Non-hunting Activities at Richard Holmes Safaris
For non-hunters accompanying a hunting party or for eco-tourists there is a variety of activities to keep you active and interested, both on and off our property. We also find that many hunters like to take the opportunity to see more of South Africa while they are in the country.
On the visits to our National parks we may drive through in our own vehicle with a RHS staff / your PH driving the vehicle and you may NOT get out of the vehicle nor wave your arms out of the windows as this will result in you being arrested by the game wardens in the park - these laws are for your own safety.
ON SITE ACTIVITIES, SIDE TRIPS COSTS AND INFO
We ( RHS ) offer to arrange these tours, ending about 1 pm, our costs are per vehicle (unless stated otherwise), for max 4 clients & includes entry fees: All Prices are in U.S. Dollars.
CHEETAH TRACKING MOUNTAIN ZEBRA NATIONAL PARK $ 250
Price is total for 2 people. Add $ 30 / person for more persons. Max 4 persons in our RHS truck to get you there and back to our base.
Advance bookings are essential.
RHS vehicle takes you to the park, then you
Drive out with your PARK RANGER / guide to search for the elusive Mountain Zebra National Park cheetahs. When signal from a collared cheetah is found, you will have the opportunity to get closer on foot.
Time: 08:30
Ranging between 3 - 4hours.
Minimum of 2 and maximum of 4 people.
From 12 years - 65 years. If you are 65 years of age and older, you will be required to produce a medical certificate no older than 30 days in order to participate in the activity.
Neutral clothing (not white or black) and walking shoes are required.
Bring own water and a small snack and Binoculars.
GRAAFF-REINET $ 300
This is the second oldest town in SA, it is small, has old buildings, history museums, curio shops, art & craft shops, the valley of desolation and game area, where Buffalo are sometimes seen. Lunch is included in cost.
OWL HOUSE $ 250
This is an art museum in the nearby village of NIEU BETHESDA which is filled with cement statues and statuettes of strange figures and animals with the whole building covered in different coloured ground glass, also includes a small fossil museum & short fossil tour. Lunch not included in cost.
TRIP TO CRADOCK $ 100
This is our local small town with an English literature and history museum.
Lunch not included in cost.
BUSHMAN ROCK ETCHINGS $ 20 PER OUTING
These Game animal Etchings are on our ranch.
PHOTO SAFARI / GAME DRIVES $ 50 PER OUTING
Game viewing on our ranch day time or night time veiwing.
Our extensive property is scenic which, together with the abundant animal and bird life, makes for very enjoyable photography or simply sightseeing.
MOUNTAIN ZEBRA NATIONAL PARK $ 350
This is in our local CRADOCK area and many other plains game species besides Mountain Zebra can be seen here. The park is 65000 acres in size and also has Cape Buffalo & Black Rhino, but are seldom seen. Lunch is included in cost. You may NOT get out of the vehicle nor wave your arms out of the windows as this will result in you being arrested by the game wardens in the park - these laws are for your own safety.
WILD CATS $ 10 PER PERSON
Guests are NOT allowed near the enclosures without a guide.
We keep all the naturally occurring/indigenous small African cat species in captivity for our breeding and education programme.
The cats are always available for guests to visit BUT ONLY supervised by us.
Our cats may be viewed and they may be photographed. Any donations to this conservation project are also welcome.
Everyone knows Africa has lions, leopards and cheetahs but how many know that there are smaller feline predators as well which are currently threatened?
In order of size there are the Caracal (South African lynx), Serval, African Wild Cat and the Black-footed Cat here on our ranch. The Cat Conservation Trust, which Marion founded to increase public awareness of the plight in which these smaller cats find themselves as well as conducting a breeding program.
The trust is on our property and makes for an interesting and different experience as you will rarely have the chance to see these felines in the wild.
Read more about the Cat Conservation Trust: http://www.karoocats.org/
ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK - AENP
Addo Elephant park cost and our terms : ONLY 2 hours in the Park with our driver in our vehicle, ONLY on the way back to PE at the end of the hunt and provided you have a hotel booked in PE that night, or in certain seasons on the way from PE at start or end of your safari, BUT this is subject to your flight times and limited to certain months in the year.
