausflug. Bei der Abfahrt kleines Chaos (zu wenig Busse).”
Meet Wild Dreams at Hambantota Port, then ride a safari jeep to Yala National Park for about five hours of wildlife viewing. English-speaking guides such as Ranga, Ishan, and Koshana have helped visitors spot elephants, leopards, crocodiles, monkeys, and birds. Water, snacks, cool drinks, and binoculars are provided, but the park ticket costs extra.
“Excellent your. Guide/driver on time, pleasant, courteous and a good driver. The jeep tour to Yala was great, very experienced driver. Excellent value for money. Highly recommended!”
From Hambantota Port, take a private 4WD Jeep into Yala National Park for about four hours. Your English-speaking driver doubles as tracker, with possible sightings of elephants, crocodiles, leopards, sloth bears, and many birds. Lakshan is one guide praised for careful driving and clear English.
“A trip to Yala is definitely worth it as a shore excursion. Our guide didn’t do much for us, however. When we got to the park, he didn’t point out wildlife, but stopped when we asked him to so we could take pictures of what we spotted. He wRead more”
You’ll leave Port Elizabeth for Addo Elephant National Park in a small-group, air-conditioned vehicle, with morning and afternoon game drives, a picnic lunch, water, and an informed guide. Emmanuel and Gary have been praised for spotting elephants, rhinos, warthogs, birds, and smaller park life.
“The trip was “great”! It went above and beyond our expectations! We booked independently on Oceania cruise separately. As we see large buses picking up large amount of people we had a more intimate experience due to small nuRead more”
Set out from Funchal or Caniço in a private open-air 4x4 with a local guide such as Nico, Tiago, or Miguel. Shape your 4 to 5-hour route around viewpoints, villages, forest roads, cliffs, and quieter corners of Madeira, with pickup and drop-off included.
“Our tour was amazing. Our guide Nicko had so much knowledge of his island. Any question we asked was met with an answer. The adventure was filled with fun. The open aired jeep allowed us to see panoramic views of the city and the forest. The views of the cliffs were unmatched. Highly recommend this tour.”
Spend about nine hours from Port Elizabeth exploring Addo Elephant National Park in a small group of up to nine. Guides such as Steven, Allan, and Edy lead 4x4 game drives, pause for elephant sightings, and serve a South African braai with meats, salads, drinks, and rooster brood.
“We enjoyed seeing lots of elephants. We saw lots of animals but not as many as we would have liked but the day was great and the guide very good. We enjoyed the Brai.”
Leave Hambantota Port for a five-hour Yala National Park safari in a private-feeling jeep capped at six people. Your English-speaking driver-guide handles the park roads while you watch for elephants, crocodiles, sloth bears, leopards, and birds. Park admission costs an extra $40 per person.
“Most friendly and fun tour. Just be aware if you’re on a cruise ship, the port is so large that you will may need a ride to the port exit gate to meet the guide. The tour met a bit earlier that the port shuttles were running but we were lucky somRead more”
Leave Hambantota Port in a private safari jeep for roughly four hours inside Yala National Park. A chauffeur-guide leads the search for elephants, leopards, crocodiles, birds, and more. Park entry, listed separately from the $58 tour price, is extra, and port delays can shorten your safari.
“Picked up from Hambantota port on time Brilliant safari with our guide. Very friendly and knowledgable. We were lucky to see a leopard, elephants, jackal, crocs, deers, mongoose, other animals as well as all the amazing birds. So beautiful and peaceful. Thank you!”
You’ll spend about six hours on guided game drives in Addo Elephant National Park, with a local English-speaking guide, park entry, drinks, snacks, and transport from Gqeberha or nearby towns. Expect elephants, Cape buffalo, zebra, kudu, and a flexible safari day, but confirm vehicle comfort and pickup time before booking.
“everything was OK and that whole driver team and guide really good and friendly”
From Hambantota Port or a Hambantota-area hotel, you ride into Ruhunu Yala National Park in a 4x4 jeep for five hours of wildlife watching. Expect elephants, leopards, crocodiles, buffalo, birds, and coastal scenery. An English-speaking guide is advertised, but communication may vary.
“Provider did not show up. I was let down terribly absolutely devastated.”
Spend about seven hours exploring rural Crete in a private Jeep with a local guide such as Louise. Visit Skotino Cave, cross a gorge, stop at a sunken village, and enjoy included lunch in Kastelli. Pickup is available near Hersonissos.
“We had a wonderful time exploring Crete and its deserts and remote areas. Our wonderful tour guide, Louise, was a pleasure to be around with. We were placed in a group of exclusively French tourist, but that did not hinder Louise from taking good care of us during thRead more”
You’ll leave Doha for Sealine Beach, race across Qatar’s dunes in a 4x4, sandboard, and visit Khor Al Udaid. Optional 30-minute quad biking, camel rides, and falcon photos add variety. Guides such as Ishtiaq, Kareem, Salman, Khan, and Ibro have been praised for photos and attentive service.
“Very fun! Dune bashing was the best. ATV riding was awesome going through all the different race tracks. I would recommend the higher CC ATVs. Got to take pictures with a Falcon and Camel.🐪”
Pick the call, or the kind of day you want out of it.
