| 3rd | Top national parks in Africa |
| Addo Elephant National Park | |
|
IUCN Category II (National Park)
|
|
 Elephants at the Hapoor Dam in the park |
|
  |
|
| Location | Eastern Cape, South Africa |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Port Elizabeth |
| Coordinates | 33°26′46″S 25°44′45″E / 33.44611°S 25.74583°ECoordinates: 33°26′46″S 25°44′45″E / 33.44611°S 25.74583°E |
| Area | 1,640 km2 (630 sq mi)[1] |
| Established | 1931[1] |
| Governing body | South African National Parks |
| Official website | |
Addo Elephant National Park is an elephant park situated close to Port Elizabeth in South Africa and is recognized as one of the country's twenty national parks.
Contents |
The original section of the park was founded in 1931,[1] in part due to the efforts of Sydney Skaife,[2] in order to provide a sanctuary for the eleven remaining elephants in the area. The park has proved to be very successful and currently houses more than 450 elephants and a large number of other mammals.
The original park has subsequently been expanded to include the Woody Cape Nature Reserve that extends from the Sundays River mouth towards Alexandria and a marine reserve, which includes St. Croix Island and Bird Island, an important breeding habitat for gannets and penguins, not to mention a large variety of other marine life. Bird Island is home to the world's largest breeding colony of gannets - about 120,000 birds - and also hosts the second largest breeding colony of African penguins, the largest breeding colony being St Croix island. This forms part of the plan to expand the 1,640 km² Addo National Elephant Park into a 3,600 km² Greater Addo Elephant National Park.
The expansion has meant not only that the park contains five of South Africa's seven major vegetation zones (biomes) but also that it is probably the only park in the world to house the so-called "Big 7" (elephant, rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, leopard, whale and great white shark) in their natural habitat.
The park receives about 120,000 visitors annually. International visitors make up 54% of this number, with German, Dutch and British nationals making up the majority.
There is a main and four other rest camps as well four camps run by concessionaires.
The main entrance as well as two looped tourist roads in the park are tarred while the others are graveled. There is also an additional access road through the southern block of the park feeding off the N2 highway near Colchester; it joins up with the existing tourist roads in the park.
More than 450 elephants, 400 Cape buffalo, over 48 endangered black rhino as well as a variety of antelope species. Lion and spotted hyena has also recently been re-introduced to the area. The largest remaining population of the flightless dung beetle (Circellium bacchus) is located within the park.
The Addo Elephant National Park [1] (pronounced Ahh-Dow) is in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa and is one of the country's larger parks.
In the parks early years, during times of drought (and before the waterholes were artificially kept full) the park keepers fed the elephants on oranges from the local orange groves. Gradually the elephants became addicted to the taste of the fruit! This practise stopped along time ago, but the older elephants still remember the smell and have been known to reach into vehicles and get their favourite fruit!
The park has Elephant, Black Rhinoceros, Cape Buffalo, Lion and Leopard on land. In the Marine reserve you will find Dolphin, Whales (southern right) and Penguins.
Due to its terrain, Addo stays at a comfy 27 - 30 C throughout the Winter.
Addo NP is about 70km north-east from Port Elizabeth. There is no public transport to or within the park so you need your own car (car rental is available in Port Elizabeth). Or book an organized tour but going on your own pace is really the best option. The park can be visited on a day-trip from Port Elizabeth. On the road you might notice signs to the 'Addo Olifant Nasionale Park'. These signs are the old Afrikaans version of the more modern road signs.
South African Citizens and Residents (with ID) pay R30 per person, per day. SADC Nationals (with passport) pay R60 per adult, per day (children R30). The Standard Conservation Fee for Foreign Visitors: R130 per adult and R65 per child, per day.
As mentioned above there is no public transport in the park and hiking is prohibited.
The Park is famous for its elephant population that has a special, brownish skin colour due to the red soil. Amongst the elephants other animals, like ostriches, different antelopes and warthogs can be seen. As part of the park's expansion, a group of lions and a group of spotted hyenas have been introduced to the park in 2004.
Although the Addo is not as spectacular as other parks, such as Kruger National Park, it is not as crowded and those who know Addo, love it.
There is a restaurant and shop at the main camp, near park's entrance.
There are 2 camps in Addo, the Main Camp in the north east near the village of Addo, with an entrance to the R342 and the much smaller Camp Matyholweniare, in the south at the Colchester entrance to the park on the N2 between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown. Main Camp boosts a restaurant, camping facilities and a number of chalets for overnight stays. The recently opened Camp Matyholweniare has only chalets and is not yet connected with the main game viewing area.
There are over 70 listed places of accommodation in the area surrounding the Addo Elephant Park. These range in price from R50 for camping to R350.00 per room for basic backpackers accommodation, or self-catering to many exclusive game lodges and a great number of bed and breakfast establishments and guest houses. Prices go up to R5000.00 per person sharing at the more exclusive resorts, but there are many facilities priced in the R250.00 - to R500.00 price range. For more information contact the reception at the park or the backpackers info centre at the Orange Elephant, who have a file containing telephone numbers and prices.
Stay in your car at all times - elephants will charge if they feel threatened. Do not carry any citrus fruit in your car, the elephants have developed an addiction for the fruit and will search it out!
| This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow! |
Category: Outline articles
   | Addo Elephant Park - Addo Elephant National Park - Official Site - Game Drives, Horse Trails, Hiking |
| | Addo Community Site - Addo and Kirkwood News |
| | Map of Addo Elephant Park - Map of Addo Elephant Park |
|
|
Wikis
Map
Search
