Visit to Addo Elephant National Park

While Angie and Mike were visiting us we decided to make a day trip to the Addo Elephant National Park. We took a slightly shorter route than the recommended but because we were in the bakkie it was not a problem going over the sand road towards Paterson.

From Addo Elephant National Park

Paterson looks like a really dead loss place - really not much going on there.

The actual trip to the Addo Park was just over 100kms to the gate.

It was a wonderful outing even though we did not see a single elephant. We knew they were around because there was an enormous amount of dung all over the place - but we did not get to see any of them.

It was a great day - great to be with my sister and great to have a really nice family outing.

Animals we did see:
Kudu - plenty both male and female
Warthog - lots, both male, female and babies
Black-backed jackal - two in separate sightings
Red Haartebees - only one
Cape Buffalo - a small herd of about twelve big males
Vervet monkeys - not actually in the park, just a few kilometres before
leopard tortoise
Blue crane - our national bird
Ostrich - quite a few
Red knobbed coot
Egyptian goose
Black-headed heron
Dung beetles - lots and lots of them as there was lots of poo

We were a little disappointed not to see the elephants but that is the luck of the draw.

From Addo Elephant National Park

From Addo Elephant National Park

After a brief refreshment stop at Addo Main Camp we drove along the Gorah Loop and to Carol's Rest where we came across the small herd of male buffalo.

From Addo Elephant National Park

We then returned slowly to the Zuurkop Lookout point where you can get out of your car, but there is a sign that advises you about lions.

From Addo Elephant National Park

We then had a picnic lunch that Ilza made back at camp.
In the afternoon we drove to the Kadouw Lookout point and along the Mbalala Loop. We later found out that other people had spotted elephants along this route, but we were not so lucky.
While we were are the park, there was a cloud burst with quite a lot of hail in some areas.

From Addo Elephant National Park

At one point near Hapoor Dam we had to make a choice between going down a dirt road, which was actually quite muddy, or going back along a surfaced road.
Fortunately I took the chicken option.
We returned on the surfaced road and then doubled back past the Gwarrie Pan to Rooi Dam where the dirt road would have met the surfaced road. The road was under a strong flowing stream - nobody dared try an cross it.

The cars on the other side faced quite a tricky journey back to the tar road, or they would have to wait it out.

It was a great example of a flash flood.
To see a map of the area we visited click here