Addo Elephant National Park
User Reviews (82)
South Africa ParksEmail Jess | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Worst service at Addo Elephant Park
We arrived with no water at our accomodation and still had no water when we checked out. The park did not even have the decency to inform us of the problem let alone deliver a bucket of water for toilet use. We ended up having to go with bottles to reception to fill up so we could flush our toilet and at least wash our faces and brush our teeth last night and this morning.
This is disgusting for the amount you pay to stay in the park.
We won't be using Addo again.
50-65 years of age
Too small and too much thick scrub
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Email Elizabeth | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We did see elephant’s, and the bbq was outstanding. It was difficult to see the animals since the park is so dense with brush.
Email Marilyn | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Did not see that much game and park very dry
Email Marilyn | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Elephants make the park
Huts okay. A little inconvenient that cooking and washing up facilities not on premises. A clean-up needs to be undertaken around the vegetation as quite a bit of litter lying around
Email Thierry de Chazal | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Nowhere to compare to Kruger or Sabi Sands..very few birds...
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Email Ruth | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Too many cars driving around.
Email Gary Elson | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Addo or Addon’t ?
After several trips to Kruger, Etosha and the KTP, I decided to give Addo a go.
I have to be honest, it was a disappointment . A small park with little real bush vibe due to the da t that you can see the surrounding farms, towns and wind farms from large parts of the park.
The vegetation isn’t the most attractive either, and the large open areas looked more like fields, giving a “safari park” feel.
There is no doubt that the elephant encounters are the highlight, but a day trip is probably enough, with maybe a night at the excellent Addo main camp to give the best chance of an early morning lion encounter.
But it’s not Kruger, a totally different experience and the 30 minute drive and access to boat trips are probably the only reason for choosing it.
Email Anna Mahon Oneill | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I prebooked alot of my SA trip and felt Addo was the hardest place to book. Their accommodation is booked separately from the game drives and restaurant bookings so nothing seems straight forward, linked or easy. It took a total of over 20 emails to book anything, information on the website is wrong, email addresses on the website bounce back - i honestly don't know how they're so busy. I was expecting great things since it is the second biggest park in SA, both of the Addo accommodation we stayed in were lovely (better than expected) altho the plunge pool at our nyathi rest camp booking was very dirty so I sadly didn't use it at all. We did two guided game drives that did end up enabling us to see animals we hadn't seen at other reserves but the park is so big and the bush so dense that its hard to actually see anything unless you happen to be lucky and find the animal crossing the road. We didn't do a self drive, drive which we regret but as we stayed in the Nyathi rest camp it ment we were locked out of the park and made us feel like we couldn't explore as much as we would have wanted. The reception is a frustrating place were staff definitely take their time processing things. Paying for game drives is unorganised and could definitely be dealt with better. All in all i'm glad i got to see some animals as if i hadnt it would have been a waste. I'm not sure i would recommend Addo - maybe if your in the area or driving passed and have a few hours or a day to kill then definitely go but if pre booking i hope its a better experience than i had.
NL
Email Michael Potts | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Lots of elephants and unusual dung beatles
Safari Tours to Addo Elephant NP
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9-Day Cape Town to Addo Elephant Park
$4,180 to $4,950 pp (USD)
South Africa: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Lodge & Guest HouseYou Visit: Cape Town (Start), Hermanus (Whales), Knysna (Garden Route), Addo Elephant NP, Garden Route NP (Tsitsikamma) (Garden Route NP), Ostrich Farm (Highlight), Oudtshoorn (Garden Route), Paarl (Winelands), Boulder's Beach (Penguins), Cape Town (End)
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4.6/5 – 5 Reviews
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![4-Day Addo Elephant National Park Safari]()
4-Day Addo Elephant National Park Safari
$311 pp (USD)
South Africa: Self-driveLuxuryGuest House
You Visit: Port Elizabeth (Start), Addo Elephant NP, Port Elizabeth (End)
Indigo Safaris
4.6/5 – 143 Reviews
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![5-Day Luxury Garden Route & Addo Group Tour]()
5-Day Luxury Garden Route & Addo Group Tour
$809 to $872 pp (USD)
Scheduled Start DatesSouth Africa: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)LuxuryLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Cape Agulhas (Highlight), Oudtshoorn (Garden Route), Sedgefield (Town), Addo Elephant NP, Port Elizabeth (End)
MoAfrika Tours
4.9/5 – 1,813 Reviews
