Addo Elephant National Park

The park is located near the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape in South Africa and 72 km (45 mi) by road from Port Elizabeth. It currently consists of 148,000 hectares (365,716 acres), but it is being expanded to 360,000 hectares (889,579 acres). A marine protected area of 120,000 hectares (296,500 acres) that includes islands that are home to the world's largest breeding colonies of Cape gannets and African penguins is to be added. Five of South Africa's seven major vegetation zones are included in the park.

The original number of 11 elephants has now increased to 420+, in addition to other large and small animals. The original Elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931.

There is also a rich heritage of archaeological and historical sites. The Alexandria dunefield is home to many archeological sites – the middens of the nomadic Strandloper (“beach walker”) people. These middens contain shells and bones of animals eaten by the people, as well as fragments of pottery and stone implements. The caves in the Zuurberg Mountains also contain rock art and stone implements.

See map of the park.

We would like to thank Megan Bradfield, Social Ecologist, Addo Elephant National Park, for providing information for this page.

Flora

Fauna