National ParkFeatured Destination
Addo Elephant National Park
South Africa 1,640 km² (633 mi²) Est. 1931
About Addo Elephant National Park
The third-largest national park in South Africa, Addo is the only park in the world that is home to the Big Seven - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino, great white shark, and southern right whale. Located in the malaria-free Eastern Cape, it was established in 1931 to protect the last 11 elephants in the region.
Today the park hosts over 600 elephants and has expanded to include a marine section at Algoa Bay. The dense Valley Bushveld vegetation creates close-range encounters, and the park is easily combined with the Garden Route.
0
Safari Tours
4.0
Avg Rating
4/5
Big Five
95
Years Protected
Highlights
- Completely malaria-free Big Five destination
- Only Big Seven park in the world (including marine)
- Close-range elephant encounters in dense bush
- Easy to combine with Garden Route itinerary
- Year-round rainfall means always green and scenic
Considerations
- Dense vegetation can make game spotting challenging
- Main camp area can feel crowded in peak season
- Not the classic open savannah safari landscape
- Predator sightings less frequent than in larger parks
Wildlife
Big Five Status
🦁
Lion
occasional
🐆
Leopard
Not present
🐘
Elephant
common
🦬
Buffalo
common
🦏
Rhino
rare
Notable Species
Lion
Occasional
Elephant
Common
Cape Buffalo
Common
Black Rhino
Rare
Zebra
Common
Kudu
Common
Warthog
Common
Hyena
Occasional
Jackal
Common
Bottlenose Dolphin
Common
Humpback Whale
Occasional
Common Occasional Rare
Best Time to Visit
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Peak Season Good Time Less Ideal
Climate Overview
Getting There
Drive approximately 1 hour north of Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport is the nearest major airport with car rental facilities.
Nearest Airport
Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ)
Nearest City
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
Drive Time
1 hour