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Addo
Elephant National Park travel info
Addo Elephant National Park (AENP), initially proclaimed in 1931 to
preserve what remained of the elephant population in the Eastern Cape, has
undergone considerable expansion from its original 6 852ha to its present
80 000ha. The park is perhaps now in it’s most significant phase of
expansion, with plans to enlarge the conservation estate of the park to
approximately 400 000ha - the "Greater Addo". Situated 73km from Port
Elizabeth in South Africa's Eastern Cape, the conservation success story
of this park is world famous. Since its proclamation, the last eleven
elephants in that region have bred to number 350, its 11718 ha also
offering sanctuary to the last Cape buffalo and black rhino of a very
scarce Kenyan sub-species. Also notable is the unique flightless dung
beetle, which is found almost exclusively in Addo. Day sightings of
animals are frequent and an illuminated waterhole provides excellent
nighttime game viewing. Protection of the elephant has resulted in
simultaneous protection of an ecosystem, which supports a fair number of
antelope, numerous reptile, amphibian and insect species and a recorded
170 bird species.
Seasons
The Eastern Cape climate, influenced by the nearby Indian Ocean, provides
rain evenly distributed throughout the year. Winters days are pleasant,
rarely exceeding mid-twenty temperatures (degrees Celsius). Nights can be
cold. The peak summer months(Nov-Mar) may be very hot (up to 35 degrees
Celsius). Wildlife viewing is good year round.
Wildlife
Lion and spotted hyaena have recently been re-introduced into the Park.
400 species of bird have been recorded.
You should see: elephant, jackal, zebra, warthog, kudu, eland, hartebeest,
springbok, buffalo, hippo, baboon, vervet monkey
You may see: Cape fox, caracal, mongoose, black rhino, bushpig, duiker,
klipspringer, porcupine, genet, weasel, suricate (meerkat) |
