Addo Elephant Park in South Africa - Entrance Fees, Animals & Safari

Along the Garden Route we had the opportunity to see the Big 5, so we set off from Jeffreys Bay to the Addo Elephant Park. We’ve had some great days along the route from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Even while researching our first trip to South Africa together, we kept stumbling across the Addo Elephant Park and wanted to finally experience it in person.

We drove right through the park in our rental car and had our first unique encounters with buffalo, zebras, elephants, and the like. In the following article, we’ll tell you our highlights and everything about getting there, accommodation, tours, animals, costs, and much more. Have fun browsing and imitating.

What else you should know

What else you should know
Getting to Addo Elephant Park
Entrance fees & Opening Hours
Animals at Addo Elephant Park
Accommodation for Addo Park
Self-drive at Addo Elephant Park
Guided tours at Addo Park
Best time to visit Addo Park
Private game reserves nearby
Impressions of the park
Addo Elephant Park FAQ

Getting to Addo Elephant Park

Safari on the Garden Route? No problem, just visit Addo Elephant Park. Follow the R335 from PE towards Addo or the N2 towards Colchester (there are beautiful dunes by the sea). There is a gate in the north (Addo Main Camp) and a gate in the south (Matyholweni Gate). This way, you can do either a north-south or a south-north tour.

The northern gate is around 70 kilometers from Port Elizabeth, and the southern gate is only around 42 kilometers away. Reaching the park with your rental car is no problem, as the roads are in excellent condition. Alternatively, you can also book tours from PE (click here for the tour*).

Addo-Elephant-Park-Suedafrika-Karte-Map

Entrance fees & Opening Hours

Adults R397 (approx. €20), children R199 (approx. €10)
Children can travel in their own car
Guided tours in the park: children from 6 years
Opening hours: depending on the month and gate between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
More information here: SANParks.org
Map: best bought on site or downloaded here

Animals in the Addo Elephant Park

The Addo Elephant National Park was established in 1931 and is home to more than 600 elephants as well as buffalo, zebras, antelope species, warthogs, spotted hyenas, hippos, kudus, rhinos, ostriches, lions, leopards, monkeys and other mammals and bird species. So you have the opportunity to fulfill your dream of seeing the Big 5 here in this park. Of course, you’ll need a lot of luck to spot all five of these large wild animals.

You’re most likely to see lions and hyenas in the park very early in the morning. You can see all of the park’s animals in the Visitors Guide and tick each one when you see it. Please note: There are no giraffes in Addo Park.

Did you know that you can even spot whales and sharks? The park has been expanded and now stretches to the Indian Ocean between Sunday’s River Mouth and Bushman’s River Mouth. This means you can see not only the Big 5, but even the Big 7.

Accommodation in Addo Park

You can either stay in the park itself or in the surrounding area. Addo Elephant Park offers various cottages, tents, and rondavels. Around the park, you’ll also find very luxurious accommodations, such as the River Bend Lodge*. You can also book these on Booking.com, among other places.

The government camps within the park can only be booked through the official SANParks website. We had our accommodation right outside the park gates and were at the gate in just a few minutes in the morning. However, the camps directly within the park usually offer a much nicer experience.

Gorah Elephant Camp*
ParkView Safari Lodge*
Woodall Country House and Spa*
Dungbeetle River Lodge*
Africanos Country Estate*
Bush Lodge – Amakhala Game Reserve*
Bukela Game Lodge – Amakhala Game Reserve*

Self-drive in Addo Elephant Park

We can recommend aday trip to this national park. We started our tour in the north at Addo Main Camp. There are toilets, a restaurant, and a small shop with souvenirs and snacks.

Here you can also fill up your car and buy the Visitors Map in the shop. In this guide, you will learn everything about the park, its animals, and its flora. The included map shows all trails, camps, waterholes, viewpoints, and restrooms.

