"Big 7" Experience  You've heard about Africa's Big 5 - the elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo. Well the Addo elephant park  is 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 proposed expansion of Addo to create the "Greater Addo Elephant National Park", you will be able to see the Big 5 plus whales and great white sharks - all in one great park comprising a 372 000 ha terrestrial zone and a 120 000 ha marine zone.

Accommodation in and around Addo Elephant National Park

Parks Board Camp is available for camping and also self catering chalets.

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How to get to 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 restcamp. Roads within the rest camp are tarred – all other internal roads are gravel.

Addo Elephant Park Gate Hours

• Addo: 07:00 – 19:00 throughout the year

• Zuurberg: 07:30 – 16:30 throughout the year

News about Addo Elephant National Park

TOUTED as one of the most exciting and ambitious conservation projects ever to be undertaken in South Africa, the expansion of the Addo Elephant National Park is moving full steam ahead. Once completed, the park will stretch from the off-shore islands in the Indian Ocean to the Little Karoo and incorporate five different biomes in a 400 000 hectare area. 

New Discovery Trail

A REVOLUTIONARY new access trail for the disabled has been launched in the Addo Elephant National Park. The solid but stylish 2km cement Discovery Trail, the first of its kind in Africa, loops through a section of typical Addo thicket near the main park camp.

The great diversity of landscapes and natural vegetation assure a wide variety of game viewing and outdoor adventure opportunities. To make the most of your time in the park be sure to bring along binoculars, camera, walking shoes and wildlife reference books. Road maps of tourist routes within the park are available at the reception area.

Game viewing from own vehicle: Explore 75 kilometres of road through prime wildlife country. There are a number of  lookout points at waterholes in the area. 

Guided game drives in open vehicles -- by day, at sunset or by night, which is the time when buffalo and black rhino are most often spotted.  

Guided walking trail in the heart of elephant country in the company of a knowledgeable guide.

Guided rhino trekking expeditions

Spekboom Trail(3 – 4 hours) in the safety of a botanical reserve within the park. The trail is temporarily closed in preparation for the translocation of some black rhinos to the park.

Zuurberg Nature Trails (1 hour and 4 hours) that wind through fynbos and deep kloofs of unspoiled indigenous forest which is home to leopard, bushpig and a wide variety of bird The area boasts impressive cycad populations.

Alexandria Hiking Trail: This is a unique 2-day trail that includes forest, dune and coast sections.

Horse Trails in Addo

Three hour guided horse trail within elephant area (For experienced riders)

Two hour guided horse trail next to the game fence (Suitable for novice riders)

Zuurberg mountain horse trails (One hour trail for inexperienced riders and 3- and 5-hour routes for experienced riders).

4 x 4 Trails in Addo

4 X 4 enthusiasts will enjoy the challenging routes that wind their way through the Zuurberg mountains to Darlington Dam in the arid Karoo. The route takes in fascinating historic sites and overnight accommodation is available at Kabouga Guest House and Mvubu Bush Camp.

Other Addo activities:

• Watch game at night at the illuminated waterhole in the main rest camp

• Bird Watching from hide in rest camp

• Swimming pool (residents only)

• Picnic area for day visitors

• Cultural entertainment in season

• Children's activities in season