Make Addo the destination for your next wild getaway!
Addo is an area where you’ll find an abundance of willdife, awe-inspiring views, exclusive safari lodges and a world of adventure. Many of Addo’s game reserves are home to the Big 5, and Addo is also home to South Africa’s third largest national park – Addo Elephant National Park.
If you’re thinking about booking your next safari holiday, but you’re not sure where to go, let us share 5 reasons why you should make Addo the destination for your next safari getaway.
- Spot African elephants at Addo Elephant National Park
Addo Elephant National Park is one of the best places to see elephants in Africa, and a game drive through the park offers you the opportunity to get as close as it is safely possible to these gentle giants. The park is home to over 600 elephants, and safari-goers who have seen herds of these elephants while journeying through the park have described the experience as simply mesmerizing! The best place to spot herds of elephants in the park is at Harpoor Dam where, every day, hundreds of elephants make their way to drink water and cool down. The park is situated just outside Port Elizabeth, making it easy to add a day trip to the park to your holiday itinerary in The Bay.
- See the Big 7 on a game drive
Elephants aren’t the park’s only big attraction! Addo Elephant National Park is also home to the rest of Africa’s Big 5– lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino – as well as the southern right whale and great white shark, making the park a Big 7 destination. The original national park was extended to include a marine reserve, making this destination the only park in the world where you can spot the Big 7. Africa’s Big 5 can be seen on a guided game drive in the park, and the southern right whale and great white shark can be seen on boat cruises in Algoa Bay.
- Explore dirt roads and spot wildlife from the comfort of your car
The best part about a visit to Addo Elephant National Park? You don’t need to book a guided game drive to see the Eastern Cape’s wildlife! You can hop in the car and explore 120 kilometres of tourist road in the main game area and Colchester area. In the comfort of your car, you’ll see an abundance of wild animals, including cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, wild dogs, and a variety of antelope, including eland, red hartebeest and kudu. If you’re on holiday in Port Elizabeth and you’re looking for something to do, set aside a day to enjoy self-drive game viewing, and pack a picnic basket with snacks and ‘braaivleis’ (the Afrikaans word for meat that you can ‘braai’ or barbecue) and stop at Jack’s Picnic Site for a lunch break.
- Stay at one of the most luxurious safari lodges in the Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is home to some of the most luxurious safari lodges in the country, and some of these can be found in the Addo and in the park itself.
For a 5-Star experience in the park, you can book a stay at Gorah Elephant Camp. The camp is the only private concession and camp in the park, offering you a secluded and private experience in the bush. The classic safari camp offers an authentic safari holiday, with accommodation in elegant tented suites, Big 5 game drives, al fresco dining, and game viewing that will take your breath away!
For a safari in a private section of the Greater Addo National Park, we always recommend a stay at Kuzuko Lodge. With breathtaking views of the Winterberg Mountains, chalets with spectacualr views of the park and its wildlife, experiences that include game drives, game walks, nature walks and stargazing under the African night sky, it’s no wonder the lodge is known as the ‘place of glory’.
- Get a bird’s eye view of Addo and fly across the bushveld on the longest double zip line in South Africa
While you may dream of spending every moment out in the bush on your safari getaway, we’d recommend that you add some adventure activities to your itinerary. And if you’re looking for a adrenaline-fuelled adventure, you’ll be happy to know that Addo is home to the highest, longest and fastest double zip line in South Africa. As you’re launched from the departure tower of the zip line, raised 70 metres above the Sundays River, you’ll feel as if you’ve grown wings as you fly at an incredible speed of 60 km/h! The activity is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, so you can tick this experience off your bucket list whether you’re a youngster or a mature adrenaline junkie.
Addo is a destination on the doorstep of East Cape Tours, and our superior knowledge of Addo’s safari lodges and experiences means that we’re the leaders in organising tailor-made Eastern Cape holidays.
