Addo Elephant National Park

General Information

Addo Elephant National Park is located in an area that is free of malaria and just a one hour drive from Port Elizabeth city, which is located along the Garden Route. The Park as a whole is well known for its outstanding diversity – with a major variance of game viewing, adventures in the great outdoors, tourist accommodation and wonderful experiences of culture. A visit to the park gives the discerning visitor a unique insight into the wonderful flora and fauna of South Africa.

The Addo Park was originally set up in 1931 through the efforts of renowned naturalist Sydney Skaife, in response to the urgent need to provide sanctuary for the few remaining elephants in the Eastern Cape area here. Nowadays, there are over 450 elephants in the park, plus a large collection of wonderful native South African animals, from Cape Buffalo, Black Rhino, Antelopes such as the Springbok, and the unique flightless Dung Beetle that is to be found almost solely in the Addo National Park.

In recent years the original Addo Park has been expanded to include the Woody Cape Nature Reserve, which runs from the mouth of the Sundays River to Alexandria and a water reserve, which encompasses St Croix Island and Bird Island. The latter is an important breeding home to gannets and penguins. The planned expansion is part of the planning process to enlarge the present 1,640 km² Addo National Elephant Park into a 3,600 km² Greater Addo Elephant National Park.

This expansion will mean that the park will contain 5 of the 7 main vegetation zones of South Africa. More importantly, the park will probably be the only park in the world to contain the “Big Seven” of animal species: Elephants, Rhinos, Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Whale and Great White Shark in their natural habitats. The park also has a rich heritage of sites of that are important in the archaeolgy world.

Animals at Addo

In total, the park is home to over 450 Elephants, nearly 50 Black Rhinos, and some wonderful species of Antelopes such as Red Hartebeest, Eland, Buschbuck, Gemsbok, Springbok, Buffalo and Black Wildebeest. Game species include Cape Mountain Sebras, Hyenas, Reedbucks, Baboons, Aardwolf and Red Rock Rabbits.

Very hot days at waterholes are best for viewing the elephants. The early evening is the best time to see Black Rhino. Lions and Hyena are best spotted early morning or early evening.

Pets are not allowed into the park, and you are not allowed to feed the animals.

Accommodation at Addo

It is possible to book accommodation at Park, similar to other National Parks around South Africa. There are two restcamps that are located within the park:

• Addo Main Camp – close to the entrance gate, and offering over 60 units of accommodation to reserve.
• Camp Matyholweni – located near the Eastern Cape town of Colchester, which is located along the N2, approximately under an hour’s drive from Main Camp.

It is also possible to reserve private Game Lodges at Addo National Park:

• The Gorah Elephant Camp located within the park and containing luxurious tent camps.
• Darlington Lake Lodge – positioned in the Darlington Dam area of the park.
• River Bend Lodge – this is locatred in the Nyathi area of the park, with 8 rooms.
• Nguni River Lodge – 8 luxurious suites with great views of the Zuurberg Mountains

There are other accommodation options available in the Great Addo Area, such as Private Game Reserves, B&Bs and Guesthouses.

Activities at the Park

It is possible to organize hiking, horse trails, and arrange organized bird watching at the park. The main game area of the park has nearly 200 bird species. You can also partake in Discovery Trails of the area. If you take the trail between Kabouga and Darlington, you will learn all about the major battles that happened in the area between the British and Boer forces during the Anglo-Boer War in the early 20th Century.

Camp Facilities

You can avail of the following facilities at the main rest camp:

• Fuel refilling station which is open between 7am and 5pm
• Restaurant and Shop
• Picnic area for visitors
• Public telephone and post box facilities
• Post office and banking facilities located at Addo town, which is around 15km from the park.
• Further facilities available at the town of Kirkwood (35km away) and Port Elizabeth (75km from the Park)

Opening and Closing Times of the Park

• The park entrance gate is open from 7am to 7pm and is manned by security from 7pm to 7am.
• Wildlife viewing area opens between 6am to 6pm in the summer and 7am to 5.30 in winter.
• Climate is very hot in summer at Addo National Park and has been known to reach over 40 degrees celsius.
• Winter days are generally mild but can be cold at night with some frost. Annual rainfalls is around 500mm. Rainfall peaks are in March/April and September/October.

• Directions to the National Park

There are 3 ways you can reach Addo from Port Elizabeth:

1. Take the N2 Highway to Grahamstown. Take the left turn that is signposted for the park. Go through Motherwell and this route is around 72km long and takes around an hour.
2. Take the N2 again to Grahamstown and continue forth until the N2 splits off to the left from the N10 road. Take the N10 then to Cookhouse. Then take the R342 to the left and follow the signs to the National Park.
3. Start off on the N2 to Grahamstown; pass by Coega Harbour on the right. Cross the Sunday River Bridge. Take a left at the signpost for “Camp Matyholweni” and follow for around 3km. At Camp Matyholweni follow the southern access road in the Park until you will get to the Main Camp. You will be travelling over a gravel public road, and it is around 40km from Port Elizabeth.

Find out more about the world famous Addo Elephant National Park.