The beautiful and biodiverse Addo Elephant National Park is home to more than 600 of these magnificent giants. Our Destination Expert Cara Maitland describes her stay at Gorah Elephant Camp.
At 1,200sq km, Addo Elephant National Park is the third largest park in South Africa, stretching from the Karoo area in the north, over the Zuurberg Mountains and down to the coast. The non-malarial reserve protects the remnants of the vast elephant herds that once roamed the Eastern Cape. When it was proclaimed a national park in 1931, there were only 11 elephants remaining, but today there are more than 600. These magnificent giants are generally Addo’s biggest attraction as they can be found in enormous herds and are relaxed around vehicles, so you can get very close to them.
Just an hour’s drive away from Port Elizabeth, and located just beyond the eastern end of the Garden Route, Addo is a great destination for self-drivers exploring this famous route. Our favourite place to stay here is Gorah Elephant Camp, which sits on the only private concession within the national park. As the park itself can become quite busy with day-trippers, Gorah is the perfect choice as it is away from the crowds and offers an exclusive and very comfortable safari experience.