Overview:
This Addo Elephant Park Safari is great for families and visitors on a budget who want to see the Big Five without getting malaria.
Addo is only a 35-minute drive from Port Elizabeth, making the trip short and easy. It also gets you to Addo, a unique and amazing game park where you can see wildlife. This is one of the best places in Africa to see elephants. It also has all five biomes, which are home to a lot of different kinds of animals and birds.
We will make sure you get the most out of your wildlife safari by taking you on this Addo Park Safari with a trained guide in a specially designed vehicle for game viewing. It’s a great short private tour for the money!
Detailed itinerary
Extensive Big Five game drives in a malaria-free environment Addo Elephant National Park
Comprehensive wildlife drives in a safari vehicle accompanied by a professional guide
Subterranean concealment, avian concealment, illuminated waterhole, and swimming facility
Day 1: Port Elizabeth to Addo Elephant National Park – South Africa
This morning at 8:00 AM, your guide will retrieve you from your lodging in Port Elizabeth. We proceed directly from Port Elizabeth to Addo Elephant National Park. The journey from the city to the south gate takes around 35 minutes by car. Upon arrival at Addo, we check in and take a brief respite.
Upon entering the park, the animal observation experiences commence! Addo Elephant National Park is a premier safari locale for observing African elephants, accommodating almost 700 of these colossal beasts. Addo is not only home to elephants but also boasts a diverse array of wildlife, including the renowned Big Five. Remain vigilant for buffalo, rhinoceroses, lions, hyenas, zebras, and other antelope species such as kudu, eland, red hartebeest, and bushbuck. We are certain to observe warthogs and the largest flightless bird in the world, the ostrich.
While traveling north via Addo, we traverse the Albany thicket and grassy plains, stopping to see the fauna and avian species we find. Your knowledgeable guide imparts comprehensive insights regarding Addo and its ecosystems during your exploration. Around midday, we arrive at the primary rest camp in Addo and proceed to the park’s cafeteria for a modest lunch.
Following lunch, we depart in our customized safari vehicle to resume our pursuit of Addo’s intriguing fauna and avifauna. This evening, we will return from our exhilarating game drive and partake in dinner at the camp restaurant (at our own expense). Subsequently, you are at liberty to observe nighttime wildlife in the camp’s illuminated waterhole or participate in an optional night game drive with SANParks, for an additional fee. The game drive occurs in an open safari vehicle, enhancing the excitement of nocturnal bush exploration.
Accommodation: Chalet or hut in Addo Elephant National Park, subject to availability.
Included meals: Midday meal
Optional activity: Nocturnal safari with SANParks
Day 2: Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa
Awaken early this morning for a rejuvenating cup of coffee or tea accompanied by rusks prior to our sunrise wildlife drive. The early morning is the optimal period for observing predators traversing the bush prior to their diurnal rest. This period is ideal for avian observation and photography; therefore, ensure your cameras are prepared. Your guide use their expertise to enhance your opportunities for observing wildlife.
Following our early morning wildlife drive, we return to the camp for a late breakfast at the park’s dining establishment. Subsequently, you have leisure time to unwind at the camp and utilize the amenities, which comprise a swimming pool, an underground wildlife hide, and a bird hide. An informative center provides intriguing facts about Addo and its residents. Around noon, we partake in a modest lunch at the camp prior to embarking on an afternoon game drive in our safari vehicle. Probable observations encompass buffalo, kudu, eland, warthog, and, notably, elephants.
This evening in camp, we will eat dinner at the park’s restaurant (at personal expense). You may then relax and observe the stars, participate in an optional night wildlife drive for an additional fee, or explore the adjacent floodlit waterhole. As you retire to your chalet tonight, attune your ears to the calls of the black-backed jackal, hyena, and lion.
Accommodation: Chalet or hut in Addo Elephant National Park, subject to availability.
Included meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Discretionary task: Nocturnal safari with SANParks
Day 3: Journey from Addo Elephant Park to Port Elizabeth – South Africa
On the third day, we rise early for our concluding game drive. The day commences with coffee or tea accompanied by rusks before we venture into the expansive Addo Elephant Park. This wildlife-rich national park encompasses five of South Africa’s nine biomes, ensuring that each game drive offers distinct rewards. Following the awakening of the bush with the arrival of birds and animals, and the retreat of nocturnal critters, we proceed to the camp for breakfast at the restaurant.
Subsequently, we depart and gradually navigate southward through the woods, observing mammals, reptiles, insects, and birds along the route. We subsequently depart by the southern gate, departing from the splendid Addo Park and retracing our route to your lodging in Port Elizabeth.
Included meals: Morning repast
Concerning Addo Elephant National Park
Addo Elephant Park is the third-largest national park in South Africa and the foremost national park in the Eastern Cape. Addo is a malaria-free safari site, which is advantageous for families traveling with children. A significant attraction is the brief driving duration needed to access Addo from Port Elizabeth. Addo, located around 35 minutes from Port Elizabeth, is one of the most accessible Big Five game parks in the country.
Addo is distinguished by its substantial elephant population, which approaches 700 individuals. It is regarded as one of the premier locations in Africa for observing elephants due to the substantial population of these animals. Addo also hosts the remaining members of the Big Five: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, and buffalo. The likelihood of observing buffalo is high, whereas lions and rhinos are frequently encountered, and leopards are rarely observed. Addo is notable for encompassing maritime habitats, which support marine animals such as the southern right whale and the great white shark. The amalgamation of the Big Five, the great white shark, and the southern right whale confers upon Addo Park the exceptional designation of a Big 7 safari destination. The national park encompasses 1,640 km² (633 mi²) of diverse natural habitats adjacent to the Sundays River and extending to the coastline. The marine protected area of Addo Park includes the waters and islands of Algo Bay. St. Croix and Bird Island are two notable protection areas that harbor some of the largest colonies of African penguins and Cape gannets, respectively.
Accommodation for Tours in Addo Park
This economical Addo Park Safari includes accommodation within Addo Elephant Park at the primary rest camp, contingent upon availability. If lodging in the renowned main camp is completely reserved, we will utilize alternate accommodations of comparable quality near Addo Park. We advise securing reservations far in advance (a minimum of 6 months prior) to guarantee availability within Addo.
Accommodation is provided in chalets or cottages for two individuals sharing. For group or family vacation, lodging is available at one of the Addo main camp guesthouses, which can accommodate up to six individuals. The lodging accommodations are adequately furnished, hygienic, and pleasant, comprising twin single beds, essential kitchen amenities, fans, and private bathrooms. The primary camp features a swimming pool, a shop, and a restaurant, along with a floodlit waterhole for nocturnal animal observation and interspersed game drives. An underground wildlife hide and a bird hide are located at the waterhole.