Addo Elephant National Park

Addo Elephant NP has recently been expanded and is now the third largest national park in the country. It is one of the best places in South Africa to see large herds of elephant. The elephants are incredibly relaxed, and the numerous waterholes offer very good opportunities to observe their social behavior. The other Big Five species are also present, but not as regularly seen.

Pros & Cons

Excellent elephant viewing
Very accessible and easily combined with the popular Garden Route
Good facilities and roads
A variety of lodges and rest camps for all budgets
Malaria-free
Horse rides available for beginners and experienced riders
The small park gets very busy in high season and school holidays
Views of bordering farms diminishes wilderness appeal

Addo's top attraction is the elephant population. All of the Big Five are present, and lion are sometimes encountered early in the morning. Black rhino is very shy and tends to stay in the thickets. Giraffe is absent, as it has never occurred in the area, and hippo are only found in the rarely visited Zuurberg Mountains section of the park.

Wildlife Highlights

Some of the more interesting antelope species regularly encountered are greater kudu, red hartebeest and eland. The endemic flightless dung beetle has right-of-way on the roads and plays an important role in recycling nutrients to stimulate vegetation growth.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

While wildlife viewing is always good in Addo, it is marginally better during the drier months of the year (June to September) when animals congregate at the man-made waterholes. However, the weather is more pleasant from October to May.

Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing is very safe as long as you stick to the park’s rules and follow your guide’s instructions. The elephants in Addo are very relaxed and incidents are almost unheard of. Self-drive visitors should, however, keep their distance at all time and never drive between a herd. More safety recommendations are available by reading ‘Wildlife Viewing Safety Precautions’ below.

Further advice on limiting dangers and annoyances when traveling:

Wildlife Viewing Safety Precautions

General Travel Safety Precautions

Cities & Urban Areas: Safety Precautions

Safety & Security – South Africa

Malaria & Vaccinations – South Africa

Addo Elephant Park has grown in size over the years to include several sections with different habitats. This has led to an impressive bird checklist of over 400 species, including several endemics unique to South Africa. Bird Island, which can be visited only by special arrangement, is home to the world’s largest colony of cape gannets and a huge colony of African penguins. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

Birding Specials–Treats for Avid Birders

(E) endemic = only lives in South Africa
(NE) near-endemic = also lives in neighboring countries

Best Time for Bird Watching

Addo Elephant’s bird watching is best during the migratory season, when birds from Europe and north Africa are present (November to April), although it’s generally good year-round.

Wildlife viewing in Addo Elephant National Park is good throughout the year. Because it has an arid to semi-arid climate, animals are attracted to waterholes at any time, but more so during the driest winter months (June to September). The drawback to winter is that nights can become very cold and winter clothing is needed for early morning game drives, especially when using an open vehicle.

Best Time

January to December (All year)

High Season

October to March (The park gets crowded, especially during school holidays)

Low Season

May to September (Cold evenings and mornings)

Best Weather

September to April (Warmer nights and mornings)

Worst Weather

June to August (Cold nights and mornings)

May to September –Dry Season – Winter

Wildlife gathers around waterholes as there is less water in the bush

It is low season, except for the school holidays, and the camps and roads will be less busy

Sunny skies

Early morning game drives and night drives in open vehicles are cold

Wildlife Photos

View Photos (20)

October to April –Wet Season – Summer

Wildlife viewing is good throughout the year

There are many newborn animals

The vegetation is greener, and spring flowers transform the park

Birding is excellent, and the migratory birds are present

Elephants might disperse after rain

It is high season, and the park gets busy

Addo Elephant National Park receives an average rainfall of less than 450mm/17.7in per year. Unlike the summer rainfall pattern covering most of the country, rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, but there are two peaks: in February-March and October-November. It can cool down to freezing in mid-winter. The park covers a wide range of altitudes, but the main tourist area is under 250m.

Winter–May to September

The winter months are very cold at night and in the early morning. It is advisable to bring winter clothes – especially for open-vehicle game drives during these times. Winter sees even less rainfall than summer and the skies are usually clear.

May – This is the beginning of winter. Temperatures cool down to a typical 8°C/46°F in the morning and 22°C/72°F in the afternoon.

June & July – These are the coldest months. The average morning temperature is 6°C/43°F, but it sometimes gets to freezing at night. Afternoon temperatures are around 20°C/68°F.

August & September – It is gradually getting warmer, with an average temperature of 23°C/73°F in the afternoon. Mornings are not quite as cold with temperatures around 8°C/46°F.

Summer–October to April

Summer has more comfortable temperatures and a bit more rainfall. Some days might be cloudy, and occasional rainstorms occur, but mostly it is sunny.

