Addo Elephant National Park

The Basics

Visit Addo Elephant National Park on a day-trip safari from the nearby town of Port Elizabeth; stay overnight in a safari camp or lodge; or explore the park on a sightseeing tour of South Africa. The park’s proximity to the Garden Route makes it a popular stop on multi-day tours that include attractions like the beaches of Jeffreys Bay, outdoor activities in Tsitsikamma National Park, and wineries and caves near Oudtshoorn.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Addo Elephant National Park is malaria-free, and the main routes are accessible in a 2WD vehicle.

• A guided tour takes you to the best wildlife-viewing locations in the park.

• The park’s restaurants, shops, picnic spots, and viewing areas are accessible to wheelchairs.

How to Get There

The main entrance to Addo Elephant National Park is about an hour’s drive north of Port Elizabeth on Highway 2. If you plan to visit from Cape Town or Johannesburg (both about a 9-hour drive from the park), you can get there on a multi-day guided sightseeing tour of the Eastern Cape.

When to Get There

You can see wildlife at Addo Elephant National Park year-round; however, the dry season (June–August) provides ideal game-viewing opportunities, as the animals typically congregate around the highly visible water holes. For better weather and fewer crowds, though, go in spring or fall.

Conservation in Addo Elephant National Park

The park originated in 1931 as a space dedicated to preserving the region’s remaining elephants. At that time, there were only 11 elephants in the area. Nowadays, the park offers protection for hundreds of elephants and other Big Five animals, diverse bird populations, and even marine life (in a separate coastal section of the park).