Port call · SAFARI

The 15 Off-Road Safaris Ashore Worldwide That Earn Their Price

28 tours  ·  from $14 a head

Every cruise has one call too few. These 15 off-road safaris ashore justify the day, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the balcony.

Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand - Kaumana Caves: a short walk into a lava tube
Big Island of Hawaii Shore Excursions, National Park & Nature Shore Excursions, Nature Shore Excursions in the USA, Safari, Safari & Wildlife Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, USA Shore Excursions

Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand

1.Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 363 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $154Our pick

Travel from Hilo port or your hotel in a small group of up to 14. With guides such as Ellen, Troy, Dave, and Lori, you’ll visit Rainbow Falls, Kaumana Caves, Lava Tree State Park, Pohoiki Bay, Pahoa, and Leilani Estates. Expect uneven ground, steep cave steps, changing stops, and a local lunch stop at your own cost.

“Our guide was excellent. Her name was Ellen S. I would highly recommend her as a tour guide. She knew the history of the volcanos and took us to the best places to see the lava. I would recommend this tour.”

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Port Elizabeth: Schotia Game Reserve Safari with Port Pickup - Five hours among elephants, rhinos, and lions
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Port Elizabeth: Schotia Game Reserve Safari with Port Pickup

2.Port Elizabeth: Schotia Game Reserve Safari with Port Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 263 reviews · 5 hours · from $233

Spend a safari day at Schotia Private Game Reserve, beside Addo Elephant National Park. Your English-speaking guide, such as Norman, Marilyn, Donald, or Robert, takes you through the reserve in an open vehicle to look for elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalo, leopards, hippos, giraffes, and more. Port pickup, transport, snacks, drinks, and park fees are included.

“This Safari Tour was wonderful. The Lady Tour Guide was incredible, she is a local lady who knows the animals personally 😃 she has so much knowledge about the area, the animals and has a lovely way. Thank you. We managed to get up close to 4 of the Big Five! All this together with lunch & drinks. It doesn’t get any better 👍”

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Dominica Shore Excursion: River Tubing Safari - Ninety minutes on the Layou River
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Dominica Shore Excursion: River Tubing Safari

3.Dominica Shore Excursion: River Tubing Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 104 reviews · from $75

From Dominica’s cruise pier, ride about 30 minutes inland to Wacky Rollers, gear up, and spend roughly 90 minutes tubing the Layou River. Guides paddle alongside you, steer tubes past rocks, and help through mild rapids. Finish with rum punch, fresh fruit, changing facilities, and a ride back to port.

“This was the best excursion on our trip. Beautiful scenery, great team on the river, and an overall blast. This one is a must do if you’re even thinking about it.”

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Port Elizabeth: Addo Elephant Park Shore Excursion & Safari - The 45-minute ride from Port Elizabeth
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Port Elizabeth: Addo Elephant Park Shore Excursion & Safari

4.Port Elizabeth: Addo Elephant Park Shore Excursion & Safari

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 72 reviews · 8 hours · from $159

From Port Elizabeth, you’ll travel by air-conditioned vehicle to Addo Elephant National Park for two wildlife drives, a 1.5-hour lunch at Jack’s Picnic Site, and comfort stops. Expect elephants, zebras, warthogs, antelopes, and possible lions or rhinos. Guide names may include Emanuelle or Olaf, but assignments vary.

“Overall, a very nice excursion. We saw many elephants, zebras, warthogs, and even a buffalo. During the lunch break, we enjoyed a shared meal with freshly grilled food, which was great. However, our guide didn’t provide much explanation, and we drove through the park in a closed van, which slightly diminished the safari experience. Still, a worthwhile trip for wildlife enthusiasts.”

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Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port area (Shore Excursion) - What five hours inside Yala can bring
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Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port area (Shore Excursion)

5.Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port area (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 64 reviews · 5 hours · from $67

Meet the Wild Dreams team at Hambantota Port, then ride to Yala National Park in a safari jeep for about five hours of wildlife watching. English-speaking guides such as Ranga, Ishan, and Koshana have helped visitors spot elephants, crocodiles, birds, and sometimes leopards. Water, snacks, cool drinks, binoculars, and port transfers are included, but the park entrance fee is extra.

