Addo Elephant National Park holidays

At the beginning of the 20th century, elephants had become a problem to the farmers in the eastern Karoo and a professional hunter, Major Jan Pretorius was assigned to shoot them. By 1920 he had shot 114 and only 11 remained. Conservationists woke up and in 1931 the Addo Elephant National Park was set up in the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region. The Addo elephants, currently numbering 430, are almost all descended from the original herd. The Park has the big 5 and the animals here are very relaxed.

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Top things to do in Addo Elephant National Park

Walk with elephants

Tucked away in a valley near the Zuurberg mountains you can engage in a unique experience – walking with elephants. As you walk through the bush with these giants, learn everything there is to know about them in the company of experienced minders. This is a great opportunity to learn about the African elephant in its natural surroundings.

Wildlife drives

Wildlife viewing at Shamwari is spectacular and seeing South Africa's Big Five here is a real possibility. The drives take place in the morning and afternoon when you are guided by your ranger in an open wildlife-viewing vehicle. If you have a particular interest, such as photography or birdwatching, or you would especially like to see cheetahs, then please mention it to your ranger who will endeavour to merge your plans with those of the group. The wildlife drives take between 3 and 4 hours, with a coffee stop in the morning or a stop for drinks at sunset. It is always advisable to bring warm clothing along, even in summer. In winter, a warm jacket, hat, scarf and gloves are recommended. And don't forget to bring your binoculars, cameras and/or video cameras along.