Addo Elephant National Park

Information & Discussions on Addo Elephant National Park
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Flutterby
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Addo Elephant National Park

Post by Flutterby »

Addo Elephant National Park is South Africa’s third largest national park, stretching a massive 180 000 hectares over the Eastern Cape's Sundays River region.

Image Ⓒ Sanparks

Responsible for the conservation of five of South Africa's nine major vegetation zones, the park encompasses a massive section of ecological biodiversity, with the types of flora and fauna ranging extensively over the various landscapes. Areas of conserved vegetation, many facing a possible extinction, include Albany Thicket, Fynbos, Forest, Nama and the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt - consisting of coastal dunes and grassy plains that make up the largest coastal dune field in the southern hemisphere.
Addo elephant PJL.jpg
Addo elephant PJL.jpg (104.35 KiB) Viewed 3654 times
Ⓒ PJL

Founded in 1931 to provide a sanctuary for the dwindling elephant population in the area, the park’s focus is on the conservation of mega-herbivores. Starting with a population of only 16, Addo National Park is currently home to more than 550 elephants. Other mammals in the park include 400 Cape buffalo, more than 48 endangered Black Rhinos as well as a variety of antelope species. Lions and spotted hyenas have also recently been re-introduced to the area.
buffalo_in_road PJL.jpg
buffalo_in_road PJL.jpg (57.59 KiB) Viewed 3654 times
Ⓒ PJL
Lions PJL.jpg
Lions PJL.jpg (89.37 KiB) Viewed 3653 times
Ⓒ PJL
Hyenas PJL.jpg
Hyenas PJL.jpg (70.22 KiB) Viewed 3654 times
Ⓒ PJL
Addo Black Rhino Peter Betts.jpg
Addo Black Rhino Peter Betts.jpg (81.42 KiB) Viewed 3654 times
Ⓒ Peter Betts


Extended to include the marine reserve of Bird Island and St. Croix Island, Addo National Park expands out over the Algoa Bay area. This means that the park contains not only land animals, but is the home of a myriad of marine life including breeding colonies of gannets and African penguins. Addo’s "Big 7" are the elephant, rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, leopard, whale and great white shark - all found in their natural habitats within the park’s borders. The rare flightless dung beetle (Circellium Bacchus), endemic to Southern Africa, is also a special resident of the park.

Image

Bird Island:
Image ©yearinthewild.com

Addo Restcamp offers a variety of accommodation options: safari tents, forest cabins, chalets, rondavels, cottages, family chalets and 2 guesthouses which sleep 6 people each. Electrified camp sites are also available. Accommodation units are situated within easy walking distance of each other and of facilities such as the swimming pool, restaurant and shop.

Forest cabin:
Image © Sanparks

Chalet:
Image © Sanparks

Cottage:
Image © Sanparks

Narina Bush Camp has four 2-bed tents with WC and shower, braai facilities, kitchen and lapa. There is no electricity.
For a secluded experience in a magical forest, spend some time at Narina Bush Camp at the foot of the Zuurberg Mountains and on the banks of the Wit River. The road to Narina is a gravel road of approximately 25 kilometres and even though it is not necessary to have a 4x4 to access it, a high ground clearance vehicle is needed to travel this road.

Image © Sanparks

Matyholweni Rest Camp has nine 2-bed en-suite cottages and three 3-bed en-suite family cottages all with fully-equipped kitchens and braai facilities.

Family Cottage:
Image © Sanparks

Image © places.co.za

Spekboom Tented Rest Camp has tents with 2 single beds, a table and 2 chairs. A torch or any battery operated light is essential. There are braai facilities, and a bedding and utensil box supplied. There are communal ablutions, wash-up facilities and communal gas fridges and stove plates. Tents are only serviced on departure.

Image © Sanparks

Accommodation rates do not include Conservation Fees which are payable at the entrance gates.


http://www.sanparks.org/tourism/availability/


Poplap
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Re: Addo Elephant National Park

Post by Poplap »

Thanks for sharing, Fluts. \O Wish I was there now. Ei


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Toko
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Re: Addo Elephant National Park

Post by Toko »

SANParks has released a promotional video about Addo Elephant National Park:

Addo Elephant National Park - The Experience!


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Flutterby
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Re: Addo Elephant National Park

Post by Flutterby »

Good job! ;-)


steamtrainfan
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Re: Addo Elephant National Park

Post by steamtrainfan »

What is Addo like in mid April:

- weather
- vegetation
- animal sightings
- etc etc


Faith is the bird that feels the light while the dawn is still dark. Author unknown.
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Re: Addo Elephant National Park

Post by steamtrainfan »

Sorry - above should read mid March 23/3 - 26/3?


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Mel
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Re: Addo Elephant National Park

Post by Mel »

I was there last year at about that time, STF.
And we had a bit of rain. But the park was green accordingly and the sightings were still good.
Apart from zebra, eland, bushbuck, kudu, eland, ostriches, warthogs, buff and of course ellies
we also saw 7 out of the 9 resident lions there. Alas, no blackie or caracal. But what I really liked
about the park was the very friendly and calm ellies. Nothing compared to the Kruger aggressors. -O

Here are the climate dates for P.E. - which should be pretty close to those in Addo:

Image

Image

Image


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steamtrainfan
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Re: Addo Elephant National Park

Post by steamtrainfan »

Wow Mel - thank you so much for all this useful information.


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Richprins
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Re: Addo Elephant National Park

Post by Richprins »

SANParks Addo
‏ @SANParksAENP
May 21

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Park's game viewing gates (Gate 2 at Main Camp and Matyholweni Gate) will only open at 07:00AM during June and July and not at the usual 6AM.


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Peter Betts
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Re: Addo Elephant National Park

Post by Peter Betts »

Remembering the iconic 'Valli Moosa' one of 8 Elephant Bulls brought in from Kruger to supplement the Gene Stock..I miss him
Valli Moosa.jpg


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