Activities:

Game-viewing:

The main game-viewing area at Addo Main Camp offers some of the best elephant viewing in South Africa and a chance to spot the Big Five.  The Park has a rich variety of bird life, over 400 species across the expanded Park, while 170 species can be found in the main wildlife viewing area.  Visitors may use their own vehicles to drive around the main game-viewing area and experience the thrill and pleasure of seeing many species of wild animals roaming freely in this area. Self-drive game viewing is included in the entry fee price.

Guided game drives:

One of the best ways to experience the wildlife in the Addo Main Camp is on a 2-hour guided game drive in an open game drive vehicle with a professional guide. Sunrise-, day-, sunset- and night drives are on offer.

Hop-on guides:

Hop-on guides provide a guiding service in the comfort of your own vehicle.

Addo guided horse trails:

Explore the Nyathi area, home to the Big 5, on horseback. At times, depending on wildlife behavior, the trail will take place in a botanical reserve on the outskirts of the wildlife area. A 2-hour morning or afternoon trail is suitable available for moderately experienced riders (max 6 people).

Zuurberg Mountain guided horse trails:

Enjoy fynbos, forest and dramatic views on 1-hour to 5-hour trails or an overnight trail to Narina Bushcamp.

Bedrogfontein 4×4 trail :

Adventurous nature lovers with their own off-road vehicles can drive the 45km (approximately six hours) Bedrogfontein 4×4 trail between Kabouga and Darlington and experience breathtaking views and early 20th century history.

Rustic accommodation options include Kabouga Cottage, Mvubu Campsite, Darlington Fishermen’s Cottages or camping on Darlington Dam. The Kabouga (near Kirkwood R336) and Darlington (near the R400/R75) areas of the Park are not home to the Big 5 and have no developed tourist roads.

Hiking Trails:

Alexandria Hiking Trail:

This 2-day, 36km trail winds through magical indigenous forest, along a pristine coastline and over the vast Alexandria dunefield in the Woody Cape area of the Park. Accommodation is in the Woody Cape Hut with a view of Bird Island and the Langebos huts (sleep 12 people in two wooden cabins), which can also be hired out separately.

Tree Dassie Trail:

A 7km day trail in the forest.

Zuurberg Mountain Trails:

The 1-hour (2.4km) Cycad Trail and the 3-hour (8km) Doringnek Trail provide an experience of fynbos and forested valleys. These trails start at the Zuurberg rangers office 15km drive (30 min) from Addo Main camp up the winding Zuurberg Pass.

PPC Discovery Trail:

Learn more about the unique Albany thicket ecosystems on this trail whose first loop is suitable for the visually-impaired and people using wheelchairs.

Coastal Access:

Access to the coastal area of the Park is either at Sundays River mouth off the N2 near Colchester where an entry fee is payable through a private caravan park or a short drive away from the Woody Cape ranger’s offices off the R72 near Alexandria via a walking trail and boardwalk.

Wildlife viewing:

The main wildlife area of the park stretches over 24 000 hectares between the R335/R342 and the N2 highway. The park can be explored in your own vehicle or with a guide on one of the activities available. There are three accommodation areas within this area: Addo Main Camp, Camp Matyholweni and Spekboom Tented Camp. Accommodation is self-catering with fully equipped kitchens.

Addo main camp:

The Addo main camp is situated off the R335 / R342 between Addo town and Paterson town and is the main hub of the Park with a wide variety of accommodation, facilities and activities on offer.

Accommodation:

• Hapoor and Domkrag Guesthouses – sleep six people in two bedrooms with two bathrooms, views of waterhole with air-conditioning and television;
• Rondawels – sleep two people in one room with air-conditioning with a direct view of the floodlit waterhole, communal kitchen;
• Chalets with sleeper couch – sleep four people in one room with air-conditioning and views of the game area;
• Semi-detached chalets – sleep two people with air-conditioning;
• Cottages – sleep two people with ceiling fan and television;
• Forest Cabins – sleep four people in one room with air-conditioning and a communal kitchen;
• Safari Tents – sleep two people with viewa of the game area, standing fan, communal kitchen and ablutions;
• Caravan and camping ground – 30 caravan and tent sites on gravel substrate equipped with electric point, braai (barbeque) unit, table and bench. There is a communal kitchen with freezer and stove tops. Communal ablution (including universally accessible unit) is available;
• Universally accessible units are available in chalets and cottages; and
• Full descriptions of accommodation units with pictures and latest tariffs are available at www.addoelephantpark.com

Facilities at Addo Main Camp:

• Restaurant and lapa for group functions;
• Picnic areas;
• Ulwazi Interpretive Underground viewing hide and bird hide;
• Swimming pool for overnight visitors;
• Shop with curios and basic commodities; and
• Fuel station.

Spekboom Tented Camp:

Spekboom Tented Camp is located inside the wildlife area in the Spekboom Hide, 12km from Addo Main Camp. Get up-close and personal with nature and experience the sounds of Addo after dark. There is a view of the waterhole from the hide.

Accommodation:

Five tents each with two beds each, braai (barbeque) unit, communal ablutions and camp kitchen (gas fridge and stove tops). A utility box with cooking utensils is provided. There is no electricity, but solar-powered lighting is available.

Camp Mathyolweni:

Camp Mathyolweni is accessible through Matyholweni Gate, just 3km off the N2 highway near Colchester Village at Sundays River Mouth.

Accommodation:

• Cottages – sleep two people with air-conditioning; and
• Family cottages – sleep three people each in one room with a twin bed and a single sleeper couch.

Facilities:

• Shop;
• Restaurants;
• Fuel; and
• ATM cash withdrawal available at Colchester Village approximately 5km from the camp.

Narina Bushcamp:

Narina Bushcamo is situated at the foot of the Zuurberg Mountains, providing a secluded and rustic forest getaway on the banks of a mountain stream. The bushcamp is about 45 minutes drive away from Addo Main camp on gravel roads and can be accessed by vehicle or by overnight horse trail. There are no elephants or other larger wildlife species in this area but the area is prolific in birdlife and smaller animals.

Accommodation:

The bushcamp is hired out as one unit and has four tents with two single beds. There is a gas-powered camp kitchen and ablutions, but no electricity.