About Addo Elephant National Park

Addo Elephant National Park hosts a variety of South African wildlife. These include 400 Cape buffalo, 48 endangered black rhino and various antelope species.

Addo Elephant National Park Budget Travel

Addo Elephant National Park budget travel is very easy with great value for money backpacking tours and fantastic highlights. Below is useful information on Addo Elephant National Park to help you plan your budget holiday in Addo Elephant National Park. We offer a variety of budget tours and backpacking advice in Addo Elephant National Park.

Airports

Nearest Addo Elephant National Park airports include:
• Port Elizabeth Airport
• Cape Town International Airport

Birdlife

Addo Elephant National Park birdlife is rich and varied, and bird species can be found across the parks variety of natural habitats which range from wooded mountain kloofs, open grassy areas, coastal islands, dense forests, lakes and rivers. Species range from penguins and gannets to martial eagle, black korhaan, blue crane, secretary bird, flamingos, sunbirds, robin and African crowned eagles.

Conservation

Addo Elephant National Park conservation is essential to preserve the park's natural and cultural heritage - from the indigenous people of the area to the important natural habitats and highly endangered species of wildlife and bird that can be found within the park's ecosystems. Environmental education also plays a key role to educate future generations about the importance of preserving the park's habitats and creatures.

Culture

Addo Elephant National Park cultures include the following:
• Food and drink has influences from many different groups
• Music and dance plays a vital role in many cultures
• Performing arts has been a popular pastime for centuries
• Storytelling and literature plays a key role in societal cultures
• Tribal dress and jewelery is an important aspect of tribal groups

Customs

Addo Elephant National Park customs allows for free import of the following:
• Wine - up to 2 litres per person.
• Spirits and other alcoholic beverages - up to 1 litre in total per person
• Cigarettes - up to 200 per person
• Cigars - up to 20 per person
• Cigarette or pipe tobacco - up to 250g per person
• Perfume - up to 50ml per person
• Eau de toilette - up to 250ml per person

Health

Cape Town health facilities are generally only accessible in the nearby city of Port Elizabeth ' which has a wide range of excellent private clinics and hospitals, and overcrowded but fair government sponsored facilities. There are a wide number of pharmacies and local doctors available in the town but camps do not always have adequate supplies. With safe drinking water, no malaria and very few major health risks, Addo Elephant National Park visits are generally fuss-free.

AIDS

Addo Elephant National Park HIV/AIDS basic precautions include the following:
• Don’t ever share needles or syringes
• Practice safe sex at all times
• Equipment should be sterilized
• If you require self-administered injections, take an adequate supply of your own needles
• Avoid tattoos, acupuncture treatment or body piercing from suspect or unsterile operators

Vaccinations

Recommended inoculations for travel to Addo Elephant National Park are:
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Polio
• Rabies
• Tetanus

Languages

Addo Elephant National Park languages include the following:
• Afrikaans
• English
• Xhosa

Malaria

Addo Elephant National Park is a malaria free zone, so you will not have to worry about malaria medication, unless you are planning to travel to a malaria zone in South Africa or to a known malaria zone country in Africa. If you are travelling to a malaria zone after your visit to Addo Elephant National Park, talk to a local doctor about malaria medication you will need to take.

Money

Addo Elephant National Park money and banking information includes:
• Banks in nearby Port Elizabeth are open Monday to Friday from 9h00 ' 15h00, and Saturdays from 8h30-11h30
• ATMs can be found across Port Elizabeth, especially within malls or shopping areas
• Online banking can be done at some lodges
• Foreign exchange facilities are available at local malls, airport, hotels and banks
• Credit and debit cards are widely accepted at almost all hotels and camps, but not at fuel stations

People

Addo Elephant National Park people includes the following groups:
• Xhosa
• Thembu
• Bomvana
• Mpondo
• Mpondomise

Phrase

Addo Elephant National Park local phrases include the following:
• Molo ' Hello (Xhosa)
• Enkosi ' Thank you (Xhosa)
• Kunjani ' How are you (Xhosa)
• Goeie dag ' Good day (Afrikaans)
• Please ' Asseblief (Afrikaans)

Vaccinations

Recommended inoculations for travel to Addo Elephant National Park are:
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Polio
• Rabies
• Tetanus

Plants

Addo Elephant National Park plants include five of South Africa's seven biomes: Forest in the Woody Cape area, Subtropical Thicket in the original Addo section and in the Kabouga, Colchester, Nyathi sections, Grassland in the Zuurberg section, Fynbos in the Zuurberg section and Nama Karoo in the Darlington section. Plants range from grasses to huge trees, with a large percentage of wooded habitats.

Religion

Addo Elephant National Park religion includes:
• Christianity
• Traditional beliefs

Safety Tips

• Addo Elephant National Park is very safe with a very low crime rate, however basic precautions are still advised
• Don’t leave valuables lying around in sight, instead use the lodge safe or keep on you in a moneybag under your shirt
• Do not ever attempt to feed or touch any of the wild animals you see
• Stay in your car during game drives, unless you are at a designated rest stop and your guide has given the all clear
• Don’t leave the camp to wander off alone, especially after dark

Transport

Addo Elephant National Park local transport options include:
• Car

Travel Books

Addo Elephant National Park recommended travel books include:
• Elephant Footprints, A Photographic Journal of the Gorah Elephant Camp in the Addo Elephant National Park by Nicola Smith
• South Africa Eyewitness Travel Guide by DK Publishing
• Eastern Cape Pocket Map by MapStudio
• Newman's Birds of Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman
• Southern African Wildlife: A Visitor's Guide by Unwin Mike

Visa Requirements

Get more information on visas in South Africa

What To Buy

• Eastern Cape guide book with a good map
• Addo Elephant Park book of birds and animals
• Plug adapter for UK and US visitors
• Good sized backpack plus a decent moneybag
• Sleeping bag if you are on a camping or overland tour

What To Pack

Sunglasses, sunhat and sunscreen, plus swimming costume
• Casual clothes plus smart clothes for dinner or drinks at night
• Comfortable walking shoes plus sandals
• Warm jacket for cooler summer days and warm clothes for winter visits
• Camera, spare batteries and film or memory cards plus binoculars

When To Go

• Summer is generally mid-October to mid-February
• Autumn is February to April
• Winter is May to July and is wet and cold
• Spring falls between August and October
• Summer and autumn offer the best weather conditions

Wildlife

Famous for its large population of over 450 elephants, Addo Elephant National Park also includes a large number of other game, ranging from endangered black rhino to lion, hyena, leopard, warthog, baboons, Cape buffalo, zebra, red hartebeest, eland, kudu and bushbuck. There are also a number of insects and reptiles, including the famous dung beetle which can be found pushing piles of elephant dung across roads and savanna grasslands.