“Guide was very nice. Knew a lot about the animals and stopped jeep for us to see them. Gave us water and cookies at the start of the journey. Thought this was a worthwhile trip!”

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Yala National Park Safari |From Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion) - What the guide adds to the experience
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Yala National Park Safari |From Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion)

6.Yala National Park Safari |From Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 61 reviews · from $75

This six-hour shore excursion takes you from Hambantota Port to Yala National Park for about four hours in a private 4WD Toyota Jeep. Your English-speaking driver also tracks wildlife, with elephants, crocodiles, birds, and possible leopards or sloth bears. Lakshan has earned praise for careful driving and clear English, though guide quality can vary.

“Firstly unlike other tours that pick you up in the comfort of an air conditioned car- this tour picked us up in a very bouncey jeep that crawled along the road at ants pace. Buses, bicycles you name it passed us! Then after travelling alonRead more”

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Addo Elephant Park Safari & Shore Excursion from Port Elizabeth - Two game drives give you two chances
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Addo Elephant Park Safari & Shore Excursion from Port Elizabeth

7.Addo Elephant Park Safari & Shore Excursion from Port Elizabeth

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · from $163Top rated

Travel from Port Elizabeth’s cruise terminal to Addo Elephant National Park in a small group of up to 20. You’ll ride in an air-conditioned closed vehicle, take morning and afternoon game drives, stop at the main camp, and eat a light South African picnic lunch. Guides such as Emmanuel and Gary have been praised for spotting elephants, rhinos, zebras, birds, and smaller creatures.

“Very informative and enjoyable! Saw so many elephants! Also saw plenty of Wart hogs and Zebra. Driver had loud talk radio on in the van while driving us( in another language) - very annoying! He didn’t have much to say to or from the park, and when you’re in a new city, it would be nice to get this info.”

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Udawalawe Safari Tour from Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion) - The road inland to Udawalawe
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Udawalawe Safari Tour from Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion)

8.Udawalawe Safari Tour from Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 57 reviews · 5 hours · from $67

From Hambantota Port, you travel by air-conditioned vehicle to Udawalawe National Park, then switch to a safari jeep for wildlife viewing. Expect elephants, deer, water buffalo, crocodiles, monkeys, and birds, with guides such as Ishan, Yasanka, or Mado known for sharp spotting skills. The trip also includes the Elephant Transit Home, drinks, snacks, binoculars, and port drop-off. Park entry costs extra.

“We saw so many elephants in the nature reserve it was amazing. The elephant orphanage was very busy but luckily we were there early & got seats at the front.”

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Private & Customizable Safari 4x4 Half-Day Shore Excursion - Cliffs, Forest Roads, and Wide Island Views
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Private & Customizable Safari 4×4 Half-Day Shore Excursion

9.Private & Customizable Safari 4×4 Half-Day Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.)

Ride a private open-air 4x4 around Madeira with a guide such as Nico, Tiago, or Miguel. In four to five hours, you can shape the route around cliff views, villages, forest roads, local life, and off-road adventure. Pickup is available in Funchal and Caniço, with port pickup for cruise passengers.

“Wish I could leave more stars. Nico's passion for his culture and heritage was palpable from the moment we met him. As he guided us through the stunning landscapes of Madeira, he shared with us not only the history and traditions of the island but also the deep-rooted longing for independence that many Madeirans feel. It was clear that Nico's love for his home went far beyond just the beauty of the scenery - it extended to a profound pride in the resilience and spirit of the people of Madeira. Throughout the tour, Nico spoke passionately about the fishing and farming traditions that have sustained the island for generations. He…”

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Yala National Park Safari |From Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion) - What the guide adds to the experience
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Yala National Park Safari from Hambantota port (Shore Excursion)

10.Yala National Park Safari from Hambantota port (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · from $45

Leave Hambantota port for a 5-hour Yala National Park safari in a comfortable jeep. An English-speaking driver-guide takes you through forest, grassland, and lagoons where elephants, leopards, crocodiles, sloth bears, and birds may appear. Pickup, drinks, snacks, and return transport are included, but the $40 park ticket is extra.

