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Safari Lodges and Accommodation in South Africa
Accommodation at Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa
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ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK:
- Self-catering guest cottages
- Restaurant and picnic area
- Sparkling swimming pool
- Curio shop
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ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK:
Situated in a malaria free area just one hour's drive from the South African coastal city of Port Elizabeth, our magnificently diverse national park offers a wide variety of game viewing, outdoor adventure, accommodation and cultural experiences.
You will be amazed at the variety of natural landscapes and wildlife species that can be experienced in one easily accessible destination. |
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The main rest camp is situated near Addo. 80 accommodation units of various types are available here.
All of the cottages and chalets are close to the main waterhole which is illuminated at night, affording a memorable window into the real nightlife of Africa!
There is a privately-run, licensed a la carte restaurant and shop in the restcamp while for those who wish to self-cater, all units are fully equipped or have communal facilities.
The restaurant also runs a lapa to cater for large groups and special functions. |
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HOW TO FIND ADDO:
The park is situated 72 km from Port Elizabeth in the Sundays River Valley and Zuurberg Mountain range. The access road from the main road (4 km) is tarred as far as the rest camp. Roads within the rest camp and some loops of the game area roads are tarred, while other game area roads are gravel.
The Addo Elephant National Park was established in 1931 to protect the last 11 wild elephants from extermination.
Today more than 350 elephants roam through an area that is so diverse that no matter how many times you experience it, its magic will never fail to captivate you. On a good day, Addo Elephant National Park offers the greatest elephant spectacle on earth. The park also offers excellent viewing of black rhino, Cape buffalo and leopard, as well as a host of other large and small mammals and over 400 species of birds in the greater park area. |
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"Big 7" EXPERIENCE:
You've heard about Africa's Big 5 - the elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo. Well, we are about to become the only wildlife park in the world where you can view Africa's Big 7 in their natural environment.
Yes, with the expansion of our park, you will be able to see the Big 5 plus whales and great white sharks - all in one great park comprising a 240 000 hectare terrestrial zone and a 120 000 hectare marine zone. |
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ADDO HORSE TRAILS
Horse trails depart from the main camp to the Nyati area which is home to elephants, buffalo, black rhino, zebra and antelope. Encounters with these animals are possible. There are no lions or hyena in this section.
Two options are available:
- a two-hour morning trail suitable for less experienced riders
- a three-hour afternoon trail for very experienced riders only |
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The SASOL Red Bishop Bird Hide is located opposite the waterhole in the main rest camp, offering watchers a view of red bishops, weavers, herons, coots and terrapins.
The main game area boasts a list of 170 bird species, while the expanded park may contain as many as 450 species in a diversity of habitats. |
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Reservations and Enquiries |
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HISTORY:
While elephants have pride of place in this Eastern Cape National Park, there are enough other animals and birds here to keep even the most discerning game - and bird - watcher happy. Today, about 160 tuskers roam the 7 735 ha area of creepers and trees, together with significant numbers of Cape buffalo, antelope, eland, red hartebeest, black rhino and hippo.
It seems quite unbelievable now that less than 100 years ago, Addo's elephant population was on the verge of being wiped out by the farming community. Clashes between elephant and settler farmers began almost as soon as attempts were made to cultivate the land in the vicinity of the Addo bush. Not surprisingly, the elephant population paid little attention to the fences put up by their new neighbours. In a series of night raids, they simply trampled down fences and helped themselves to the crops of the farmers.
In 1919, Cape administrator Frederic de Waal, faced with mounting anger from Eastern Cape agriculturalists called in the help of crack army marksman Major Jan Pretorius in a bid to exterminate the herd. Pretorius achieved great success, shooting 120 of the animals before a public outcry brought the slaughter to and end.
The popularity of Addo Elephant National park has grown steadily since its proclamation in 1931. Facilities on offer include chalets, rondavfels, a caravan park, a restaurant, picnic areas and a hide (near a dam) for birdwatchers.
The Darlington section is situated at the most northern extreme of the park. This section is to a large extent covered by succulent Karoo with a very low rainfall. The vegetation in this section is dominated by succulent species with the Noors plant being the most dominant.
The Darlington Lake, which is a man-made system, takes up a large area within this section. The dam covers approximately 3000ha at capacity and is well stocked with various fish species. The bird life around the dam is very varied with numerous unusual species occurring. One of the most frequently seen birds is the fish eagle which has become a symbol of Africa. Various game species can also be seen ranging from the endangered black rhino to the elusive leopard.
Darlington Dam is reached by taking a turn off on the R75 towards Jansenville. |
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