Addo elephant park is a beautiful nature reserve in South Africa, home to the largest population of elephants on earth. It’s also one of the most popular safari destinations in Africa, and for a good reason. You’ll find yourself surrounded by wildlife as you explore these Addo elephant park specials with your family or friends.
There’s a lot of things you can do while visiting Addo, like getting involved in their many ranger programs and enjoying some of the best African cuisines. Addo is home to hundreds of species on land and sea. Although the park is most famous for its elephants, more than 450 species of birds can be seen in the area.
If you need a lift to get out of the cities and experience some actual African wildlife, visit your local travel agent for all the Addo specials. You can spend some time at this park and see a variety of animals in a single day. You’ll visit the elephant sanctuary where they help injured, abused, or abandoned elephants find their way back to the wild.
What Is Addo Elephant Park
The Addo Elephant Park is one of the largest, most famous animal parks in South Africa and was granted a 5-star rating by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. It covers the equivalent of 700 football fields and includes an extra 2000 hectares of land for giraffes, antelopes, rhinos, and elephants. The park has a wide range of African animals that have been orphaned or rescued from other countries.
Besides the scenic beauty of Hartman’s Dam, Addo Elephant Park is also a great place to see various animals. In addition to the thousands of wild animals that live in the park, there are rides and games for children, a café, and even a 4-star hotel on site. There is also an animal hospital for injured animals in the park, only a few in Africa.
Addo Elephant Park Specials: Activities For Children
The Addo Elephant Park is one of the top attractions in South Africa. The park offers children several activities while they are visiting, which will make their visit to the park more exciting and enjoyable. For example, there are pony rides where children can have the opportunity to ride around the park on a pony for about 30 minutes.
At Addo Elephant Park, there are also elephant back safaris where children can ride an elephant for 15 minutes. Children who are at least ten years old can have this experience. Although these activities are available only during the summer months, children may enjoy other attractions throughout the year.
Tourists who want to explore Addo can do so with open safari vehicles, SUVs, or on the back of an elephant. There are also jeep tours that take visitors to areas in Addo Elephant Park where they can learn more about the park and its residents. Another fun activity for children is the train tour, which takes you around the park and gives you a chance to see different animals in their natural habitat.
Addo Elephant Park Specials: The Best African Food In Town
Suppose you want to experience some great African food while at Addo, be sure to check out Boulders Lodge & Spa for dining options after your safari trip. There is a buffet restaurant where you can enjoy a great breakfast before going out on your safari trip.
If you happen to be back early from the park, there is also a snack shop that offers sandwiches and other light meals for those who may need a little pick me up during their visit. If you are looking for more upscale dining, Boulders Lodge & Spa also has a restaurant where you can enjoy fine dining and wine.
Addo Elephant Park Specials: Accommodation
The Addo Elephant National Park is a great place to stay overnight while you are visiting South Africa. Everyone has accommodation options, whether you like staying in a tent or an African lodge. The official four-star Thanda private game reserve and Shamwari Game Reserve offer luxurious rooms and suites with private balconies from which you can enjoy the beautiful views of the park.
Addo Elephant Park Specials: Activities In Addo
In addition to all the different types of wildlife you will see at Addo. These activities include guided tours, elephant back safaris, horse riding, and more. There are also several other activities for children and adults. The park also has several dining options, some of which offer buffet-style meals for breakfast and lunch.
The Addo Elephant Park is not only a place to see magnificent animals, but it also has other types of activities for visitors. The park is open during the warmer months from May to December and offers something for everyone in your family. For more information, check out our detailed reviews about all the Addo Elephant Park specials below.
Addo Elephant Park Specials: Attractions
The Addo Elephant Park is located along the Garden Route in South Africa. This is one of the most popular tourist routes in South Africa, and many attractions and activities will keep you busy for days. Some of the most popular attractions and activities around Addo Elephant Park include:
– The various animal sanctuaries and parks in the area, such as the Kariega Game Reserve
– The Tsitsikamma National Park, with its zipline adventure
– The historical battlefields in the area, such as the Battle of Grahamstown
– The wild horses in the park, known as Strandlopers
– The Tree Top Canopy Tour at Addo Elephant National Park
– The Addo Elephant Park offers activities for the whole family, including children.
Addo Elephant Park Specials: Wildlife Safari Tours
A visit to the Addo Elephant National Park allows you to take tours on the back of an elephant or in open safari vehicles throughout the park. You can also go on guided tours that include hiking trails. There are also jeep tours that take you to different areas in Addo Elephant Park so you can see the animals up close.
These safari tours are offered throughout the year, but remember that it gets very hot during the summer months.
Why Visit Addo Elephant Park
Addo Elephant Park is a remnant of the last untouched natural wilderness in South Africa. It is home to thousands of elephants, buffalo, rhinos, other large predator animals, many smaller animals and bird species, and over 350 different plant species. The park has become famous for its elephant nursery and rhino breeding facility, which produce calves reintroduced into the wild.