Our cost is $ 350 per vehicle. If hunter/s delay the driver in the park then the fee is an extra $ 100 / hour, payable in cash to the driver before he drops you off in PE. We do NOT want this delay in the park as the driver needs to get back to the Ranch before dark for his own safety due to wild game on the roads at night, eg. Kudu. 2 hours in Addo park is enough to see lots of game and elephants. If you would like to upgrade to up to 4 hours in AENP with us then this must be prebooked a few days before the booked side trip date. The fee will then be $ 550 per vehicle, or Book with Mark heck who can do longer trips inside Addo Park.
AENP is near PE. Elephant viewing is excellent with herds up to 100 may be seen, but is best from about 10 am – Noon when the Elephant herds come to the waterholes to drink. Occasionally Buffalo, Lion and numerous plains game species can be seen here. The game is wild, not tame and SA parks are natural settings with no human interventions. This park is 85,000 acres in size. Lunch/Meals are not included in the cost. You may NOT get out of the vehicle nor wave your arms out of the windows as this will result in your being arrested by the game wardens in the park - these laws are for your own safety.
OTHER ACTIVITIES in the East Cape closer to PE
If you are interested in any of the activities below it is recommended that you spend at least two nights in PE before your safari or one-two or more nights at the end of your safari. We can book all for you. Guides are excellent and you will be picked up and returned to the hotel in well maintained and safe vehicles by the Companies listed below:
Pumba Game Reserve Big 5
Elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, giraffe, cheetah, plains game - Day safari, 5 Star accommodation, PE transfers.
Kariega Game Reserve Big 4
Elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, giraffe, plains game. Day safari, 4 Star accommodation, PE transfers.
Schotia Safaris
Excellent lion, rhino, giraffe, hippo , crocodile , plains game. Schotia Tooth & Claw Safari day trip, 4 star accommodation, PE transfers.
Addo Elephant Back Safaris
Elephant ride day trip , 4 star accommodation, PE transfers - road or air. This is not the same as Addo Elephant National park, it is a different private company.
Elephant Rides
Located in the beautiful Zuurberg mountains about 1,5 hours drive North of PE.
Fishing and Boating
In or around coastal rivers, sea shore and Deep sea fishing or whale watching. BLACK FISH CHARTERS out of Port Alfred or RAGGY CHARTERS out of PE. Wind is a big factor to get out to sea or not, so you will need a spare day set aside for this for the wind to be calm enough.
Raggy Charters in PE
Indian ocean deep sea fishing, Penguin Island Cruise, Dolphins, Cruises, Whale Watching.
Mark Heck
Africa 4 Real Tours - Transfers in and around PE, Addo Alephant Park Tours and many more tours on offer. PE Airport shuttle also.
Kragga Kama Park
(Half day) Rhino, Giraffe, Zebra, Buck species, Cheetah and Birds of all kinds.
GARDEN ROUTE
A trip along South Africas renowned Coast line. This begins in PE ( Indian Ocean ) and Ends in Cape Town ( Atlantic Ocean ) an 800 km road trip ( 600 miles ) and it is full up with activities and places to stay over and good restaurants.
Some of the places along the way are from PE in the order below till the Cape :
A Day in the Country.Van Stadens Pass, and farms in Thornhill, Hankey, Patensie and Gamtoos.
Jefreys Bay, LEGENDARY Surfing Spots and Cape ST. Francis within about 1 hour drive of PE. See close up a wide variety of beautiful African birds and other wild life. Visit the home of the perfect wave and enjoy beautiful beaches and shells, and the quaint harbour at Cape St. Francis.
Storms River - wild suspension walk bridge.
Tsitsikamma (Place of abundant waters.) 195 km ( 2 hour drive ) from P.E. Ancient indigenous forest of 80 tree species including the 800 year old, 37m tall Yellow Wood Big Tree.
Garden Route - Knysna, Plettenberg Bay.
Garden Route - Sedgefield, Wilderness, George and Oudtshoorn.
Garden Route ends in Cape Town. This area has White Shark cage diving, Tuna fishing, scuba but the Water is Cold in Cape Town. Winelands and Table Mountain.
