The Addo Elephant Park had a strange conception. 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 Elephant Park will be about 370 000 ha in size, making it one of the largest safari areas in South Africa. Vegetation in the Addo Elephant Park varies from tropical to temperate flora types.

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, Vervet Monkey and Blue Duiker 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.