October & November – It gets warmer, and temperatures are between 12°C/54°F in the morning and 25°C/77°F in the afternoon. October is a peak month for rain, but even then it doesn’t rain on most days.

December, January & February – These are the warmest months with afternoon temperatures reaching 29°C/84°F. Mornings are comfortable at about 16°C/61°F. December and January have less rain, but this picks up a bit in February.

March & April – March is the wettest month, but it seldom rains for days on end. It starts to cool down again with an average daytime temperature of 27°C/81°F in the afternoon and 14°C/57°F in the morning.

Most visitors to Addo Elephant National Park fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg or Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. It is possible to start your tour here on either an organized safari or on a self-drive package. Many people will drive from Cape Town to Addo via the Garden Route, over the course of a week or two.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner, or for multiple-destination flights check Expedia, to see which airlines can take you to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) or Cape Town International Airport (CPT), and what tickets would cost.

Domestic Flights

After flying into one of the major airports in South Africa, you can take a connecting flight to Port Elizabeth Airport (PLZ) and rent a car there. The distance to the park is just over 70km/43mi on a tar road. Domestic flights to Port Elizabeth can be booked with several local carriers.

Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements

Please check our Getting There – South Africa page to learn more about passport, visa and other entry requirements.

Safety

In our opinion, there are no safety concerns when traveling in Addo Elephant Park. There is some crime in towns and cities, so normal precautions should be taken when visiting urban centers during your trip (see ‘Cities & Other Urban Areas: Safety Precautions’ below). The vast majority of travelers don’t have any crime-related incidents during their visit.

There is no malaria present in Addo, and antimalarials aren’t necessary if you don’t intend to visit those other parts of the country where there is a small risk during the wet summer months. Several vaccinations are advisable before you commence travel to South Africa – contact your healthcare practitioner for details.

Wildlife viewing is generally very safe in our opinion. A professional guide will ensure your safety on a guided safari. Self-drive safaris are safe as well, as long as you treat animals with respect and follow all park rules. It is extremely rare for incidents to occur. Below are some general safety guidelines and tips.

Always follow your guide’s instructions and guidelines
Always keep your voice down when close to animals
Stay in the car during game drives except at designated areas where you are allowed to get out
Don't stand up in the car, hang out of the window or sit on the roof
Don’t drive too close to animals if you are on a self-drive safari and back off if the animals seem disturbed
Don’t drive between elephants in a herd, especially females and their young
Stay together as a group close to your guide on a walking safari and always walk in single file
Never run or jog in a wildlife area as it entices predators to attack
Never walk between a hippo and water; it may panic and charge because its safety route to the water is blocked
Never leave food in your tent; it will attract wildlife
Cover your arms and legs in the evening and use insect repellent to protect against mosquitoes
Wear a hat, use sunscreen and drink plenty of water
Don't wear bright and colorful clothes or too much perfume – especially on walking safaris
In tsetse-fly areas it is recommended not to wear dark-colored clothing – such as black or dark blue – since it attracts these stinging flies

Bring warm clothes for morning game drives in open vehicles

African safaris are generally safe in our opinion. Especially if your visit is primarily an organized tour. Your tour operator and guide will ensure your safety at all times. Self-drive safaris are generally safe as well, but it is recommended to seek advice about the safety of the areas you intend to visit. Below are some general safety tips:

Buy good travel and health insurance
Check the passport and visa requirements for your destination
Get all the required vaccinations, antimalarial medication and insect repellent (those containing DEET are most effective)
Lock all your travel bags and keep all valuables in your hand luggage
Make duplicates of important travel documents or keep copies online
Bring appropriate clothing to protect against the sun, mosquitoes and to stay warm on open vehicle game drives
Check luggage restrictions on all your flights (including domestic flights)
Don't drive at night
Put your valuables in the safety deposit box of the hotel
Always be polite and respectful to police officers and military personnel. In the rare instance that you might get asked for a bribe (on a self-drive safari only), a light attitude and a joke might well get you off the hook.

Travel in Africa is generally safe in our opinion. Especially if on an organized tour or safari. However, as is the case all over the world, there is an increased risk of crime in large cities and urban areas. Visitors on guided activities are mostly shielded from these risks and their guide will ensure their safety. When unguided, normal safety precautions and common sense should keep you safe. Below are some general tips:

Ask at your hotel if it is safe to walk around the local area; when new in a place it’s always good to seek local advice on safety issues
Don’t wear jewelry when walking in cities and leave all valuables in a safety deposit box at your hotel
Avoid walking alone in a large, unfamiliar city
Don’t walk around at night; take a taxi
Avoid getting engaged with people approaching you in the street
Be careful when drawing money from an ATM; go elsewhere if you suspect people hanging around
Always lock your car doors and close windows when driving in busy towns
Never leave a car unattended with valuables or luggage visible