ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK

Addo Elephant National Park is situated 72km by road from Port Elizabeth. Established in 1931 to save 11 Elephants on the brink of extinction. The Park is now home to more than 500 Elephants, Lion, Cape Buffalo, Black Rhino, a range of Antelope species and the rare flightless dung Beetle. Addo Elephant National Park is a perfect destination for the adventurous outdoor and nature lover.

Addo Elephant Park, a sanctuary for the wide range of South Africa’s Wildlife, is located in the thick bushveld of the Sundays River, in the Eastern Cape. The park now known as the Addo Elephant National Park is now the third largest national park in South Africa, Addo Elephant National Park has expanded to conserve a wide diversity of biodiversity, landscapes, fauna and flora. Stretching from the semi-arid karoo area in the north around Darlington Dam, over the rugged Zuurberg Mountains, through the Sundays River valley and south to the coast between Sundays River mouth and Bushman’s river mouth, Addo covers about 180 000 hectares (444 700 acres) and includes the Bird and St Croix Island groups.

Lions were released into Addo National Park in October 2003 and the first lion cubs were born in the Addo since 1845. An absence of 159 years. There is more to the Addo Elephant National Park than the big 7, there are countless other species, Cape buffalo, Black rhino, Eland, Kudu, Bushbuck, Red hartebeest, Grysbok and Duiker, Jackals, Antbear, Bushpig, Vervet monkeys and Zebra, to name a few. The flightless dung beetle is unique to the park. 6 out of the world’s 7 biomes are found here and a huge number of bird species.

The park, the third largest in South Africa, offers a wide range of game viewing and outdoor activities, which include horse-back game viewing and horse-riding, guided walks, hiking, 4×4 trails and a picnic area for day visitors. Nothing could be better if you are a animal or bush lover.