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The Addo Elephant National Park, with its core in the Sundays River Valley, stretching from the nor
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23/08/2025

ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK AT A GLANCE

Addo Elephant National Park is the largest park in the Eastern Cape and the 3rd largest National Park in South Africa.

It is malaria-free and conveniently located just 35km from Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth).

The park is home to the African Big Seven (Lion, African Elephant, Black Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, Great White Shark and Southern Right Whale) and many other African wildlife species, including spotted hyena, zebra, abundant birdlife, a variety of antelope and the endemic Addo flightless dung beetle.

Visitors can encounter almost 100 species of mammals, 417 bird species and around 20 marine species across the various sections of the park.

The park was founded in 1931 on 2000 hectares with the only remaining 11 elephants in the area. Today, it is home to over 600 elephants, many other species, and covers 180,000 hectares – an area of natural and cultural diversity – a truly unique park.

Addo Elephant National Park is open 365 days a year

Self-drive game viewing is included in the entry/conservation fee, while guided activities are also on offer, 4×4 and hiking trails, open-vehicle game drives, spa treatments, and marine safaris (from Nelson Mandela Bay).

The park stretches across five biomes: from the vast Darlington Lake in the north, across the magnificent Zuurberg mountains, through the dense thicket of the lovely Sundays River Valley to the lush indigenous forests at Woody Cape (which hug the largest coastal dune fields in the Southern Hemisphere) ending in the parks’s marine protected area in Algoa Bay.

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Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

21/08/2025

The spacious grounds of Addo African Home are located only a 10-minute drive from the Addo Elephant National Park.

The property offers accommodation set in traditional chalets called rondavels and the original farmhouse has been converted into a Lodge.
The main building contains a lounge with a TV for relaxation and the outdoor terrace provides a place to enjoy a drink.

Addo African Home also features a natural swimming pool on site.

There is a restaurant and cooking school on site and BBQ facilities are also available for a traditional braai. The restaurant is open daily and offers French and South African dishes. The staff use fresh products from the organic vegetable garden and local suppliers.

The property offers game drives to the Park in an open vehicle with a professional guide.

https://www.addotourism.co.za/listings/addo-african-home/

Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

19/08/2025

Addo Tourism had its Annual General Meeting at Zoetvlei Wildlife Estate just outside Paterson today. Tourism doesn't just happen and there are so many owners, operators, marketing people and staff members constantly working behind the scenes to attract visitors and to make their stays truly memorable. It was nice to see so many of these people at the meeting today.

A big thanks to Ron Mackenzie for being our guest speaker today and sharing some of his thoughts on marketing, social media and being an authentic voice for the region.

Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

18/08/2025

Your sign for an unforgettable trip to South Africa
dus and came to South Africa on honeymoon and travelled a total of 2800km through the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. They got some fantastic photos and video clips in the Addo Elephant National Park and we would like to share some of those with you today.

Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

14/08/2025

Indulge your palate at ‘A Taste of Africa,’ an authentic Eastern Cape restaurant and coffee shop close to the Sundays River. Conveniently located just outside the Southern gate of Addo National Park and a mere 30-minute drive from Nelson Mandela Bay, this dining destination beckons.

Whether you’re a road-trip enthusiast, a day-tripper exploring Addo National Park, or a guest in the charming Colchester area, they’re here to serve you. The menu boasts a selection of hearty breakfasts, satisfying lunches, delectable dinners, and tempting snacks, all infused with the rich flavours of South Africa. You can even savour the experience of a traditional ‘braai’ meal, all while enjoying renowned Eastern Cape hospitality – available seven days a week.

Cozy up indoors or bask in the sunshine of the inviting garden; either way, you’ll be enticed to linger a while. And when you take that first bite, there’s only one word that comes to mind: “Lekker!”

Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

12/08/2025

We are so fortunate to have the Addo Elephant National Park as the crown jewel of the Sundays River Valley and today we celebrate World Elephant Day with them.

On 12 August 2012, the inaugural World Elephant Day was launched to bring attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants. The elephant is loved, revered and respected by people and cultures around the world, yet we balance on the brink of seeing the last of this magnificent creature.

The World Elephant Day 2025 theme, “Matriarchs & Memories,” celebrates the female leaders of elephant herds and the deep memories they cherish.

Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

11/08/2025

Accommodation Addo offers a wide range of self-catering accommodation options in Colchester, 5 minutes from Addo Elephant National Park's Matyholweni Gate.

Accommodations range from luxurious cottages to smaller flats. The most popular accommodation can be found on the border of the Addo fence, where sometimes you are able to see elephants and other wildlife from the balcony.

Properties can sleep from 1-12 guests, most are close to the Sundays River and some have swimming pools.

The Maggie May House Boat is docked at a jetty on the Sundays River. It is more of a rustic stay, but great views of the sunrise and sunset can be enjoyed during your stay.

https://www.addotourism.co.za/listings/addo-accommodation-colchester/

Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

08/08/2025

The Addo Elephant National Park and the surrounding Sundays River Valley truly is a premier holiday and tourist destination with very few issues. Unfortunately, the shortest route to the park goes through the Motherwell township outside Port Elizabeth and there have been incidents on the route, leading us to urge visitors to the area to use the alternative routes available.

Addo Tourism would like to recommend that visitors enter the park through the Matyholweni Gate at Colchester or drive to the Main Gate via Paterson, thus avoiding the hotspot area.

On the way around to Main Gate, you will get to see the Sundays River flowing past the magnificent Colchester sand dunes, stop for one of Nanaga's legendary pies and before it's finished, you'll be turning at Paterson. Coming around the back of the park, you may even spot elephants before you even reach the gate.

Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

06/08/2025

Nestled among thickets of indigenous fynbos, overlooking forested hills and gorges, Africamps Addo has eight fully equipped boutique glamping tents that offer the perfect base for adventure, wildlife, and relaxation.

Located on the beautiful Hayterdale Trails property at the foothill of the Zuurberg Mountains, the camp offers easy access to 50 km of scenic mountain biking, trail running, and hiking routes through Yellowwood forests and across rolling hills of valley bushveld dotted with ancient cycads.

Addo Elephant National Park is just 10 km away.

Their brand-new premium tents have just launched.

They’ve kept the glamping favourites like the cosy indoor fireplace, electric blankets, and the Wood-Fired Hot Tubs, but added a few extra touches to turn it into the ultimate couples’ retreat.

Here’s what’s new:
Studio-style open-plan suite
Luxurious king-size bed
Cooking island with views
Nespresso machine
Walk-in rain shower
Walk-in wardrobe
Stunning 180° views

https://www.addotourism.co.za/listings/africamps-addo/

Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

04/08/2025

Did you know that Algoa Bay is a Whale Heritage Area? South Africa is the only country in the world with three Whale Heritage Areas, with the Bluff in Durban and Plettenberg Bay being the other two.

When it comes to biodiversity, Algoa Bay is arguably one of the most outstanding marine environments. During the winter months, the warm shallow waters of its unique half-heart-shaped bay provide ideal conditions for Southern right whales to mate and have their calves.

Later in the year, the bay also serves as a nursery for humpback whale calves before they make the long journey back south to their feeding grounds. Bryde’s and minke whales are in the bay all year, feeding on sardines and anchovies that are rounded up by long-beaked common dolphins or African penguins.

Algoa Bay is home to the largest colony of African penguins in the world. The foraging activities of these wonderful birds provide feeding opportunities for dolphins and whales all year round. In 2016, Algoa Bay was named the ‘Bottlenose Dolphin Capital of the World’ for having the largest pods and most frequent sightings. It is not uncommon to come across a pod of over six hundred Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Algoa Bay and, in the shallower areas of the bay, there are also frequent sightings of rare Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, often with new-born calves, which suggests that this species is calving here.

📸 Charters

Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

01/08/2025

Welcome to Sibuya Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s most unique Safari destinations.
A 10-kilometre boat trip takes you up the Kariega Estuary – from the warmth of the Indian Ocean to the heart of the African bush. As you drift along clear waters framed by lush vegetation, you are serenaded by the rhythmic song of the river and a chorus of birds. Nature in all her wild beauty welcomes your arrival at Sibuya Game Reserve.
Sibuya is renowned for providing one of the best game-viewing experiences in the country, with comfortable, 4-star accommodation at River Camp, Forest Camp and Bush Lodge. River and Forest Camps are solar-powered, while Bush Lodge is on mains electricity.

This serene, malaria-free eco-haven bordering the free-flowing Kariega Estuary is set in ancient floodplains and pristine coastal forest. In this oasis of light and space, surrounded by almost 400 bird types and an abundance of wildlife, boasting the Big 5 and a variety of 45 additional species, you reconnect with nature and awaken to the wonders of authentic Africa.

https://www.addotourism.co.za/listings/sibuya-game-reserve-2/

Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

30/07/2025

The Addo Elephant National Park may be home to the Big 5 and, alternatively, the Big 7. But did you know that it's also home to the stars from Disney's The Lion King? A drive around the park may yield sightings of Simba, Timon and Pumba. Bring the kids so that they can see them in real life and not just on a screen.

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Planning a visit to the Greater Addo region?
Visit the Addo Tourism website at www.addotourism.co.za for more information on accommodation, restaurants and activities

Address

Off R335
Addo
6105

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
Thursday	08:00 - 17:00
Friday	08:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+27829070954

Website

http://www.addotourism.co.za/

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ADDO TOURISM. EASTERN CAPE. SOUTH AFRICA

The Addo Elephant National Park, with its core situated in the Sundays River Valley and stretching from the karoo region north of the Zuurberg Mountain Range to the coast and islands of Algoa Bay of South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, is the heartbeat of the GREATER ADDO ROUTE.

Proclaimed in 1931 to protect eleven surviving Eastern Cape elephants, this amazing park consolidates the unique combination of land and seascapes. It is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world, lying across five of the country’s seven biomes. It has one of most densely populated elephant herds in the world and is home to the locally endemic flightless dung beetle (Circellum bacchus) and the endangered black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis bicornis)

The famous Alexandria dune fields in the South, are the longest and widest coastal dunes in the southern hemisphere, and it is here where the park inherits the whale and shark, making the park one of the rare Big 7 destinations internationally. Here among the dunes are the less well known species such as the endemic dune grasshopper Acrotylus hirsutus, the pygmy hairy-footed gerbil Gerbillus paeba exilis, the Damara tern and the African black oystercatcher as well as many more.

The Greater Addo Route circles this unique South African Destination and includes the villages of Addo, Colchester, Canonville, Kirkwood and Paterson. Quality graded accommodation in the form of luxury lodges, guesthouses, B&B’s, self catering and camping facilities are available throughout the route. The visitor can opt for relaxed home stays, luxury spas, comfortable colonial country houses or basic backpacker accommodation complimented by guided tours and safaris, ferry rides, horse trails, hiking trails, 4 x 4 and off road / adventure facilities with visits to conservation and community projects also offered.