Addo Elephant National Park South Africa

The Addo Elephant Park is ideal for elephant lovers and a popular destination for all visitors to South Africa traveling along the Garden Route. Here, you can easily spend a day with your rental car experiencing elephants, zebras, warthogs, buffalo, hyenas, and mongooses (often confused with meerkats). Its location, just 70 kilometers northeast of Port Elizabeth, near the Garden Route, is perfect.

You might catch a rare glimpse of one of the estimated 6 to 7 lions, leopards, or rhinos. However, there are plenty of elephants, and you can see the largest elephant herds in all of South Africa.

The park is malaria-free, making it ideal for families with children and babies.

Addo Elephant Park offers the largest elephant herds in South Africa, which makes the park so special.

You can drive in the park with your own car, providing flexibility.

Addo Elephant Park, located near Port Elizabeth along the Garden Route, is the most affordable and best alternative to Kruger National Park.

How many days should I plan in Addo? A full day is enough. Arrive early at the gate and exit through the other gate (Main Gate to South Gate or vice versa). It takes about 6 hours. Isa recommends planning a morning with kids.

Addo has two entrances: Main Gate (North) and a smaller entrance to the South. I used the southern gate, while Isa entered through the Main Gate in the town of Addo.

Do you have the Wild Card for South Africa? Then entry is free.

A tip for overnight stays is the Stellenhof Guesthouse located near the Main Gate.

If you love elephants, you must visit Addo. There are as many elephants here as I've only seen in Chobe National Park in Botswana. This is what the park is known for.

The national park was established in 1931, after the elephant population shrank from over 300 to just 11 animals. Hunters were targeting elephants and their ivory back then. Thankfully, there was an outcry from the public, and the national park was created to protect wildlife and nature. A groundbreaking step.

The population has recovered, and it is estimated that there are over 600 elephants alone (source SANParks).

In 1998, the park was expanded to the Greater Addo Elephant National Park. This now includes the sand dunes at Woody Cape, the Alexandria sand dunes, the marine protected area of St. Croix Islands, and Tootabie Reserve.

On the offshore islands, the largest colony of African penguins breeds, but these islands are only accessible to researchers. You can observe hippos at the Darlington Dam.

Addo Elephant Park is located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is only 30 minutes (about 70 km) from Port Elizabeth.

The best way to get there is through Colchester (Matyholweni Gate in the south) or via the Main Gate (Addo Main Camp in the north-west) in the town of Addo (about 50 minutes).

When traveling to Addo Elephant Park, be careful not to take the wrong road through an informal settlement (so-called Township), which has recently made headlines due to unrest and burning tires. This refers to the route from Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) via R335 through Motherwell. Use the N2 through Colchester to access Addo Elephant Park, even if it is a detour.

Otherwise, the area around Addo Elephant National Park is safe.

Entry to Addo Elephant National Park costs 397 Rand per person per day. Children pay 199 Rand (valid until October 2024). The Addo Elephant Park is cashless-meaning you can only pay your entrance fees on-site using a credit card.

It's more convenient to book your ticket in advance on the South African National Parks SANParks website here. However, you will need to pay a fee of R 10 per reservation (about 40 cents). This way, you can enter the park more quickly.

As a Wild Card holder, you can also reserve access. Since these are limited to 50 spots, I recommend doing this.

The Wild Card is a card that you pay for once. With it, you receive free entry to all SAN Parks. You can also visit Addo Elephant Park for free as a Wild Card holder.

I have summarized whether the Wild Card is worth it in a separate article:

There are two entrances to Addo Elephant Park: the Main Gate in the north (via R335 / R342 near Addo), where you will find a restaurant, restrooms, and a shop with some groceries and souvenirs. The southern entrance is smaller but ideal if you are coming from the N2 via Colchester or Port Elizabeth.

The Main Gate at Addo Elephant National Park is open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM. The Matyholweni Gate in the south is open from 7 AM to 6:30 PM. The reception for accommodations in the national park is only open until 5 PM at the gates. You may only enter and exit during these hours, and you can only drive through the national park during these hours on your own.

Note: Don't be confused; on the official maps of Addo, opening hours are printed from 5:30 AM. These times only apply to you if you stay overnight inside the national park.

We were too spontaneous when booking accommodation, so accommodations in the popular Addo Elephant Park were already fully booked. Tips on accommodation within the park can be found further down the list.

Tip: Have your passport number ready, as every guest must enter it on a form upon registration at the entrance. This saves you valuable time. If you plan a second day in Addo (leaving the park and re-entering), I recommend taking the form for the following day with you already filled out to save time at the gate the next morning. This valuable tip was given to us by the ranger at the entrance. You can also download the form here in advance and bring it printed.

In all national parks in South Africa, you can go on game drives (safari) with your own car. This is the most flexible, affordable, and simplest option for visiting. You will receive a map of Addo National Park at the park entrance that marks all roads, loops, and water holes with distances listed.

