Matyholweni Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
Albany Thicket biome · Springbok · Water mongoose
From R 2,535 a night
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Addo Elephant National Park
Famous for elephant herds and Big Seven
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Big FiveMalaria-free
About Addo Elephant National Park
Addo began in 1931 as a refuge for the last eleven elephants of the Eastern Cape, and today more than 600 move through its Albany thicket, the dense, spekboom-rich scrub that recovers land faster than almost any other vegetation on earth. The park has grown to take in the Zuurberg mountains and a marine section off Algoa Bay, which is why it markets a Big Seven: the Big Five plus the southern right whale and the great white shark. It is malaria-free, a comfortable drive from Gqeberha, and the main camp's floodlit waterhole is one of the easiest places in Africa to watch elephants from a chair. Self-drive works well on the tarred and gravel loops; the Colchester and Nyathi sections are quieter than the main gate.
Things to do: Game drives · Hiking · Stargazing · Canoeing · Guided walk · Horse riding · Photography · Scenic drives
Where you can stay: Rest camps · Chalets · Camping
Wildlife near Addo Elephant National Park
What people record most across Eastern Cape. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across Eastern Cape, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Addo Elephant National Park
Request inside-park camps here. Spekboom confirms with SANParks, then you pay on Spekboom. Mix in a gateway stay from the same list if you want nights outside the fence.
Nyathi Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
Albany Thicket biome · Springbok · Water mongoose
From R 3,105 a night
Inside park
Spekboom Tented Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
Albany Thicket biome · Springbok · Water mongoose
From R 1,542 a night
Inside park
Langebos Huts
Addo Elephant National Park
Albany Thicket biome · Springbok · Water mongoose
From R 2,167 a night
Inside park
Addo Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
Albany Thicket biome · Springbok · Water mongoose
From R 537 a night
Inside park
Avoca River Cabins
Sundays River Valley, Addo
Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
Can support Wilderness Foundation Africa
From R 980 a night
Getting there
6 stays we sell in Addo Elephant National Park. Tap a pin for the listing.
33.1682° S, 25.2826° E200 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Addo Elephant National Park wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Addo Elephant National Park: your questions
Where is Addo Elephant National Park?
Addo Elephant National Park is in Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Is Addo Elephant National Park malaria-free?
Yes. Addo Elephant National Park is in an area recorded as malaria-free, which is why it is a common choice for families with young children and for a first safari. Malaria risk can shift with the season and the year, so confirm current advice with a travel clinic before you go.
Does Addo Elephant National Park have the Big Five?
Yes. Addo Elephant National Park is a Big Five area, home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
What wildlife can you see near Addo Elephant National Park?
In Eastern Cape, commonly recorded species include animals such as Red Hartebeest, Oribi, Yellow Mongoose, Cape Mountain Zebra and birds including Red-necked Spurfowl, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Cape Parrot, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
How do you book a stay at Addo Elephant National Park?
Request inside-park rest camps on Spekboom. We confirm the dates with SANParks, then you pay on Spekboom. SANParks assigns the unit after confirmation. Gateway lodges and guesthouses listed here book the same way, so you can mix nights inside the park with a stay outside.
How far in advance should you book accommodation in Addo Elephant National Park?
SANParks opens rest-camp bookings 11 months in advance, releasing a new month on the first working day of each month, and popular camps sell out within days for school holidays, long weekends and peak season. Request as early as you can on Spekboom for those dates. Stays just outside the park usually have availability much closer to the time, and you can book those here too.
Do you pay conservation fees at Addo Elephant National Park?
Yes. SANParks charges a daily conservation fee per person on top of accommodation, with lower rates for South African residents and SADC nationals. Wild Card members do not pay the daily fee. Tariffs are revised each year, so check current rates when you book.
When is the best time to visit Addo Elephant National Park?
The best time to visit Addo Elephant National Park is Year-round (best Mar-May, Sep-Nov).
What is there to do at Addo Elephant National Park?
Popular activities at Addo Elephant National Park include game drives, hiking, stargazing, canoeing, guided walk, horse riding, photography, scenic drives.
Where can you stay in Addo Elephant National Park?
Places to stay inside Addo Elephant National Park include Matyholweni Rest Camp, Nyathi Rest Camp, Spekboom Tented Rest Camp, Langebos Huts and Addo Rest Camp. Request them here; Spekboom handles the SANParks confirmation. Lodges just outside the park are listed too. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Addo Elephant National Park
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Amakhala Game Reserve
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Amakhala Game ReservePrivate Game Reserve · 84 km
Malaria-free safari destination
Big Five · Malaria-free
Mountain Zebra National Park
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Mountain Zebra National ParkNational Park · 109 km
Cape mountain zebra conservation
Malaria-free
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Kwandwe Private Game ReservePrivate Game Reserve · 113 km
Luxury safari experience
Big Five · Malaria-free
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Addo Elephant National Park.
Malaria-free parks and game reservesBig Five parks and reservesNational parks in Southern and East AfricaNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in the Eastern CapeAll protected areas
Official information
The SANParks website has park rules, maps and daily conservation fees. To book a rest camp or a stay nearby, use the places on this page.
- Park website: www.sanparks.org (opens in a new tab)