The Addo Main Camp entrance is the original entrance to Addo Elephant National Park, and is located some 70 km from Port Elizabeth (if you take the R335 via Motherwell), or it is 100 km from Port Elizabeth (if you take the N10 Paterson - the recommended route). The nearest town to Addo Main Camp is the town of Addo which is location about 15 km from the entrance, which is well signposted from all major routes. To enter the park at the (new) southern entrance (Matyholweni Gate), follow the N2 towards Grahamstown, and take the first turn-of after crossing the Sundays River Bridge at Colchester (also well signposted).
The Park is a “Birders Paradise” boasting with elements of five biomes (Forest, Thicket, Grassland, Fynbos and Nama Karoo). More than 417 bird species have been recorded throughout the entire park (of over 180 000 hectares). However, most people tent to visit the “central Big 5 areas” of the park (the Zuurberg, Nyathi, Main Camp and Colchester sections), yet even this area has 332 bird species that have been recorded here (See bird list). Species seen in this area range from the Waterbirds such as African Black Ducks and Malachite Kingfishers, to Brown Scrub Robin and Crowned Hornbill that are found in the thickets. The biodiversity is just staggering, with eight species of Sunbirds, as well as the Cape Sugarbird, 10 species belonging to the shrike family (including Southern Tchagra, Red-backed Shrike & Grey-headed Bush-Shrike), and a host of Flycatchers, which include African Dusky, Spotted, Fiscal, Southern Black, African Paradise and Blue-mantled Crested. Addo’s open grassy plains is one of very few places in the World where you can see both Denham’s and Ludwig’s Bustards feeding side by side! These and many other bird species make this a must visit birding destination.
An entrance fee is levied at reception (Addo Main Camp) or at Matyholweni Gate. One can also gain access with a Wild Card. Access to the Nyathi Section (North of Addo Main Camp) can be gained by staying over at the new Nyathi Rest Camp or at River Bend Lodge.
The Addo Main Camp entrance is the original entrance to Addo Elephant National Park, and is located some 70 km from Port Elizabeth (if you take the R335 via Motherwell), or it is 100 km from Port Elizabeth (if you take the N10 Paterson - the recommended route). The nearest town to Addo Main Camp is the town of Addo which is location about 15 km from the entrance, which is well signposted from all major routes. To enter the park at the (new) southern entrance (Matyholweni Gate), follow the N2 towards Grahamstown, and take the first turn-of after crossing the Sundays River Bridge at Colchester (also well signposted).
The Park is a “Birders Paradise” boasting with elements of five biomes (Forest, Thicket, Grassland, Fynbos and Nama Karoo). More than 417 bird species have been recorded throughout the entire park (of over 180 000 hectares). However, most people tent to visit the “central Big 5 areas” of the park (the Zuurberg, Nyathi, Main Camp and Colchester sections), yet even this area has 332 bird species that have been recorded here (See bird list). Species seen in this area range from the Waterbirds such as African Black Ducks and Malachite Kingfishers, to Brown Scrub Robin and Crowned Hornbill that are found in the thickets. The biodiversity is just staggering, with eight species of Sunbirds, as well as the Cape Sugarbird, 10 species belonging to the shrike family (including Southern Tchagra, Red-backed Shrike & Grey-headed Bush-Shrike), and a host of Flycatchers, which include African Dusky, Spotted, Fiscal, Southern Black, African Paradise and Blue-mantled Crested. Addo’s open grassy plains is one of very few places in the World where you can see both Denham’s and Ludwig’s Bustards feeding side by side! These and many other bird species make this a must visit birding destination.
An entrance fee is levied at reception (Addo Main Camp) or at Matyholweni Gate. One can also gain access with a Wild Card. Access to the Nyathi Section (North of Addo Main Camp) can be gained by staying over at the new Nyathi Rest Camp or at River Bend Lodge.