Addo Elephant National Park Campsite
Our thoughts
Addo completely exceeded our expectations and we think it is one of the most underrated campsites in South Africa. Falling asleep to the sound of elephants rumbling around the waterhole just metres from your tent is something that never gets old. The density of wildlife here is absolutely staggering, we saw elephants, buffalo, black rhino, warthog, zebra and lion all in a single morning self drive without leaving the tar road. The campsite itself is well run, shaded and comfortable with a great pool for hot afternoons. If you haven't been to Addo yet, move it to the top of your list immediately.
What's hot
Highest density of elephants anywhere on earth
Well maintained and shaded campsites
Full Big Five including rare black rhino
Hapoor waterhole viewable from camp
Floodlit waterhole for nocturnal wildlife
Good facilities including pool and restaurant
Endemic flightless dung beetle
Year-round accessibility
Excellent self-drive game roads
Extraordinary conservation success story
What's not
No pets allowed
Restaurant is adequate but uninspiring
Main camp can feel busy in peak season
Dust roads can be rough on vehicles
Summer can get extremely hot
Limited shade at some campsites
Addo Elephant Gallery
Overview
Addo Elephant National Park is one of South Africa's most rewarding Big 7 destinations and its campsite puts you right in the heart of the action. Located near the main rest camp in the Addo section of the park, the campsite offers shaded grassed sites within earshot of the famous Domkrag waterhole, one of the best elephant viewing spots in Africa. What makes Addo truly special is its extraordinary density of wildlife. With over 600 elephants, buffalo, black rhino, lion, leopard, spotted hyena and even great white sharks and southern right whales in the marine section, this is one of the few places on earth where you can tick off the Big 7 in a single visit. The campsite itself is well maintained, family friendly and offers excellent facilities making it a comfortable base for days of self drive game viewing in one of South Africa's most underrated national parks.
FAQ's
Addo, Eastern Cape. Approximately 70km from Port Elizabeth and 200km from Grahamstown via the N2 and R335.
Powered and unpowered campsites,
Shaded grassed campsites with braai facilities, fully serviced sites with electrical points, clean ablution blocks with hot showers, communal kitchen facilities, swimming pool, restaurant and shop on site, fuel station, reception and information centre, children's playground, picnic areas near waterhole
Approximately R340 to R480 per site per night depending on season and site type. Conservation fees apply per person per day. Rates subject to change — always confirm current pricing directly with SANParks before booking.
Yes, superb family destination
No, pets are not permitted
Yes, Addo is fully fenced
Book directly through SANParks at www.sanparks.org or call 012 428 9111. Addo is extremely popular during school holidays and summer months. Book at least 3 to 6 months in advance for peak season visits. The campsite fills up fast during the Eastern Cape school holidays particularly in December and April.
May to September for cooler temperatures and excellent game viewing as animals congregate around waterholes. October to February is hotter but the park is lush and green with newborn animals visible from September onwards. Avoid December and Easter school holidays unless booked well in advance. Early mornings year round offer the best elephant sightings at the Domkrag waterhole.
No, standard vehicle is suitable
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) (70km), Tsitsikamma National Park (200km), Shamwari Game Reserve (60km), Schotia Safaris (50km), Sundays River Valley citrus farms (30km), Uitenhage (50km)
Ask for a campsite closest to the Domkrag waterhole, you can watch elephants drinking from your braai area day and night. Download the SANParks app before you arrive to track animal sightings reported by other visitors in real time. Go on a self drive at first light before 7am when the elephants are most active and the light is perfect for photography.
