Now the third largest national park in South Africa, Addo Elephant 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 Bushmans river mouth, Addo covers about 180 000 hectares (444 700 acres) and includes the Bird and St Croix Island groups.
Situated in a malaria free area just one hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth, this finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 450 elephants, Cape buffalo, a variety of antelope species, as well as the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo.
The park conserves no less than five of South Africa’s seven biomes
It is home to one of the densest African elephant populations on earth
It is home to the unique flightless dung beetle
It incorporates the largest coastal dune field in the southern hemisphere
The park boasts the Big Seven, (elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, southern right whale and great white shark)
It protects the world’s largest Cape gannet breeding population on Bird Island
This park offers some of the most spectacular elephant viewing in the world. Antelope species abundant in the main game area of the park include red hartebeest, eland, kudu and bushbuck whilst Gemsbok, black wildebeest, springbok, buffalo and black rhino are found in the arid nama-karoo area.
The Burchells zebra, Cape mountain zebra, spotted hyenas, mountain reedbuck, baboons, blue duiker, aardwolf and red rock rabbit are some of the other game species found in the Park.
A form of identification to be provided upon entry:
As from 16 July 2015, Park Managements requests that all visitors 18 years and older entering the Park need to provide a form of identification (driver’s license, passport or ID document) upon arrival. Going forward, all guests’ identity or passport numbers will now also need to be reflected on the Park’s official indemnity forms. Guests’ cooperation in this regard is highly appreciated.
Addo Main Camp The popular main rest camp of the park offers a wide variety of accommodation units to suit all tastes and plenty of activities to keep visitors busy. A unique feature is the waterhole lookout point, floodlit at night, within the camp as well as the underground hide, allowing close encounters with wildlife at the waterhole…
Camp Matyholweni Matyholweni, which means in the bush in Xhosa is located near the coastal town of Colchester at the Sundays River Mouth, 3km off the N2 highway, Matyholweni is easily accessible and provides a second gateway into the Park. Amenities such as shops, restaurants and a fuel station are available in the nearby town…
Spekboom Tented Camp Spend a night in the middle of the bush, listening to the sounds of the wild around you. You may catch a glimpse of nocturnal animals drinking at the waterhole, gaze at the starry skies and enjoy being away from it all. The Spekboom Tents are located in the fenced area of Spekboom Hide in the Parks Main Game Area.
Narina Bush Camp - For a secluded experience in magical forest, spend some time at Narina Bush Camp at the foot of the Zuurberg Mountains and on the banks of the Wit River…
Please Note rates do not include daily conservation levies. Please see details of Conservation Fees
The following private Lodges are located in the Park:
A variety of accommodation options are available in The Greater Addo Area such as:
The following facilities are available at the main rest camp:
A fuel station selling petrol and diesel is available between 07:00 and 17:00.
A shop selling curios, snacks and basic supplies is open between 08:00 and 18:00 (Please note: times vary according to season, please check with park staff).
An al-la-carte restaurant is available in the main camp and is open for all meals from 07:00 to 22:00.
A swimming pool is available for overnight visitors.
A picnic and braai area is available for day visitors.
The SASOL Red Bishop Bird Hide
The PPC Discovery Trail is accessible to all, including the visually and mobility-impaired.
There is a public telephone and a post box near the reception. Post is collected for delivery every week day morning at 09:00. A post office is situated in the town of Addo, approximately 15 km from the park.
A First National Bank with ATM is situated in the town of Addo, 15 km from the park. Other banking facilities are located in the town of Kirkwood, 35 km from the park and Port Elizabeth, 75 km from the park.
A la Carte restaurant and curio shop available.
Underground wildlife viewing hide
Caravan Site (CK6CP): Communal ablutions, Communal kitchen with electricity, hob and sink, Extra vehicles are charged a fee per night, Gravel ground cover, PowerPoint (220v), Visitors must provide their own camping equipment, Visitors must provide their own tent / caravan.
Chalet 2bd + Dsc (CH2/4Z): Air-conditioned, Kitchen with stove, fridge, utensils, Lounge with 2 single beds & 1 dbl sleeper couch, No smoking, Not suitable for 2 adults (dbl sleeper couch), Open plan lounge / kitchen area, Unit accessible to the mobility challenged, WC, shower and bath.
Chalet 2bd +dsc (CH2/4): Air-conditioned, Kitchen with stove, fridge, utensils, Lounge with 2 single beds & 1 dbl sleeper couch, No smoking, Not suitable for 2 adults (dbl sleeper couch), Open plan lounge / kitchen area, WC, shower and bath.
Chalet 2bd S-d (CH2S): 2 single beds, Air-conditioned, Hotplate, microwave, fridge, utensils, No additional persons allowed, No smoking, Open plan kitchen, Semi detached, WC and shower.
Chalet 2bd (CH2): 2 single beds, Air-conditioned, Mini kitchen (stove, fridge, utensils), No smoking, Open plan, Unit number 15, WC and shower.
