What is the Best of Addo for me?
Choosing the correct Safari options can be a hard task, there are so many great options! The area is called Addo, and not just the National park, confusing for some as all the options appear to be in the National park but this is not always the case. Most of our guest in Addo are very limited in their time and then this decision becomes very difficult to make on what you most definitely do not want to miss out on.
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The biggest deciding factors would be what species you are most looking forward to see during your Safari and the distance to travel from your accommodation, Let me give you a breakdown below, and please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions or if you would like assistance in booking one or all the activities below:
Addo Elephant Park Safari
The Addo Elephant national park is a must!
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This is the real thing when it comes to a Safari option where the animals are truly wild and free and live natural, in their natural environment. The Addo Elephant National park is a big 5 park, and one of the densest elephant populations in the world.
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This is a very special park with an incredible history and offers guest the opportunity to experience Africa at its core the best.
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Addo Elephant Park has been explained in multiple resources as one of the best places in the world to see Elephants!
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It can also be very hot in Addo during summer months with the peak being in February, consider this when you want to book an open vehicle, especially for children. Children under the age of 6 years old is not allowed on the open game vehicles. Rover Safaris specialises in family tours, we take only one group (private and exclusive) and children off all ages are welcome, activity packs and car seats are provided.
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Addo Elephant Park Pros and Cons
Pros' : National park featuring the big 5 amongst a wide variety of other animals. Scenic extremely beautiful and a true conservation park with free roaming and wild animals. A once in a lifetime Elephant experience opportunity, one of the best places in the world to view elephants.
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Cons: Lion sightings cannot be guaranteed, we have been having good lion sightings in the Park, nature is full of surprises and anything is possible.
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Potential sightings:
Elephants, Lions, Buffalo, Rhino, Zebra, Warthog, Ostrich, Red Hartebeest, Bushbuck, Eland, Secretary bird, Blue crane, Kudu, Cape Grysbok, Common duiker, Spotted Hyena, Caracal, Mongoose, Meerkat, Black backed jackal, monkeys, porcupines and more including a diverse bird and plant life.
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Your knowledgeable guide, will be able to take you to all the hot spots with animal sightings, share in all the history and interesting facts of the wildlife. Giving you the opportunity to sit back, relax, enjoy your time with your family and really take advantage of the time you have in this incredible park that you have travelled so far to see.
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Rover Safaris include transfers in the Addo area and will collect you at your accommodation.
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Private Tour Exclusive to your group
Closed, climate controlled vehicle.
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Private Reserve
A private conservation NOT in the Addo Elephant National park.
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This tour is on open game vehicles, and is open to all ages. Only 17km from the Addo Elephant National park main entrance this is a great addition to your Addo Elephant Park Safari.
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Safaris start morning or late afternoon and 5 hours total time.
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This conservation has a much higher concentration of lion in a smaller area, making your chances of seeing the lions in the wild much bigger, they also have multiple Giraffe, and if circumstances allows, your guide will stop with the giraffes in the distance for a drink stop, really magnificent.
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We recommend the Late afternoon Safari as it pairs perfectly with a morning Safari through the Addo Elephant National park and includes dinner.
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Pros:
Includes a lovely dinner, much better chance to see Lions in the wild. They have Giraffe that you will also not see in the National Park
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Cons:
Small private concession that does not have Elephants.
Potential Sightings species list:
Lion (Almost always)
Giraffe (Almost Always)
Springbuck (Almost Always)
Buffalo (Sometimes)
Various antelope and smaller species ​​
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BEST OPTION COMBINATION:
Addo Elephant Park Tour: 8am - 1pm
Private conservation Tour: 4pm - 8pm​
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This combination will include most of the must see species and will allow you much less travel from Addo. ​​​​​
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Have to meet at meeting point or book additional transfers.
Rates:
Includes: Entrance fees and Dinner
Excludes: Guide gratuity
Adult: R1500.00
Child: R750.00
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Group Tour
Open Vehicle
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Private Reserve
A private conservation NOT in the Addo Elephant National park.
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This option is a good all rounder and will give you the opportunity to see a big variety of species.
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The reserve is private and have multiple of their own guided drives at the same time, making your chances to see all species very likely.
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They also include dinner.
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Pros
Amazing animal sightings, high opportunity to see all the animals in one space. Includes dinner
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Cons
Distance to travel from Addo could be far, especially with the drives ending late at night. Distance from Addo Elephant park main entrance is 42km.
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Potential sightings species list:
All highly likely
Lion
Elephant
Rhino
Buffalo
Giraffe
Hippo
Crocodile
Zebra
Various Antelope
and more smaller animals
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Tour times in summer, winter will be earlier
2:30pm - 9pm
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This tour is also easily combined with the Addo Elephant National park, depending on where you stay, I do recommend making use of a transfer service.
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Rate per person including dinner:
Children and Adult: R2500
Babies that sit on a parent's laps will not be charged.
Have to meet at meeting point or book transfers
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Group Tour​
Open Vehicle
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Daniel Cheetah Project
This is not a conservation or a park, but more like a rescue centre for animals that didn't have any other option.
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This tour is perfect for guest who might not want to do two Safaris in one day but would still like to see the big cats, these animals however are rescued/ endangered and can not be reintroduced into the wild so they are kept in captivity.
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Pros
Get to see the magnificent animals up close and learn about their interesting stories and the conservation efforts, Guaranteed to see them close.
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Cons
Animals are kept in captivity and do not roam a large area freely, camps are big.
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This tour is a distance to travel from the main entrance of the Addo Elephant National park.
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The tour is 1 hour long, with 2 hours travel time. (1 hour there, and 1 hour back) Rover Safaris offers this as a add on tour to the Addo Elephant Park tour, your day will look as follow:
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8:00am Pick up at Accommodation for Safari though Addo Elephant National park.
​12:30pm - Exit Addo Elephant National park and depart for rescue centre.
​2:00 pm - Predator Tour
3:00 pm - Return to Addo
4:00 pm - Returned to accommodation
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Price per person for transfer and Additional predator Tour:
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Tour Rates
R3800 per tour
Restaurants in Addo:
Addo Elephant National park:
Cattle Baron Restaurant
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At the main camp entrance, Cattle Baron is a well known restaurant when it comes to steak. They also have a range of Ala carte options, you do not need a entrance permit for the Addo elephant National park when you would like to eat at the Cattle Baron restaurant.
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Addo Wildlife: Tangelo Restaurant
An la carte menu with a variety of options suited for all dietary requirements, 11km from the main entrance of the Addo Elephant National park.
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They also have a jungle gym for children and a animal rescue centre.
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Africanos Country Estate
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A la carte menu including the only sushi you will find in Addo - delicious! Play area for children and a wide selection of meals suited for all dietary requirements. 16km from the Main entrance of the Addo Elephant National park.
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Grocery stores and Fuel stations:
Addo Spar
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Open 7 days a week from 7am - 7pm
General grocery store in Addo Town
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Agrimark Fuel station - Addo
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6am - 7pm
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Addo Elephant Park main gate
There is also a small shop at Addo Elephant Park main camp with curios, snacks and basic supplies, fuel is available till 4pm in the afternoons.
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Shop Hours 8am - 6pm in winter, and till 7pm in the summer.
Fuel station: 7:30am - 4:30pm.
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