A private reserve evening, then a day with 700 elephants
This short Eastern Cape escape pairs two very different safari experiences. Your first evening is spent on a private game reserve along the Sundays River, followed by a full day in Addo Elephant National Park, home to one of Africa's most remarkable elephant recoveries. Airport collection and drop-off in Gqeberha make it easy to add to any South Africa itinerary.
Day 1: citrus groves, sunset and fireside dinner
Check in at the luxury Addo Wildlife Lodge, then set out on a four-hour sunset game drive. Your guide winds through citrus orchards into the private reserve, where giraffe, plains zebra, kudu, eland, impala and sable antelope roam. Pause for drinks and snacks among the spekboom thicket as the light fades, then enjoy a buffet dinner cooked over open fires at the riverside boma or the lodge restaurant.
Day 2: a full day in Addo Elephant National Park
When the first section of the park was proclaimed in 1931, only 11 elephants remained here. Today more than 700 roam South Africa's third-largest national park. Spend the whole day exploring with your guide, looking for elephants, buffalo, zebra, lion, hyena and the rare black rhino, plus the park's endemic flightless dung beetle and rich birdlife. Lunch is a traditional South African braai inside the park. The safari finishes around 17:00 with drop-off at the airport.
Good to know
Addo is malaria-free and can be visited all year. October to April brings warmer weather and busier roads. Extra nights before or after the safari can be arranged on request.
