Addo Elephant National Park

18 Replies

Yesteryear’s “hunter’s hell” is today’s wildlife paradise.

In the early 1900’s, a major P.J. Pretorius was contracted to rid the Addo region of its elephant population, then numbering around 150 animals, as the area was developing into one of the country’s most productive agricultural regions. It is he who described the Addo-bush as a “hunter’s hell” due to the impenetrable thickness of the spekboom vegetation. Pretorius was nevertheless extremely successful in his undertaking, and by the time the Addo Elephant National Park was proclaimed in 1931 on a small piece of land considered unsuitable for irrigation, and in the face of rising public support for the elephants, only eleven animals remained.

Over the years more land has been added to the Park and, from the original 40km² at proclamation, the Addo Elephant National Park today covers an area in excess of 1650 km² (and there are plans to increase this even more). As the Park grew, so did the elephant population – more than 450 now roam the reserve.

Those first Addo elephants were wild and dangerous, understandably so due to the persecution they endured, but the animals you’d find in the park these days are much more tolerant of the human presence and there are few, if any, places in Africa where you’ll be able to get so close to wild elephants going about their everyday business (though you’d still be well advised to keep a safe distance from those big bulls and cows with calves).

Now that the future of the Addo Elephant has been secured, the park’s priorities have shifted towards biodiversity protection, and it certainly ranks as one of South Africa’s most diverse protected areas in terms of habitat and species. Today the Park accommodates all the species of big game that occurred here historically, including Africa’s famed “Big 5”.

Located close to Port Elizabeth, one of South Africa’s largest cities, Addo is easily accessible and very popular. Accommodation is provided in a number of camps operated by the South African National Parks as well as a host of more upmarket, privately run, concession lodges.

The Addo Elephant National Park is a South African conservation success story – if you ever have the opportunity, go see for yourself just how beautiful a “hunter’s hell” can be!

18 thoughts on “Addo Elephant National Park”

  1. Pingback: Addo’s Diversity | de Wets Wild

  2. Pingback: Kings of Addo | de Wets Wild

  3. Pingback: Addo wouldn’t be Addo without the elephants… | de Wets Wild

  4. SueT唐 梦 琇

    All my life I have wanted to visit a wildlife sanctuary/park. Addo looks fantastic. Thank you for a fabulous post. I am now making my plans to travel in 2017 as I am returning to China next year. I am so excited. I am in the process of working out which is the best park to visit so will continue reading your posts. Thanks again for lovely photos also.

    Like

    Reply ↓
  6. friendlytm

    Thank you for following my blog which is nothing compared to yours! Your blog is beautiful. I have never been to Africa and I am afraid of wild animals! But I will follow your blog to educate myself and appreciate your beautiful photography!

    Like

    Reply ↓
  7. Rosemarie

    Hello, Folks. I really appreciate your liking all my posts. I’ve been doing a lot of research for my upcoming hike, and more to come. I love your posts because they are so far out from my experience. You let me enjoy a whole other reality.

    Like

    Reply ↓
  9. Shannon

    I just heard a radio news story about elephant poaching in Africa. It was heartbreaking. They seem like such great creatures – both in size and in heart.

    Like

    Reply ↓
    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      The poaching of wildlife is a terrible scourge Shannon, and it is so difficult to prevent while there’s a market created for tusks, horns, claws, pelts and all other kinds of animal parts by people, often thousands of miles away, holding mistaken beliefs that these “products” are valuable in one way or another.

      Like

      Reply ↓
    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thank you Thank you Thank you Joey! We so appreciate knowing that de Wets Wild actually MEANS something to someone! How fortunate we are to have made such a meaningful connection with someone so talented as you! Thank you thank you a thousand times over!

      Like

      Reply ↓
      1. mjculverphotography

        You know it’s really I who must thank you. Your images of Africa take me back to my youth. They bring back so many wonderful memories. Oh how I miss Outspan Rusks, Marmite (OK I can find that here), biltong, melktaart, bobotie etc. I could go on and on. Wonderful game viewing drives, those gorgeous sunsets and the smell that only Africa produces after it rains. Thank you for taking me back there every day.

        Big hug,

        Joey

        Like

Please don't leave without sharing your thoughts?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.