Addo Elephant National Park is a diverse wildlife conservation park which is situated close to Port Elizabeth in South Africa and is one of the country’s 20 national parks. Currently it ranks third in size after the Kruger National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
It’s hard to believe that the park once consisted of only 16 elephants – today, over 550 elephants roam free here.
Both the park and the size of the elephant population have grown significantly over the years. Addo is currently the third largest national park in South Africa, which stretches from the Zuurberg mountains to the coast and including two offshore island groups.
Addo National Park is now also home to the Big Five with the reintroduction of a small pride of lions, along with some spotted hyenas. Other megafauna that call this park home are leopards, black rhino and buffalo.
Accommodation options consist of several luxury lodges, a main camp and a satellite camp, as well as several bush camps. Because of the park’s accessibility and popularity, advance bookings are essential.
A unique experience in the park is the chance to book a horse trail in a Big Five area. The park also provides game drives and ‘hop-on’ guides for those who wish to be guided in their own vehicle.