National park · South Africa
Addo Elephant National ParkAddo Olifant Nasionale Park
Self-drive Addo in one full day from Port Elizabeth (about 70 km, 1 h): be at Matyholweni or the main gate when it opens, pick your route from the day's gate times and sightings board at reception, and skip the park entirely if you only have a Cape Town–Garden Route week.Self-drive Addo in one full day from Port Elizabeth (about 43 mi, 1 h): be at Matyholweni or the main gate when it opens, pick your route from the day's gate times and sightings board at reception, and skip the park entirely if you only have a Cape Town–Garden Route week.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,640 km²633 sq mi
approximate
Established
1931
Best months
Mar–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- South Africa ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport with the Department of Home Affairs or a South African mission before booking; exemptions depend on nationality, and the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is optional for most visa-exempt visitors in 2026.
- South Africa ↗Travelling with children: accompanied foreign children no longer need a birth certificate, but unaccompanied minors, South African children and some passports that omit parents' names still do; check with Home Affairs and your airline before you fly.
- South Africa ↗Driving is on the left. If your licence is not in English or has no photo, get an International Driving Permit before you travel; rental companies also check it.
- South Africa ↗National park gates open and close at fixed times; you must be inside your camp before the gate closes, and speed limits in parks are enforced.
At a glance
- Country
- South Africa
- Area
- 1,640 km²633 sq mi
- Land area is often quoted as about 1,640 km², but the figure is not confirmed by the sources here (check); the park also includes a marine protected area.
- Established
- 1931
- Best months
- Mar–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Addo is the easiest Big Five park in South Africa to reach without a flight: about an hour's drive north-east of Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) on the N2, malaria-free, and drivable in an ordinary car on tar and good gravel. It began in 1931 to save the last handful of Eastern Cape elephants and now holds one of the densest elephant populations in Africa, plus black rhino, buffalo, lion and — in the marine section — dolphins, whales and penguins. The park is a common add-on at the end of a Garden Route drive, and one full day is enough for a first visit; a night in a rest camp buys you the dawn and dusk hours when animals actually move.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1931.
Size and age
1,640 km²633 sq mi · national park since 1931
Land area is often quoted as about 1,640 km², but the figure is not confirmed by the sources here (check); the park also includes a marine protected area.
Why go
- Elephants at very close range from your own car, with no malaria risk and no flight needed.
- Big Five self-drive on tar and gravel roads that any rental car can handle.
- A realistic day trip from Port Elizabeth, or a two-night stop at the end of a Garden Route drive.
- A marine section on the coast with dolphins, southern right whales in season and penguins.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanHot; animals at waterholes early and late
- FebHot; good elephant viewing at Hapoor
- MarWarm days, cooler nights, green bush
- AprMild and dry; comfortable driving
- MayDry bush, thinning cover, clear days
- JunDry season; whales arrive on the coast
- JulCold nights, dry and clear days
- AugDry; best month for the marine section
- SepWarm, dry, whales still off the coast
- OctWarm; some rain, bush greens up
- NovWarm; afternoon showers possible
- DecPeak school holidays; gates and camps busy
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ElephantAll year · Present all year; best at waterholes in the dry months. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| LionAll year · More often in the southern section; sightings are not guaranteed. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Black rhino and buffaloMay–Sep · Thinner bush in the dry season makes them easier to find. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Southern right whales (marine section)Jun–Nov · From boats off the coast; dates shift each year. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Flightless dung beetleAll year · Protected, and has right of way on the roads. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)
N2 north-east to the Matyholweni gate at Colchester, or the R342 to the main camp gate; own car or rental, no public transport into the park.
1–1.5 h (check)
Open the page →
From Garden Route (Knysna, Plettenberg Bay)
Drive the N2 east and stop at Addo before or after Port Elizabeth.
3.5–5 h to Port Elizabeth (check)
Open the page →
From Cape Town
Fly to Port Elizabeth, then drive; driving the whole way is a long day.