“Fantastic trip and far better value than Millennium Cruise options. Everything was very well coordinated and accommodated our early arrival. Our guide was excellent and knowledgeable and ensured we saw as much wildlife as possible. A thoroughly enjoyable day which we would highly recommend.”

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Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion) - The animals you might see in Yala
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Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion)

11.Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 20 reviews · from $58

From Hambantota Port, you travel by safari jeep into Yala National Park for about four hours of wildlife watching. A private chauffeur-guide drives your group, with space for up to seven people. Expect elephants, crocodiles, deer, peacocks, monkeys, and a possible leopard. Park entry costs extra.

“The tour was good and would have given it 5 stars BUT on the link they sent with the booking it stated the fee for entering the park was $25 but on the email they sent the night before it was increased to $45. This happened to the othRead more”

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Addo Elephant Full Day Safari / Shore Excursions - Pickup from Gqeberha and nearby towns
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Addo Elephant Full Day Safari / Shore Excursions

12.Addo Elephant Full Day Safari / Shore Excursions

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 19 reviews · 1 day · from $152

You’ll spend eight hours exploring Addo Elephant National Park with an English-speaking local guide, including two three-hour game drives, a restaurant lunch stop, park entry, drinks, snacks, and transport from Gqeberha or nearby towns. Small groups are capped at 12, though vehicle comfort and pickup timing deserve close attention.

“Very Disappointing! This tour was a disaster from the start. No one came to pick us up at 9:00 AM & after waiting we were told to walk through an unsafe area to catch another bus. We were then placed on a completely different tour that had started earlier, even though we booked a small-group tour of max. 12 people. Instead, there were 17 people on the bus. The trip to Addo was chaotic, with unnecessary stops & no communication at all. The vehicle was extremely uncomfortable, hot, cramped & not suitable for a full-day safari. Visibility was terrible & with my asthma it was difficult to breathe. We spent…”

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Hambantota Port: Yala National Park Safari (Shore Excursion) - Leaving Hambantota Port for the park
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Hambantota Port: Yala National Park Safari (Shore Excursion)

13.Hambantota Port: Yala National Park Safari (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 19 reviews · 5 hours · from $49

From Hambantota Port or a Hambantota-area hotel, you’ll ride a 4x4 jeep into Ruhunu Yala National Park for five hours of wildlife watching. Look for elephants, leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles, buffalo, deer, and more than 130 bird species. An English-speaking guide and driver are included, but the entrance and service fee of about $40 is extra.

“Provider did not show up. I was let down terribly absolutely devastated.”

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LUXURY Jeep Safari WRANGLER CRETE (also for CRUISE SHIPS) - The rough-road crossing is part of the main event
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LUXURY Jeep Safari WRANGLER CRETE (also for CRUISE SHIPS)

14.LUXURY Jeep Safari WRANGLER CRETE (also for CRUISE SHIPS)

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 14 reviews · from $157

Spend about seven hours exploring Crete’s back roads in a Jeep with a local driver-guide. Visit Skotino’s holy cave, stop in Kalo Chorio, cross a gorge, view sunken Sfendili at Aposelemis Dam, and eat lunch in Kastelli. Pickup is offered around Hersonissos, with guides speaking English, French, German, or Dutch.

“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”

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Doha: Desert Safari, ATV/Quad, Camel Ride & Inland Sea Tour - What dune bashing feels like
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Doha: Desert Safari, ATV/Quad, Camel Ride & Inland Sea Tour

15.Doha: Desert Safari, ATV/Quad, Camel Ride & Inland Sea Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 4 hours - 270 minutes · from $14Best value

You’ll head south from Doha with an English-speaking guide such as Ishtiaq, Kareem, Salman, or Khan. Expect Sealine Beach, dune bashing in a Land Cruiser, sandboarding, Inland Sea views, and optional ATV, camel, and falcon photos. Pickup, tea, and water are available, with private groups offered.

“We had an awesome day. Our guide, Khan, gave us a very nice experience! From the ATV to the camel ride, we enjoyed it all. The Land Cruiser was very neat and khan also took pictures of us. I would definitely book again!”

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