Addo Elephant Safari
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival at Addo Elephant National Park
Addo Elephant National Park is in the Eastern Cape, about an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth and four hours from Plettenberg. Once you’ve checked in, take some time to explore the main camp. The information centre offers plenty of insights into the park’s history and its unique wildlife. The kids will love the large elephant-shaped play area, and there’s a hide by a waterhole where you can quietly watch animals coming to drink. If the weather’s nice, you can even cool off in the (unheated) pool. You’ll be staying in a wooden chalet tucked away in the bush, with four single beds. If the park is fully booked, we’ll arrange a cosy B&B just outside the gates. Either way, you’ll pay the park entrance fee on-site.
Days 2 – Self-drive safari in Addo Elephant National Park
Getting up early is a great idea since the weather’s cooler and the animals are more active. With the park map in front of you, you’ll head into the park and explore. Back in 1937, when the park was founded, there were only 11 elephants roaming around. Now, there are more than 600, and other species that have disappeared due to hunting and farming have slowly returned. Covering 180,000 hectares, this is South Africa’s third-largest game reserve. Your kids, binoculars in hand, will be excitedly scanning the landscape for wildlife. There are safe spots where you can stop the car and stretch your legs, use the toilet, or enjoy a picnic.
Days 3 – On the road with a ranger in the evening
Today, you’ve got another day to go on safari with the family. From sunrise to sunset, you’re free to drive through the park in your own car. Once the gate closes in the evening, you’re not usually allowed back in, but we’ve arranged an evening safari* with a ranger in his 4×4 for you. In a small group, you’ll head into Addo National Park after closing time, giving you a chance to see animals that are harder to spot during the day. Jackals, lions, and hyenas tend to hunt at night and are mostly asleep during the day. It’s a rare sight, but if you’re lucky, you could even find yourself face to face with a black rhino or a leopard. You’ll be back at camp around 8pm. Once your kids are asleep, you can relax on your chalet’s terrace with a glass of wine, and on a clear night, take in a starry sky.
*Children aged 6 and up can join the evening safari. If you’ve got younger kids, we’ll take this excursion out of the itinerary for you.
Days 4 – Departure from Addo Elephant National Park
After your last breakfast and a final small drive through the park, it’s time to say goodbye to the elephants. If you’d like to continue with the wildlife spotting, check out our Hermanus bite-sized trip that includes a whale watching experience. Or introduce your kids to the local Xhosa culture with our bite-sized trip in Knysna. Together with a local guide, you will visit his residential community, learn about the traditions of the Xhosa and what it’s like to live in the township.
Accommodation