You can view and download the interactive map here.

Perfect for everyone who enjoys driving and exploring on their own. It's also an ideal way for families with children who are too young for the 'big' game drives to see wildlife.

Most roads in Addo are tar or gravel roads. You can drive here even with a compact car and do not need a 4x4. However, we find it more practical to be in an SUV for better clearance. The potholes here are relatively few compared to other national parks in South Africa.

You can traverse the entire park in a day, as long as you make only short breaks. We are very passionate about wildlife and have no problem searching for animals for 10 hours. I know from experience this may be too long for many.

You should observe a few rules (and strictly adhere to them):

Do you prefer being guided by an experienced ranger on a game drive through the park? This is great for beginners. During a guided safari, you will be driven through Addo by an expert who knows the animals and exactly where to find them. They also have a trained eye and can spot animals when you only see savanna and grass.

These safaris are conducted in open 4x4 vehicles, allowing you to see much more than in your personal car. Furthermore, you can fully concentrate on nature and the animals without worrying about the road. I do not recommend tours in closed vehicles (via Get Your Guide).

Unlike in private reserves, rangers are not permitted to leave the roads here.

You can check and book all activities on the national park's website.

An exciting offer is these tours where an experienced ranger rides along with you in your car. They come from the neighboring communities of Addo Elephant Park and are well-versed in the region and its wildlife.

You should definitely book the guide in advance, as they are often already fully booked on the day of your visit. The cost for a 2-hour ride is around 18 Euros (as of 02/24). Fantastic, right?

If you want to learn about tracking, check this out: Ranger training introduction with EcoTraining. I highly recommend it.

We initially planned to explore Addo Elephant Park over two days. After seeing gigantic herds of elephants on the first day and bad weather expected for the second day, we canceled the second day and spent time by the sea instead.

Addo Elephant Park is definitely worth a day trip! Especially first-time safari-goers will be thrilled. Rarely have I seen larger elephant herds in South Africa than here. Plus, the location at the end of the Garden Route is perfect, and the entrance is significantly cheaper than staying in one of the surrounding private game reserves and going on game drives. For parents with toddlers, Addo is almost a must because even the youngest will have something to see.

What wildlife can you see in Addo National Park? Here, I have listed the most important animals. The Big Five are at home in Addo Elephant Park: lion, elephant, rhino, black buffalo (Cape buffalo), and leopard.

As the name Addo Elephant Park suggests, elephants primarily inhabit this area. There are now an estimated 600 elephants here, which also constitute the main attraction. The herds are massive and rarely seen like this in the wild across Southern Africa.

Since it is hot here year-round, you will find the elephants most easily at the marked waterholes on maps. However, even when it rains, it's not a problem to spot the gray giants. They are active throughout the day, and with such a large number, it's nearly impossible not to see them.

The first animals that delighted my friends in Addo were warthogs. If you have never seen a warthog, you will definitely find one here. They are quite numerous and can often be spotted near watering or mudholes.

Also quite plentiful are the beautiful zebras. They are not afraid of cars and are often found very close to the roadside. They are almost never alone and always travel in herds.

The dung beetles, often rolling large dung balls (from elephants, rhinos, and buffalo) larger than their own bodies, are just cool. Unfortunately, they are becoming increasingly rare, so signs warn against running them over. Since these dung beetles only occur in the Eastern Cape, I recommend visiting Hluhluwe National Park or, of course, the Kruger National Park if you want to see plenty of them.

You can't miss the buffalo in Addo. Most of them are seen in large herds. For many years, buffalo in Addo were very active at night. Since there has been an increase in lions, it seems that the habits of the buffalo have changed according to rangers. You often see them in large numbers close to the roads.

Lions are the largest carnivores in Africa and surely one of the coolest animals to encounter in Addo Elephant National Park. They are most active at night to avoid the daytime heat. During the day, you usually find lions lazily lying under a tree-far away from roads where we are allowed to drive. Currently, according to official data, there are 17 lions in the main area of Addo Elephant National Park and 26 in the entire park.

We did not find any signs or reports regarding rhinos. Information about sightings is scarce. Unfortunately, poachers are still a pressing issue. Rangers might share location details if you appear credible and recognizable as a tourist.

It is said that the Addo contains black rhinos, which are solitary and very shy. They tend to be more active at night and early morning. Spotting one is very difficult.

If you take pictures of a rhino (with horn), please avoid marking the location (on social media) to protect the animals. Check out my video on why rhinos must have their horns removed for protection.

In addition to the above-mentioned animals, there are also various antelopes like kudu, impala, or red lechwe, eland, and bushbuck. Furthermore, my favorite animals, the hyenas. We were fortunate to find a black-backed jackal at the waterhole. You may also encounter ostriches from time to time.

