In 1919 Major P. J. Pretorius was employed to eliminate the elephants that came out of the Addo Bush and caused trouble for farmers in the Sundays River Valley. Within a year 120 elephants were killed and the remainder fled to the impenetrable bush. Having been hunted almost to extinction, the Addo elephants had the reputation of being the most dangerous in the world. Various experiments with electrical fencing to contain them, led to the declaration of a conservation area, today known as the Addo Elephant Park.
The Addo Elephant Park is located about 70 km north of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.It a unique South Africa Travel experience After the park was initially proclaimed in 1931 it was expanded, and after the inclusion of a marine park, the new Addo will be about 370 000 ha in size, making it one of the largest safari areas in South Africa.
Vegetation varies from tropical to temperate flora types. Heathers and proteas, cycads, spekboom trees (Portulucaria afra), yellowwood trees, witstinkhout trees and aloes are typical of this region. Sweet thorn, wild olive, karee species, sneezewood, guarri, milky rope, tree fucia and many varieties of succulents, vines and creepers are to be found in abundance.This area is transitional between the Mediterranean winter rainfall region and the subtropical summer rainfall region. The annual rainfall is about 630 mm per year with a maximum rainfall in July. The average temperature varies between 18 and 25°C in January and between 9 and 20°C in July.
The Addo elephants are smaller than the elephants of central Africa but do not belong to a subspecies, as once was believed. Of the Addo elephants, only the bulls have tusks, and these are fairly short. Other animals such as the Cape buffalo, black rhinoceros, eland, red hartebeest, reebok, zebra, bush buck, duiker, kudu, jackal, caracal, mongoose, velvet monkey and blue buck are also found in the park. 185 bird species have been recorded. Birds such as the Knysna Loerie and eagles are worth mentioning. There is an observation point for bird-watchers at a dam near the restaurant. As soon as the extension of the park is completed, the Big Five will be present in the Addo Elephant Park, as well as marine animals.
The Addo Main camp restaurant serves a la carte meals. Beer and wine can be bought at the camp. Accommodation varies from rondavels, chalets, guest cottages, caravan and camping sites. Picnic sites are provided for day visitors. Guided night drives are available and visitors can enjoy the bush trail, known as the Spekboom Nature trail. |
