
Beyond the giants: the wild wonders of Addo

Tucked away in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Addo Elephant National Park is a conservation triumph and a wildlife lover’s paradise. Home to the Big 7, spanning diverse landscapes, and boasting an incredible comeback story for its elephant population, Addo is far more than just another safari destination. It’s a place where nature thrives, history lingers, and unexpected treasures – both great and small – await around every corner.
Addo is, of course, all about the elephants. It is near impossible to visit this park without multiple encounters with the gentle giants every day – whether from viewing hides or from the comfort of a vehicle. Addo isn’t just about the grand and mighty; it’s about the unseen, the unsung, and the utterly fascinating details that make this park a world of wonders. And with elephants come all manner of other wonders. While the elephants steal the show, some may argue that Addo’s real kings of the road are a bunch of tiny, tireless dung beetles. In this extraordinary park, they have the right of way – literally. While you’re gazing at majestic herds, these little workhorses are busy rolling, burying, and recycling the remains of elephant feasts.

The park – a malaria-free safari destination – is situated only 30 minutes from Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) and is ideal for a solid dose of nature – including marine life. It is the third largest South African National Park and spans multiple biomes, making it great for more extended visits. It provides an opportunity for lots to do and plenty to explore.

From humble beginnings
When Addo was first proclaimed in 1931, its primary objective was to conserve the Eastern Cape’s dwindling elephant population. The park owes its very existence to the tireless efforts of visionary conservationists who recognised the urgent need to safeguard the 11 remaining elephants in the face of rampant hunting during the early 20th century.
Since those humble beginnings, the park has expanded its boundaries and incorporated diverse habitats to accommodate an ever-growing array of wildlife species. This strategic expansion has transformed Addo into the vibrant, multi-faceted ecosystem it is today, a testament to the power of conservation and the resilience of nature.
According to the park management plan (2015-2025), Addo covers approximately 178,918 hectares (46,932 hectares of which are in the process of being declared part of the national park). Addo’s Marine Protected Area covers 7,022 hectares, and protects a wide range of ecosystems, including sandy beaches, rocky shores, reefs, an estuary and islands. This includes St Croix and Bird Islands, essential breeding grounds for seabirds, including African penguins and Cape gannets.


Addo’s landscape
Addo hosts incredible plantlife and is home to five of South Africa’s nine biomes: Albany Thicket in the original Addo section (also in the Kabouga, Colchester and Nyathi sections), Forest in the Woody Cape area and Zuurberg section, Fynbos in the Zuurberg section, Nama Karoo in the Darlington section, and finally, the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt on Addo’s coastal side – which contains remarkable displays of coastal dunes and grassy plains.

Due to the presence of major roads and operational railway lines, and certain pieces of land that do not form part of the national park, some sections of the park are still in separate, fenced-off units. And not all sections of the park, such as Zuurberg and Woody Cape, are fenced.
The Addo Main Camp Area, Colchester, Nyathi and Darlington sections are fenced off, and elephants are thus able to traverse these areas of the park.
Addo hosts abundant wildlife
At the heart of the Addo Elephant National Park are the majestic African elephants, whose remarkable comeback since the establishment of the park exemplifies the park’s conservation success story.

This sanctuary is the only park in South Africa to feature the awe-inspiring Big 7 – the traditional Big 5 (lion, elephant, black rhino, buffalo and leopard), as well as the iconic southern right whale and the mighty great white shark along its coastal reaches. Other ocean specials to keep an eye out for – sometime seen from the shore (though best viewed on a specialised tour) – are bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, humpback dolphin, orcas and three other whale species: Bryde’s Whales, minke Whales and humpback whales.
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Addo’s diverse terrestrial landscapes are home to an abundance of other wildlife. Stately kudu, graceful eland, and the nimble red hartebeest are just a few of the antelope species that roam the park. Leopards are very rare, though present.
The main game-viewing areas host the distinctive Burchell’s zebra, while the Darlington Dam and Zuurberg sections are the domain of the majestic Cape mountain zebra. Springbok, black wildebeest, and gemsbok thrive in the dryer Darlington Dam region, while the tree dassie inhabits the lush Woody Cape forests.
It’s other notable resident, the endemic Addo flightless dung beetle, does a brilliant job at removing the piles of elephant dung from the road surface, so drive carefully and keep your eyes open to see them in action.




