Seeing double?

Some visitors to game reserves often get as excited about seeing something like a zebra than they are when seeing elephants or lions. Perhaps we as locals take these animals for granted as we see them often in game reserves and don't get as excited by them. I kinda lost what I was trying to say … Continue reading Seeing double? →

We all love Addo

Port Elizabeth is usually associated with elephants due to its close proximity to the Addo Elephant National Park. Most visitors to the city, both local and international, spend at least a day in the park with others staying over at some of the park's variety accommodation options. Its easy to get to Addo from Port Elizabeth … Continue reading We all love Addo →

31 miles to PE

31 miles from Port Elizabeth just off the Addo road (R335) is Addo Drift. The drift was the first convenient natural crossing point on the Sundays River when travelling inland from the sea, and was used by wild animals and earlier human inhabitants as a ford. When the Europeans arrived, they followed the same route, outspaning their oxen … Continue reading 31 miles to PE →

Butt but booty

Addo is a funny place in a backside kinda way. Unless the elephants are actually heading in your direction, the chances are good that as soon as you have lined up your shot that the animal will turn his back and all you get is a booty shot. Bummer!

Ranger stories

The guides doing the open vehicle guided game drives in the Addo Elephant National Park are vast treasure chests of information. I can't find the note I made of our ranger's name (Vincent van Zyl left a comment pointing out that the ranger's name is Ryan), but my mouth hung open as he rattled off plant names, animal … Continue reading Ranger stories →

I can still see you

I attended the media launch of the Kirkwood Wildsfees in the Addo Elephant National Park and to end the program off we were taken on an open vehicle game drive through the park. As is often usual in Addo we had some stunning sightings. This guy was peeking at us from behind a bush trying … Continue reading I can still see you →

Planting Spekboom

As most of the Addo Elephant National Park is made up of what used to be farmlands, big parts of the park consist of open fields. Addo has embarked on a project where locals are used to plant spekboom on these fields to help and bring the natural bush back quicker. Spekboom (sometimes referred to … Continue reading Planting Spekboom →

Addo fygies

Addo Elephant National Park is looking stunning after all the rain the area had during winter and spring. The veld is green with swaths of yellow flowers and purple fygies while there are a lot young animals about as well. Unfortunately my visit was a quick one for business so I didn't have time to … Continue reading Addo fygies →

Having a drink at Gwarrie Dam

Addo Elephant National Park is such an awesome place and probably the best place in the world to view wild African elephants fairly up close from within your own car. This young bull was having a drink at Gwarrie Dam on my last visit and I kinda wish I could just plonk a camp chair … Continue reading Having a drink at Gwarrie Dam →

Aloe at Addo

The aloes are in full bloom and where ever you go around the Eastern Cape its bright orange flowers are visible. These are next to the walkway by the lookout over the Addo Elephant National Park's main camp waterhole.