Addo Elephant National Park

Where Else Can You See the ‘Big 7’?

Addo Elephant National Park is the best place in southern Africa to watch African giants interacting. In fact, on the entire continent, only Kenya’s Amboseli offers any real competition. I’ve visited Addo four times and have never seen less than 80 elephants around Hapoor Dam. Once I saw more than 400 during one of those near-mythical gatherings with even more family herds emerging from the bush when I finally had to drag myself away. Such sightings are not guaranteed of course, but you’re certain to see a fair number of Addo’s estimated 650 gentle giants (and you might potentially meet one or two that are not so gentle).

Addo is also known for one of the largest populations of disease-free buffalo on the continent. Unfortunately, these creatures are such an important source of revenue (for sales to other reserves) that the lion numbers have recently been drastically reduced to limit predation. There are currently only five lions in the park. While you can often hear them at night around the excellent campsite at Main Camp, sightings are relatively rare.

Ellies aside, my favourite spot is Algoa Bay Lookout, in the park’s less-visited southern sector – the only place where you might not only see lions but sea lions (South African fur seals). Africa’s third-biggest national park (now 1,700km²) has been extended in recent years to include the Marine Protected Area and so to offer sightings of whales and great white sharks. Hence the Big 7 tag. Why stop at 7? This marine area, just 30km south of Main Camp, also offers a unique opportunity to see dolphins, orcas, and humpback and southern right whales (and even penguins).

Go to Addo if you want to see ellies. But, if time allows, be sure to schedule a day or two extra to bag some other unique sightings. Addo Elephant National Park is about much more than just elephants.