The trails and roads are well-developed throughout the national park, some of them paved and asphalted. You are not allowed to drive faster than 40 km/h in the park. Most of the time, however, you will drive slower anyway, as an interesting animal could be hiding behind every bush and tree.

You have a good chance of spotting waterholes, especially in the early morning or late afternoon. It’s really no problem or complicated to drive through the park on your own. By the way, you don’t need a four-wheel drive; even a small car is sufficient.

There are several viewpoints in the park from which you can see large parts of the park. These viewpoints are marked on the map with a “binoculars” symbol (e.g., Domkrag, Zuurkop, Kadouw, Algoa Bay). However, you are not allowed to leave your car at any time unless you are given permission to do so (via a sign). Such signs will then read something like “at your own risk” or “beware of lions.” Of course, you are allowed to disembark in the camps and fenced-in areas.

Guided Tours in Addo Park

On guided tours led by the park, rangers share animal sightings with each other via cell phone, so you have a good chance of seeing lions or hyenas. However, there is never a guarantee. In the jeeps, you have a much better view than in a small car, and you don’t have to concentrate on driving.

You can book the tours directly at the respective camp. Safaris, horseback riding, 4×4 trails, hikes, and marine tours are offered. Prices: from €20 per person, depending on the activity. You can also book tours in PE or online with one of the many providers.

Book private tours:

Half-day safari from Port Elizabeth*
Safari with braai (BBQ)*
Day tour through Addo Park*
Superman zipline in Addo Park*
2-day safari through Addo Park*

Best time to visit Addo Park

You might be wondering when the best time to visit Addo Elephant Park is? You can visit the park year-round. However, in this region, you can expect rain all year round, as well as very hot and dry days. You can find either lush green landscapes or dry, scorched landscapes.

In summer (November – March), temperatures around 35°C are not uncommon. So bring plenty of drinks, sunscreen, and a hat. In winter (May to August), it’s much more pleasant, with temperatures around 22°C to 24°C. However, you should bring warm clothing for the cold nights (6°C) during this time of year. Most precipitation falls in autumn (March & April) and spring (October & November).

In our opinion, there isn’t a precise best time to visit Addo Elephant Park. Between September and April, it’s not quite as cool as in the winter months. However, it rains significantly less in winter, and the animals are easier to find. There are also significantly fewer tourists in the park during the off-season. We visited the park in October and had fantastic weather with blue skies and lots of sunshine. More on this here: Best time to travel to South Africa.

Private Game Reserves nearby

Would you rather experience an exclusive safari adventure? There are several private reserves around Addo Elephant Park that can fulfill this wish. Trained rangers, open jeeps, and sometimes very luxurious accommodations await you in these private reserves. The Shamwari Game Reserve* is very popular, offering you the opportunity to see the Big 5 on an exclusive safari. In addition to the exciting animal sightings, the reserve offers luxurious villas and lodges to make your stay perfect.

Of course, you’ll have to dig much deeper into your pockets for this experience. Alternatively, you can also take a detour to the Schotia Game Reserve, one of the most visited private reserves. This is mainly due to the significantly lower prices. More than 2,000 animals live in this reserve, including lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinos, crocodiles, hyenas, elephants, and giraffes. After a four-hour game drive in an open Land Rover, a delicious dinner awaits you in the afternoon. Prices start at R2,000.

The Amakhala Game Reserve* is ideal for families. Day trips give you the chance to spot the Big 5 and many other animals. Since the Bushman’s River winds through the area, you can even go on canoe safaris and boat trips. The morning game drive with drinks and lunch starts at around R1,700. Children aged 6 and over are allowed on the safari. Also in the area: Kariega Game Reserve, Lalibela Game Reserve, Kwantu Private Game Reserve, Pumba Private Game Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.

Impressions from the park

Addo Elephant Park FAQ

Is Addo Elephant Park worth it? How much does the entrance fee for Addo Park cost? How much time should I allow? What about malaria? Can I stay overnight at Addo Elephant Park? Are children allowed in the park allowed? Are drones allowed?