Addo Elephant National Park

Big Five Safari in Malaria-Free Wilds

Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa protects one of the largest groups of elephants on the continent. The park covers thousands of hectares, providing wide spaces for herds to roam and find food. Visitors can see elephants near rivers and waterholes during dry months when animals gather around limited sources. Other wildlife such as buffaloes, zebras and various antelope species share the area. Guided drives let travelers observe animal behavior safely while learning about conservation efforts that help maintain healthy populations in this natural habitat.

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National Park in South Africa

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$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.3

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	3
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	6

Read details

5/5

English is widely spoken by park staff, guides, and in all tourism services. All signage, maps, and information are available in English, making it easy for international visitors to communicate and get assistance.

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Last update: 28 Oct 2026

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Addo Elephant National Park Summary

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World-class for elephant safaris. Drive wildlife routes, watch large elephant herds, spot lions and buffalo and photograph diverse animals across open landscapes.

Place score

7.1

Best at:

Wildlife

Spotless

Natural sites

Guided tours

Secluded

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

❤️ 7

Couples

South Africa – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type M Type M: Read about power adapters
Currency:	South African Rand (ZAR) £1 ≈ ZAR 22.10
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in South Africa, and credit cards are commonly used in most establishments. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in South Africa, with 10-15% being the standard in restaurants. Small tips for taxis and hotel staff are also appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in designated areas, including parks and beaches. However, it is generally prohibited in public spaces like streets.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Designated smoking zones are available in certain locations.

Freedom Day (27 April)	Celebrates South Africa's first democratic elections
Christmas (25 December)	A major festive holiday in the country

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 10111 (Police), 10177 (Ambulance), 112 (from mobile phones)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Uber
Other:	South Africa is famous for its wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural diversity. It offers a wide range of travel experiences from safaris to coastal adventures.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

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Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

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The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

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High season:	Jan., June - Sep., Dec.
Shoulder season:	Feb. - May, Oct. - Nov.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

South African school holidays (late December to mid January, Easter, late June to mid July) book out camps months ahead

Southern right whales visit Algoa Bay June to November, with marine boat trips from the coast

Don't miss

🦁 Go on guided game drives to see the Big Five
🐘 Observe the famous large elephant herds roaming freely
🥾 Explore hiking trails with panoramic views of the park
🦎 Visit the Addo Raptor and Reptile Centre
🔥 Experience a traditional South African braai in the bush

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Why travel to Addo Elephant National Park?

Addo is one of the best places in South Africa to see elephants up close, with over 600 roaming the park alongside lions, buffalo, rhino and leopards – the full Big Five. The park is accessible, family-friendly and offers self-drive safaris, guided game drives, hiking and birdwatching. It’s also malaria-free, making it a safer choice for families and those wary of tropical diseases. The scenery is varied, from dense thicket to open plains and the wildlife viewing is excellent year-round, especially during the dry winter months when animals gather at waterholes. However, be prepared for gravel roads (well-maintained but can be dusty or muddy after rain) and summer days can be very hot. The park is popular, so main routes and waterholes can get busy in peak season. Always respect wildlife distances and don’t leave your vehicle outside designated areas. Water is precious here, so use it sparingly.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Jack's Picnic Site
2 Nyathi Rest Camp
3 Domkrag Dam
4 Ngulube Loop

🎡Places for activities

1 Kabeljous Beach Picnic Area
2 River Bend Lodge
3 Camp Figtree
4 Addo Main Camp - Hapoor Guest House No.8
5 Addo Main Camp - Domkrag Guest House No.7
6 Sindile Safari Lodge Tented Camp
7 Gorah Elephant Camp Access Road

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Hapoor Dam
2 Gwarrie Pan

🎈Events

Birding weekends
Conservation awareness days
Guided hiking events
Photography workshops

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Self-drive game viewing roads accessible.
Visit May-September dry season when elephants gather at waterholes and wildlife viewing peaks.
Book night drives to spot lions, leopards, aardvarks; underground hides offer unique waterhole views.
Home to flightless dung beetles; never drive over their dung balls on roads to protect species.

How to travel to Addo Elephant National Park

Addo is about 72 km (1 hour) from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), which has a domestic airport and car rental agencies. Most visitors drive from Gqeberha, but guided tours and transfers are also available. Well-maintained tarred and gravel roads lead to the park entrances.

Access summary

From Port Elizabeth (PLZ): Rental car or taxi, about 1–1.5 hours.
From Gqeberha city: Drive north via N2/R335, roughly 1–1.5 hours.
From Cape Town: Garden Route self-drive to Addo, typically 8–9 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Addo Elephant National Park

Accommodation ranges from SANParks rest camps (with chalets, rondavels and campsites) to luxury lodges and guesthouses in and around the park. Main Camp has a pool and restaurant for overnight guests. Book well ahead for peak seasons. Camping is available but only in designated areas.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Africanos Country Estate

9.3

Woodall Country House and Spa

9.3

Bluewater Bay Sunrise Hotel

9.5

Hitgeheim Country Lodge

Geralds Gift Guest House

9.2

Bukela Game Lodge – Amakhala Game Reserve

9.2

Bush Lodge (Amakhala GR)

9.7

Pumba Private Game Reserve

9.6

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Addo Elephant National Park

The park is best explored by self‑drive or guided game drive. All vehicles receive a route map at the gate and most roads are accessible by standard cars, though a 4x4 is needed for the eco‑trail. There are two main entrances (Main Gate and Matyholweni Gate) and you can drive the main route in 5–6 hours with stops. Guided walks and hop‑on guides are available for a deeper experience. Always observe gate opening and closing times.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

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-50 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 50% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-2 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to ZAR) is 2% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£49	£126	£379
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£30	£83	£263
🍝 Food per day	£15	£38	£105
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£5	£11

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£17
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£8.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.80
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£5.50
☕ Cappuccino	£1.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.20

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£6
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£4.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£23
🤧 Cold medication	£4.80
💇 Basic haircut	£4.70

Safety information overview

General safety

Addo is very safe for visitors, with low crime and strict park rules. Stay in your vehicle except at designated stops and keep a safe distance from wildlife. The park is fenced and malaria-free, but always use insect repellent in summer.

Health & Medical

No immunizations are needed as Addo is malaria-free. Basic medical care is available at the main camp, but bring personal medications and first aid supplies. Use sun protection and stay hydrated, especially in hot months.

Accessibility

Most main roads, hides and facilities are accessible by car and some rest camps have accessible accommodation. Gravel roads can be bumpy. Walking trails and some picnic sites may not be suitable for those with limited mobility.

Tap water

Tap water in the park is safe to drink, but water is precious in this low rainfall area — use it sparingly. Bring a reusable bottle and refill at camps. Bottled water is also available in shops.