The Addo Elephant National Park (pronounced Ahh-Dow) is in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa and is one of the country's larger parks.
In the parks early years, during times of drought (and before the waterholes were artificially kept full) the park keepers fed the elephants on oranges from the local orange groves. Gradually the elephants became addicted to the taste of the fruit! This practice stopped along time ago, but the older elephants still remember the smell and have been known to reach into vehicles and get their favourite fruit!
The park has elephant, Black Rhinoceros, Cape Buffalo, lion and leopard on land. In the Marine reserve you will find dolphin, whales (southern right) and penguins.
Due to its terrain, Addo stays at a comfortable 27-30°C throughout the Winter.
Valid to 31 October 2017:
- South African citizens and residents (with ID): R62 per adult, R31 per child, per day
- SADC nationals (with passport): R124 per adult, R62 per child, per day
- Foreign visitors: R248 per adult, R124 per child, per day
The Park is famous for its elephant population that has a special, brownish skin colour due to the red soil. Amongst the elephants other animals, like ostriches, different antelopes and warthogs can be seen. As part of the park's expansion, a group of lions and a group of spotted hyenas were introduced to the park in 2004.
A viewpoint and underground hide overlooking a watering hole is located in the main camp and can be used after vehicle access closing time to the game viewing area.
There is a restaurant and shop at the main camp, near park's entrance.
A fenced off picnic area with undercover seating, barbecue grills, water and toilet facilities is located near Hapoor Dam. No refuse bins are provided at the picnic area; you are required to take out everything you bring into the area.
Stay in your car at all times, except where specifically permitted to leave your vehicle. At some of the unfenced lookout points one is allowed to exit your vehicle, but do so with care and only after ensuring that there are no animals around.
Do not carry any citrus fruit in your car, the elephants have developed an addiction for the fruit and will search it out!
- Go to the Mountain Zebra National Park to spot some of the rare Mountain Zebras.
- The old town of Graaff-Reinet is definitely worth a visit
- Go to Port Elizabeth and from there on to the Garden Route and Cape Town.
- Go north into the Karoo and the cities of Kimberley and Bloemfontein.