It offers day visitors an insight into wildlife conservation with 40 fascinating guided walks that range from one hour or more exploring some of the terrains of this beautiful part of the Garden Route. Addo Elephant Park offers its visitors a wide range of activities such as game drives by car, foot safaris on foot or bicycle, balloon safaris, and night drives.
The idea behind the creation of this park was to protect, breed, and re-introduce African animals back into the wild. The Addo Elephant National Park is one of the first parks where South Africans moved elephants from different areas in Africa back into protected areas.
It has become known as the home to Africa’s big 7 with lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, leopards and hyenas, and a large population of antelope. The park is located between George and Port Elizabeth in South Africa’s garden route and can be easily accessed from either city. The nearest township is Fort Frederick which offers a wide range of shops and supermarkets.
Why visit Addo Elephant Park? There are many good reasons to visit the Park, here are just some of the Addo Elephant Park specials:
– To see Africa’s Big 7 – lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, leopards, and hyenas. To be involved in game drives (car or on foot).
– To do a three-hour morning or afternoon walk with an overnight stay in the park. To attend one of 40 guided walks ranging from one hour to multi-day treks.
– To take part in the Rhino Tracking Programme, Elephant Nursery Rhino Breeding Programme and release animals back into the wild.
– To go on a five-hour birding experience with an overnight stay in the park or do a day walk or night drive to see predators.
– See the many different antelope species indigenous to this area of South Africa or see cheetahs or aardwolves at a research facility.
– To do a day walk and night drive in search of leopard, cheetah, or aardwolf. To do a two-hour walk with the chance to see the world’s smallest antelope – suni.
– To enjoy watching elephants as they play in the rivers. To see baby elephants in the elephant nursery, walk with rhinos at the Rhino Breeding Programme, and take part in other conservation projects.
– To go on a canoeing safari or boat cruise on one of five lakes or to attend one of four elephant feeding sessions per day (08:30, 11:00, 14:00, and 15:45).
– To do a five-hour wildlife drive. To see crocodiles at the crocodile farm and experience an overnight stay at Addo Zipline Lodge.
Addo Elephant Park Specials: What You Can Do While Visiting The Park
There are several things that you can do at Addo Elephant Park while visiting. There is a self-guided walk that will allow you to see various animals, plants, and fish. This park also has a boardwalk on the river, so it is very scenic as well. The Addo Elephant Park offers a special package for those who want to do various activities.
They have a couple of packages for those looking for an experience that will involve some more adventures. You can either choose from the Special Park Package or choose from the Adventure Package. The Adventure Package includes activities such as abseiling, quad biking, kayaking, and canoeing. The Special Park Package includes activities such as visiting the main camp and AbaXone.
The zip lining is also an activity that you can do during your visit to Addo Elephant Park. They have many tour guides who work for this park, so you will get great advice on what you want to do while there. They have several different routes that you can choose from to make your tour very memorable. If you are going for a picnic, then Addo Elephant Park is the perfect place to go.
You can take a bottle of wine with you and sit out under the stars. They have unique picnic spots where you will get some great views of the animals visiting this area. You can also do some hiking along various trails while you see the park. If you want to get the most out of your visit, then try to plan it for when there is a full moon.
The animals seem to like the light at this time and will come down onto the lower ground. You can get a great picture of them when they do this. You can also go for a night drive, but make sure you have your car headlights turned off. When doing this tour, you need to use lamps instead.
The Addo Elephant Park is a top-rated attraction in South Africa, and there are many things that you can do to get the most out of your visit. When you are planning your trip, make sure you consider all these things.
How To Get To Addo Elephant Park
First, the park is 30km from Port Elizabeth, and then you go through an 80km dirt road. after this, you will enter Addo Elephant Park. Sometimes the route will be closed due to elephants blocking the road. If this happens, they recommend that you try and find a different way or ask for help from someone with a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The roads are very sandy, and you should be careful not to drive too fast, no matter what kind of car you use. It is recommended that you do not go at night because there are elephants everywhere. There are three main ways to get into the park once it is open:
Car (Drive Yourself)
This is the most convenient way to get in. The roads are excellent, and it is a smooth ride once you reach the park.
Park Shuttle Bus
This is another option if you want to skip driving in yourself. Most people who use this service have been on one of their safaris before or have arrived from Port Elizabeth by train beforehand.
Cape Train Shuttle Bus
This service will pick you up from the Port Elizabeth train station and take you to Addo. It is an easy ride that leaves daily at 10:30 am. You need to book your ticket before you get on the bus. This option is best for those who are not driving themselves or have younger children.