Flight time check, plus about 1 h drive
Open the page →
From Sunshine Coast region
The park sits at the western end of the Sunshine Coast; use the region guide for the coast either side.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Main camp area (north) | Reception, restaurant, shop, waterhole, fuel-less but well-serviced base; the R342 gate. | Open to day visitors with a ticket. |
| Hapoor and Domkrag dams | The classic elephant waterholes in the centre of the park. | Self-drive on the loop roads. |
| Southern section (Matyholweni) | Quieter bush and plains reached from the N2 gate at Colchester; lion are often here. | Self-drive; own gate. |
| Marine protected area | Coast and islands south of the park with dolphins, whales and penguins. | No self-drive access; boat trips and permits are not confirmed — check with SANParks or Port Elizabeth operators. |
Sketch map
- 1Main camp gate (R342) · Gate≈-33.487, 25.753Map ↗
- 2Matyholweni gate (N2, Colchester) · Gate≈-33.606, 25.808Map ↗
- 3Hapoor dam · Viewpoint≈-33.473, 25.783Map ↗
- 4Domkrag dam · Viewpoint≈-33.479, 25.760Map ↗
- 5Spekboom hide and tented camp · Sleep≈-33.530, 25.750Map ↗
- 6Addo village · Town≈-33.548, 25.689Map ↗
- 7Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) · Town≈-33.961, 25.602Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation fee, South African residents and citizens | ZAR 100–150 | person per day | 2026 estimate (check); SANParks revises rates each year. |
| Conservation fee, international visitors | ZAR 300–400 | person per day | 2026 estimate (check); children and pensioners pay less. |
| Guided game drive from the main camp | ZAR 350–600 | person | Two to three hours; book at the camp reception. Rate check. |
| Horse trail | ZAR 400–700 | person | About two hours; book ahead. Rate check. |
| Rest camp accommodation | ZAR 900–2,500 | unit per night | Safari tents, cabins and chalets; rates rise in school holidays. Rate check. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Guided game drive or horse trail no permit
Marine section permit or guide
Park rules
- Stay in your vehicle
- Leave the car only at marked, permitted points, and only after checking that no animals are near.
- No citrus fruit
- Do not carry oranges or other citrus in the car; elephants associate the smell with food and have reached into vehicles.
- Dung beetles
- Do not drive over or step on them; they have right of way on the roads.
- Speed limit
- Keep to the posted park limit, usually 40 km/h on gravel and 60 km/h on tar.
- Gates
- Gates open and close at fixed times that change with the season; day visitors must be out before closing.
- Drones
- Not allowed without SANParks permission.
Where to stay
In the park
Main camp
Chalets, rondavels, safari tents and campsites, plus a restaurant and shop; the busiest base.
In the park
Spekboom tented camp
A handful of two-person tents with braai facilities, about 11 km south of the main camp; quiet.A handful of two-person tents with braai facilities, about 6.8 mi south of the main camp; quiet.
In the park
Matyholweni camp
Chalets only, at the southern Colchester gate on the N2.
Near the park
Addo village and the R342
Guest houses, B&Bs and self-catering lodges outside the main gate.
Near the park
Colchester and Port Elizabeth
Cheaper beds near the southern gate, or a full range of city hotels an hour away.
Safety
Wild animals around vehicles medium
Long drives on gravel low
Heat in summer medium
Gate closing times medium
Accessibility
- Self-drive roads are tar and good gravel, so the park works for travellers who cannot walk far.
- The main camp has accessible chalets and a restaurant; ask at reception when booking.
- The Spekboom hide and some viewpoints involve short, uneven walks.
Visiting lightly
- Do not feed or attract animals; the citrus rule exists because past feeding changed elephant behaviour.
- Give dung beetles and other small species room on the road.
- Take all rubbish out and use the bins at the camps only.
- Book guided drives and camp stays through SANParks so fees go back into the park.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Addo Elephant National Park?
You pay a daily conservation fee per person: roughly R100–150 for South African residents and R300–400 for international visitors in 2026 (check, as SANParks revises rates each year). Children and pensioners pay less. The fee covers self-drive entry for the day; guided drives, horse trails and accommodation cost extra.
What are the best hikes in Addo Elephant National Park?
Addo is a driving park, not a hiking park. Walking is limited to short, controlled options: the Spekboom hide walk near the tented camp, a few lookout points where leaving the car is permitted, and the guided two-hour horse trail. Public access and route details for the Spekboom walk should be checked with SANParks, and any longer walk or coastal visit needs a guide or a permit.
When is the best time to visit Addo Elephant National Park?
March to June and September are the most comfortable: mild, mostly dry days and bush that is thinning out, so animals concentrate at waterholes. July and August are dry and clear but cold at night. December is hot and busy with South African school holidays. The park is malaria-free and open all year.
Can I visit Addo as a day trip from Port Elizabeth?
Yes. The southern Matyholweni gate is about 70 km from Port Elizabeth on the N2, roughly an hour's drive. Arrive at opening, drive the loops for four to six hours and leave before the gate closes. There is no public transport into the park, so you need a car or an organised tour.
Do I need a 4x4 for Addo?
No. The tourist roads are tar and well-kept gravel that any rental car can handle. Fill up with fuel before you enter, because there is no fuel station inside the park.
Can I see the Big Five at Addo?
Elephant, buffalo, lion, black rhino and leopard all occur in the park, but leopard sightings are rare and lion are not guaranteed. Elephant are the reliable draw, especially at Hapoor and Domkrag dams in the dry months.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go