Feathered friends of Addo
If you are also on the lookout for birdlife, more than 400 species have been recorded within Addo’s boundaries due to the different vegetation types. You will find the SASOL Red Bishop Bird Hide in the main rest camp and the Spekboom Hide in the game viewing area in the Albany Thicket biome. A bird always active in the main rest camp is the bokmakierie, as are sunbirds, fork-tailed drongo and kingfishers. Keep an eye out for black korhaan, Denham’s bustard and secretarybird amongst others in the main game viewing area.
For forest specials, visit the Alexandria Forest section. You’ll find Knysna turaco, Narina trogon, black cuckoo in summer, Chorister robin-chat, grey cuckoo-shrike, and the dark-backed weaver. Zuurberg, with its wooded kloofs, is home to African crowned eagle, Cape batis, olive bushshrike and more. For Karoo endemics, head to the Darlington section where you can find Karoo chat, pririt batis, and rufous-eared warbler. The Darlington Dam hosts freshwater terns, grey-headed gulls and goliath herons. For seabirds, head to the ocean and the Sundays River Mouth.


Things to do in Addo
Addo has no shortage of activities, so there will never be a dull moment. The scenery in the park is diverse, so exploring the different sections of the park will be like being in a different location each time. The main rest camp features a play area for the little ones, a bird hide and underground hide, a swimming pool, a restaurant, an interpretive centre where you can learn about Domkrag, the legendary tortoise that lifted cars, and more.
If you love military history, the Bedrogfontein 4×4 Trail between Kabouga and Darlington should be on your bucket list. This 45km route has many remnants of the Anglo-Boer War, with rock art paintings and leftovers of fierce battles scattered along the way, including that of an old wagon.

To immerse yourself in Addo’s landscape, head to the Woody Cape coastal section and visit the Alexandria Coastal Dunefield, approximately 88km long. It is home to the most extensive and least degraded moving dune system in the southern hemisphere, including several archaeological sites such as middens made by nomadic strandloper people. These middens contain shells and bones of animals eaten by the people and fragments of pottery and stone implements. White mussel shells found in these middens also occur in the caves of the Zuurberg Mountains, proving that the strandlopers journeyed and stored their food over vast distances.
If you prefer getting active and exploring on foot, there is 36km circular Alexandria Hiking Trail in the Woody Cape section. There is also a shorter 7km Tree Dassie Trail exploring the Alexandria Forest. The mountainous Zuurberg section also has a 2km and 8km trail.

Explore and stay in Addo
Ensure you have enough time when visiting this gem, especially if you want to explore the whole park. Whether you are seeking a rustic bush experience or a luxurious retreat, Addo provides a wealth of accommodation options to cater to every preference. The main rest camp serves as the primary hub, boasting various options – from camping to glamping and chalets to charming cottages and even spacious guesthouses for bigger groups. The Narina bush camp and Woody Cape sections provide secluded sanctuaries amongst lush vegetation for those seeking a more secluded forest escape. And for the ultimate indulgence, the park’s concession lodges offer unparalleled luxury.
Embark on the journey and discover a haven where the elephants roam with confidence, where the landscapes dazzle with their natural beauty, and where the wonders of the wild await to captivate your senses and ignite your spirit of adventure if you have never visited Addo a whole new world of exploring awaits!


Further reading
- Bush or beach? There’s no need to choose, with these African safari destinations offering the best of both ocean & wildlife experiences. Check out the best one-stop bush and beach safari destinations here.
- Want to head on safari while avoiding the risk of malaria? Here’s our round-up of the best malaria-free safari destinations in South Africa.
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