When To Visit The Addo Elephant Park
Visiting the park is best done in June-September. The elephant population thrives in this period, and it’s less crowded, though you can do a day visit in your vehicle and stay for two hours.
The animals at the Addo Elephant Park include Elephants (indigenous, Asian, African), baboons, lions (native), leopards (native), caracal (native), jackals (native), ostriches (nonnative), giraffes (nonnative), zebras, gazelles, warthogs, impala antelopes, springbok antelopes. The animals at Addo Elephant Park are very well treated and not molested by tourists or any people.
The animals, just as in a wild environment, socialize and interact with each other. As you walk through the park, you will likely see herds of elephants crossing the road, baboons playing games with each other, young males fighting to become alphas. The experience is well worth it and a fantastic adventure for you who still thinks that Africa only exists in Animal Planet or National Geographic documentaries.
Where To Stay In And Around Addo Elephant Park
The best hotels in the area are a little out of town in or around Addo. The Lodge at Addo, for example, is a luxury hotel with a bush feel and the most luxurious of plush rooms. The Kruize’s Guest House is also a popular choice with its lovely rooms and communal spaces. There are several other reasonably priced but comfortable accommodations available within the vicinity of the park.
The critical choice you will face is whether to stay in the park itself. If you want wildlife-viewing opportunities every morning and evening, staying inside the park makes sense. The downside is that many campsites are on raised decks with little shade (the exception is Bushman Sands), and the ablutions are often a walk from your tent.
The traditional way to experience Addo is in a canvas safari tent (safari-style tents). Still, the park also has comfortable self-catering rondavels, each with a fireplace and big hot water bottles stored for chilly winter nights. These rondavels can be booked through SANParks and make a good base for an Addo itinerary, with the advantage of cooking facilities.
Other Things Of Interest Near The Addo Elephant Park
Just up the coast is East London, South Africa’s third-largest city. The Addo Elephant Park is about 20 minutes from Kenton-on-Sea, which has a local market. The town’s main attractions include the Kenton Museum, the Kenton Fort, and the wave pool. On Sundays, there are still horse-drawn wagon rides in old downtown for shoppers.
It has a lot to offer with its penguin colony at Impenjati Nature Reserve on Hout Bay Harbour, its two world-famous beaches – at Muizenberg and Fish Hoek – and numerous eateries to suit every taste. There are multiple eating places at Addo, as well as a very modern bar and lounge. There is also a shop where tourists can purchase the famous Addo curios, African artifacts, and souvenirs.
The area has good facilities to offer, especially if visitors have young children with them – there are mini-golf courses, merry-go-rounds, bouncy castles, and even a small petting zoo with farm animals. The best time to visit Addo Elephant Park is in the warmer months. The park is open seven days a week from 7h30 am till sunset (5 pm during the winter season).
There are many options for lodging at Addo, including the Elephant House, where visitors can enjoy a martini and dance the night away in style and other self-catering lodges. The park is very popular with tourists all year round, and it is advisable to book accommodation in advance.
FAQs About Addo Elephant Park Specials
– Why do so many people come to Addo Elephant Park?
The Addo Elephant Park is the only wildlife area in South Africa that is open to the public 24 hours a day. The number of visitors to Addo Elephant Park is extremely high because it’s an iconic place for lions, leopards, bushbuck, baboons, and other animals. To ensure all visitors can see these fantastic animals, Addo has five campsites so you can stay as close as possible to all the action.
Animals are included in everything at Addo, from elephant encounters, giraffe feeding, river cruises, and rhino tracking and map reading.
– How was the game drive experience at Addo Elephant Park?
Game drives typically run for two hours and start between 08h00 and 09h00. During your drive, you will see just about every wildlife, including lions, leopards, elephants, and even rhinos.
– What can we do in Addo before going to bed?
In the evenings, you can sit around a campfire and roast marshmallows or go on a night drive. You will see nocturnal animals that are not normally seen during the day hours.
– How much time should we spend at Addo Elephant Park?
Addo is open all year round, so you can spend as much time as you want. Whether you have a long weekend, a week, or even longer, there is plenty of enjoyment for everyone.
– In which season is it better to visit Addo Elephant Park?
Addo Elephant Park can be visited all year round, with each season offering something unique. Summer provides the most beautiful light, and winter has the best scenery.
Conclusion
Addo is a great place to visit all year round, with so many Addo elephant park specials every season. Summer offers the most beautiful light, and winter has the best scenery, so this will be your best time to visit.
The park is open seven days a week from 7:30 am till sunset (5 pm during winter), so you can spend as much time as you want to explore Addo’s different places of interest like its elephant house, petting zoo, or giraffe feeding areas that are sure to delight kids of any age!
Suppose you’re planning on spending an extended amount of time at Addo. In that case, it’s advisable to book accommodation in advance because there may not be enough available space left for last-minute reservations.
