SANParks.org Forums

Hi all,

My wife and I (early 30's - no children) will be travelling to South Africa this Oct/Nov. We would like to spend 2 nights - 9th November to 11th November '11 in a safari park.

We will start our holiday in Capetown, drive the garden route and end up in the Western Cape to stay in a Safari Park (we have ruled out Kruger etc due to time constraints with travelling)

Ideally we'd like to stay in a Rhondavel in Addo but they all appear to be booked out on those dates. There only appears to be Safari tents and camps site left and we would like to have somewhere with a better standard than the safari tent.

Can anyone make any suggestions?

Addo elephant camp would be our preferred choice, primarily due to its good reviews. However I would welcome any suggestions for other alternatives within Addo e.g. nearby guesthouse's or accommodation solutions or indeed any other Parks in the Western Cape?


Hope you can help!

Hello Duffpaddy, welcome to the forum.

Safari tents are actually very nice, and I feel, give a very atmospheric feeling of being "in Africa". And they are very good value for money.

Keep checking the availability page as some accommodation does become available due to cancellations.

There are a few private concessions within Addo, I think you should find details on the Addo Park page here. On the same page there is a link to Greater Addo Route alternatives.

I have a recommendation that I'll PM to you, if other forumites could PM non-SANParks alternatives too, that would be great.

Seems to be plenty of accomodation at the Mountain Zebra - ok it's about 200Km more, but it's a real gem

Why don't you try Matholweni which is at the Southern Gate in Addo, they are
selfcatering chalets much like the chalets at the main camp.

Thanks for your suggestions. I tried a place outside the camp (as suggested by one of the last posters) but unfortunately it is booked out.

I will follow DP's advice and book a cottage at Matyholweni.It is in the Addo Park and only +/- 40km from the Addo Main camp.

I have been looking on safarinow website and there are lots of places available near the Southern Gate e.g. in Colchester. Which part of Addo is the best to be near i.e Main Gate, South Gate or elsewhere?

I wouldnt fancy a 1 hour trip each morning just to see where the action is.


Thank you all for your help so far.

The Colchester entrance is good, although there is no shop or restaurant at that entrance you have a nice ride through the park to the main camp.
Along the way you will come across Jacks place this is a great spot for a picnic and the toilet facilities are very clean. Depending which way you go you will pass a number of water holes.
I always enter through the southern gate because the road is much better from PE than the Motherwell turn off. Colchester is a not too bad and there is a new guest house / lodge just before the entrance of the park.
Enjoy whatever entrance you will use

The section that you pass thru to main camp is teaming with wild life, Elephant, lions, buffalo, rhino, caracal, and many species of antelope just to name a few we see regularly in the first section.

Hope you will enjoy your trip.

Regards