The leopard tortoise is the largest and most common tortoise in Addo Elephant National Park. The Domkrag Dam in the park is named after a large leopard tortoise known as "Domkrag."

With the expansion of the park to include the marine section by the Pacific Ocean, whales and sharks are also part of the wildlife. Unfortunately, we were here outside of whale season. Our landlord in Colchester shared impressive stories of his encounters with the "Big White," as great white sharks are also known, while jet skiing.

He also vividly described large groups of hammerheads. As such, Greater Addo Elephant National Park is the only Big Seven national park in South Africa.

The national park is open year-round. In the African winter (July-August), it can get quite cold, while in summer (late November to March) it can be very hot. The warmest months are January and February. February and March are also typically the rainiest months.

Since it can rain in South Africa at any time (or not at all), this is never easy to predict.

We were very lucky in January with warm 26 degrees and clear sunny skies. In the evening, there was a thunderstorm and rain, but the next day started again with blue skies and pure sunshine. We then decided to visit the sand dunes and go sandboarding. Isa was in Addo at the end of February, and it reached a scorching 38 degrees in the morning.

Animals are generally very active in the early morning or late evening. During the day, when the sun is at its highest, most animals hide in the shade. Especially wild cats can rarely be seen during this time. Exceptions confirm the rule.

When it's hot, elephants can primarily be spotted at the large waterholes during the day. We indeed saw large herds at all the waterholes. Upon exiting the park in the evening, the elephants retreated to the hinterland, leaving us with only a few encounters.

Addo Elephant Park is ideal for families with children and toddlers. Since you can drive through Addo with your own vehicle and it is malaria-free, even babies and toddlers from birth can enter the park, just as Isa did with her 9-month-old daughter.

On official game drives offered in the park, children under 6 years old are not allowed to accompany. However, since you can drive through the park as a self-driver in your vehicle, it is also ideal for children.

Moreover, there are more expensive private game drives that you can book with children from 3 years.

If you're planning your trip early, then book accommodation in the park on the official website. Options range from tents to lodges. Accommodations can be booked up to 11 months in advance. They are very popular.

Unfortunately, we were unable to secure accommodation in the park, even though we wanted to book at least six months in advance. While the "unfortunately" is relative, as it allowed us to stay in a very authentic and beautiful lodge. There are always good alternatives.

On the SANParks (South African National Parks) website, you can book great accommodations of various categories. However, the national park is rightly very popular and quickly fully booked during South African holiday seasons. So, timely booking is essential.

Isa stayed at the lovely Stellenhof Guesthouse. It features a spacious layout with a beautiful pool, just a few, but roomy bedrooms, a wonderful dining area where meals are freshly prepared in the evening and morning, and an ambiance that is sure to delight interior design fans.

And the best part: Stellenhof Country Estate is just about 20 minutes from the Main Gate of Addo. This way, you can be among the first guests in the morning if you wish.

The Google Maps route leads through a large township; it is highly advised to avoid this route as unrest (burning cars, roadblocks) occasionally occurs. The guesthouse has a private road (although calling it a road is kind of overstating it - it's a 17-kilometer bumpy track, not for the faint-hearted) that should be used for access.

View accommodation here.

The Greater Addo includes the sand dunes at Woody Cape. The location between Sundays River and the sea is stunningly beautiful. It's a completely different landscape than what you find in Addo. As we are already experienced in safaris, we wanted to go sandboarding and booked the trip online.

You can book the trip here. We decided to book this tour only a day before and have no regrets. Just no photos were taken, as the sand was just too powerful.

The Main Camp not only has accommodations, a reception, and a gas station but also a souvenir shop that sells more or less fresh groceries. Don't expect too much. If you stay in the park, you should definitely shop before entering. A few kilometers before, there is a large, new SPAR market.

The restaurant 'Cattle Baron' in the rest camp is surprisingly good and offers a large menu in addition to a buffet. The food was (compared to other SAN parks) truly excellent.

At Jack's Picnic Site, you will find beautiful braai (grilling) spots with tables and sanitation facilities.

These items should definitely be packed:

You can find my complete packing list for safaris here.

If you are in South Africa for just 2 weeks (Cape Town and the Garden Route), it is not worth driving or flying to Kruger. Instead, Addo Elephant Park is definitely worthwhile. Alternatively, there are private reserves in the south: We were at the Gondwana Game Reserve and Bottlierskop Private Game Reserve.

You cannot compare both parks. Kruger NP is much larger and has many more animals to offer. Addo NP has only about 5% of Kruger NP's área. However, Addo Elephant Park is particularly ideal for families with children, as it is malaria-free.

The size of the elephant herds in Addo Elephant Park is impressive. You won't find these massive herds anywhere else in South Africa (they are rather rare in Kruger).

The national park is open year-round. In the African winter (July-August), it can get quite cold. In summer (late November to March), it can be very hot. The warmest months are January and February. February and March are generally the wettest months.

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