Addo Elephant National Park
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 8:55 am
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.
Ⓒ 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.
Ⓒ 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.
Ⓒ PJL
Ⓒ PJL
Ⓒ PJL
Ⓒ 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.
Bird Island:
©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:
© Sanparks
Chalet:
© Sanparks
Cottage:
© 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.
© 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:
© Sanparks
© 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.
© Sanparks
Accommodation rates do not include Conservation Fees which are payable at the entrance gates.
http://www.sanparks.org/tourism/availability/
Ⓒ SanparksResponsible 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 (104.35 KiB) Viewed 4607 times
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 (57.59 KiB) Viewed 4607 times
- Lions PJL.jpg (89.37 KiB) Viewed 4606 times
- Hyenas PJL.jpg (70.22 KiB) Viewed 4607 times
- Addo Black Rhino Peter Betts.jpg (81.42 KiB) Viewed 4607 times
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.
Bird Island:
©yearinthewild.comAddo 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:
© SanparksChalet:
© SanparksCottage:
© SanparksNarina 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.
© SanparksMatyholweni 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:
© Sanparks © places.co.zaSpekboom 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.
© SanparksAccommodation rates do not include Conservation Fees which are payable at the entrance gates.
http://www.sanparks.org/tourism/availability/
Wish I was there now. Ei