Chalet Family (FCH4): 1 bedroom with double bed, Air-conditioned lounge, Double sleeper couch (not suitable for adults), Fan in bedroom, Kitchen, Lounge with 2 single beds & 1 dbl sleeper couch, No smoking, Stove, fridge and utensils, Unit number 16, WC, shower and bath.
Cottage (CO2Z): 2 single beds, DSTV (limited channels), Fan, Hotplate, microwave, fridge, utensils, No additional persons allowed, No smoking, Open plan kitchen, Unit accessible to the mobility challenged, WC and shower.
Cottage (CO2): 2 single beds, DSTV (limited channels), Fan, Hotplate, microwave, fridge, utensils, No additional persons allowed, No smoking, Open plan kitchen, WC and shower.
Domkrag Guest House (GHD6): 1 en-suite bedroom with 4 single beds, 1 en-suite bedroom with queen size bed, Air-conditioned bedroom, Beds can be pushed together to form three doubles, DSTV (limited channels), Fan in lounge, Lounge, No smoking, Open plan kitchen, Stove, microwave, fridge, utensils, WC and bath, WC and shower.
Forest Cabin (HF4): 4 single beds with bedding, Communal kitchen with electricity, hob and sink, Fan, Fridge, No additional persons allowed, No smoking, Utensils, WC and shower.
Hapoor Guest House (GHH6): 1 en-suite bedroom with 4 single beds, 1 en-suite bedroom with queen size bed, Air-conditioned bedroom, Beds can be pushed together to form three doubles, DSTV (limited channels), Fan in lounge, Lounge, No smoking, Open plan kitchen, Stove, microwave, fridge, utensils, WC and bath, WC and shower.
Rondavel 2bd Ck (HL2): 1 queen size bed, Air-conditioned, Communal equipped kitchen (hob, utensils, sink), Fridge, No additional persons allowed, No smoking, WC and shower.
Safari Tent (ST2): 2 single beds, Barbeque facilities, Communal ablutions, Communal equipped kitchen (hob, utensils, sink), Fan & heater, Fridge, No smoking.
Tent Site (CK4T): Extra vehicles are charged a fee per night, Maximum of 4 people per site, PowerPoint (220v), Very small sites (3.5 x 4.5m)- only tents allowed, Visitors must provide their own camping equipment, Visitors must provide their own small tent.
Cottage (CO2): 2 single beds, Barbeque facilities, Camp reached from N2, access rd open to Main Camp, Check-in at Matyholweni itself, not Main Camp, DSTV (limited channels), DSTV (limited channels), Equipped kitchen, Fan, Fridge, Microwave, No additional persons allowed, No smoking, Open plan, WC and shower.
Cottage (CO2Z): 2 single beds, Barbeque facilities, Camp reached from N2, access rd open to Main Camp, Check-in at Matyholweni itself, not Main Camp, DSTV (limited channels), Equipped kitchen, Fan, Fridge, Microwave, No additional persons allowed, No smoking, Open plan, Unit accessible to the mobility challenged, WC and shower.
Family Cottage (FA3): Barbeque facilities, Camp reached from N2, access rd open to Main Camp, Check-in at Matyholweni itself, not Main Camp, Couch not suitable for adults, DSTV (limited channels), Equipped kitchen, Fan, Fridge, Microwave, No additional persons allowed, No smoking, Open plan, Queen size bed, WC and shower.
Spekboom Tent (TC2): 2 single beds, A torch or any battery operated light is essential, Barbeque facilities, Bedding and utensil box supplied, Communal ablutions, Communal gas fridge & stove plates, Communal wash-up facilities, Kettle to use on fire, No access to Addo Main Camp Restaurant for dinner, No access to after hour drives at Addo Main Camp, No kitchen facilities, No smoking, Table & 2 chairs, Tents are only serviced on departure.
- No cancellation fee will be incurred for cancellations made after payment of first deposit up to and including 46 days prior to arrival.
- Cancellation fees equal to 50% of the total reservation cost is payable in a case of cancellation made between 45 days and 30 days prior to arrival.
- Cancellation fee equal to 100% of the total reservation cost is payable in a case of a cancellation made between 29 days prior to and date of arrival
- 100% of the total cost for any non-arrival/no-shows
Reservation made within 45 days prior to arrival is payable within 24 hours from the day reservation is made.
- Conservation levy is always excluded from the booking amount and needs to be settled on arrival.
It is your responsibility to check if the reservation is correct. Should the reservation be incorrect, please contact our office immediately.
If the arrival date of the itinerary is postponed prior to or on date of arrival and then cancelled at a later stage, the fees that applied at the time of amendment will be enforced if the amount is greater than the new cancellation fees.
Cancelling or downgrading of a reservation 45 days prior to or on arrival will result in cancellation fees according to a sliding scale (based on the total reservation cost) which varies between 50% and 100%.
Should the reservation not be taken up on the arrival date the accommodation will be held until 09:00 the following day after which the reservation will be cancelled and the deposit, where applicable, forfeited.
