How will I figure out the Addo National Park accommodation if I visit? When is the right time to go to Addo National Park? What’s the best time to visit this park?

If your mind has been boggling with these questions, you have come to the right place because we have all the information you need to have a splendid vacation in the heart of South Africa.

Where Is Addo National Park Located?

Situated in Sundays River valley, Addo National Park is the best place to have a memorable wildlife experience and pays homage to the big 5, which include leopard, lion, buffaloes, rhinos, and of course, elephants.

This is a diverse conservation park that’s located extremely close to the Gqeberha region. For those who don’t know, it’s one of the twenty national parks in the country and is the third biggest park.

Click on the picture below to see where the park is located exactly on Google Maps.

Flora & Fauna Of Addo National Park

• Addo National Park is known for its varied flora and remains the central part of the ecological system of the park.

In fact, there are endemic and rare plants in the park, such as geophytes and shrubs that are native to South Africa. Some plant species are actually struggling because of the environmental pressures, hence the chances of extinction.

In fact, the biodiversity of this park is home to the unique fynbos and karoo.

• As far as the fauna is concerned, it has the healthiest population of the common terrestrial species, and all of them keep walking the 1,640km of the park and can be easily seen.

There are over 700 elephants in the park, along with 400 cape buffaloes, but the leopards are very rare.

The park introduced six lions back in 2003, and they seem quite happy – they can be easily seen at night and on sunset drives.

Not to forget, there are spotted hyenas, antelopes, Burchell’s zebra, and warthogs.

On the outskirts of the park, you will be able to see blue duiker, mountain reedbuck, zebra, red rock rabbit, aardwolf, hippos, and gemsbok.

Take a look at the video below, to see more impressions of the wildlife of Addo National Park:

History Of Addo National Park

The park was originally found back in 1931 because Sydney Skaife, (who was a was an eminent South African entomologist and naturalist), wanted a safe haven for the eleven elephants of the region (these were the only elephants left in the region!).

With time, the park has been expanded, which now extends to Alexandria from the Sundays River.

As of now, it spans over 1,640km, but the government intends to expand it to over 3,600km.

What is the Right Time To Visit The Addo National Park?

If you want to enjoy the real essence of Addo National Park, you need to visit during May and September.

That’s because these months are considered the dry season, and you will be able to see a majority of wildlife as they gather around different waterholes to quench their thirst.

Also, make sure that the trip to Addo National Park is extended to two to three days to enjoy every corner and view every flora and fauna!

Visiting The Addo National Park

When it comes down to visiting Addo National Park, many people are confused about the commute.

However, there is nothing to worry about as it’s located at a thirty-minute drive from Port Elizabeth National Airport, so near a large city, and it is quite easy to get there!

Moreover, the roads are tarred for cars.

Topping it all, there are high-end shopping centers, sports venues, and eateries to suffice all your needs while helping you enjoy nature and wildlife.

From the airport, you can easily rent a car or hire a cab!

Here are the opening hours of Addo National Park:

• The main entrance gate and the Addo reception (off R335 / R342 near Addo), is open from 7am till 19pm
  
  
• The Matyholweni gate and the Matyholweni reception (off N2 near Colchester), is open from 7am till 17pm at the reception, and from 7am until 18h30 at the gate.

Can you stay in Addo National Park?

Since you need to stay at the park for two to three days to have the real experience, it’s evident that you need proper accommodation. And there is lots of choices in that area! (an in-depth list will be published later on my site with reviews).

And then the question: “how much does it cost to stay in Addo National park”, could also come up?

Well that depends: ranging from tented camps to boutique hotels and luxury lodges or even glamping , there are various options, but we have outlined a few best options, such as;

Little Sisters Self-Catering Place

This Addo National park accommodation is only two minutes away from the park if you come through the Matyholweni gate of the Colchester area.

In fact, this place is only 300m away from the Sundays River, and you can take a stroll in the nearby dune fields.

The best thing about this place is that you will be able to see warthog, hartebeest, eland, buffalo, and zebra.

As far as the facilities are concerned, the rooms are nice, and there are all essential amenities available, but you have to do everything on your own since it’s a self-catering place.

Dungbeetle River Lodge

This is a promising guest house located at the bank of Sundays River and is only five kilometers away from the Colchester entrance of the park.

The guest house boasts the most mesmerizing views of the rivers, and you can sit on the decks to enjoy the scenic sides.

In addition, the guest house staff can arrange paddle boarding, river cruises, swimming, and canoeing activities.

Take a look at what this lodge looks like in the video below:

Broadlands Country House

This is one of the most beautiful places where you can stay to enjoy the authenticity of the region.

The farmhouse is bordered by orange blossoms that greet you on arrival and create a welcoming environment.

There are five en-suite rooms that offer a view of the dam, endless orchards, and an African oasis.

There are bread and breakfast options with dinner to fill your tummy after a long day of adventure.

Here’s another little video of this gorgeous place to stay a few nights or longer.

Homestead B&B

In case you are fine with the self-catering accommodations, this is another comfortable option. This place is perfect for people who are fond of camping as it has all the essential amenities and is surrounded by lush green gardens.

More accommodations coming soon, please bookmark my website!

Medical Suggestions

For the longest time, South Africa has struggled with Malaria, but this of the country region is now malaria-free.

In addition, you don’t need to worry about bilharzia either because there haven’t been such cases in the region for years.

When you visit the Addo National Park, the medical facilities are only thirty minutes away, so you don’t need to worry about medical emergencies, but it’s best to bring a first aid kit.

As far as the vaccinations are concerned, you should get the COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test required before departure as it’s mandatory to travel!

My Final Conclusion.

I hope that you enjoyed this blog post on the Addo National Park accommodation and more insights.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask below in the comment section, or join me on one of my social media channels below, where you can find more pictures of my travels to Africa 😉

I wish you happy travels!

Kind regards,

Lizzy

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