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25.02.2008 Addo Elephant National Park
After road works, fog in the Tsitsikamma area, more road works, closed roads and potholes we arrived at the Main Camp of Addo Elephant National Park at noon. We got a map of the park after check-in, but no key for our chalet #17 yet, as this was only available after 1 p.m. at the reception. In the meantime we had lunch at the restaurant, a closer look at the map and a visit to the shop.
Our last visit to Addo was in 2001, funny that they gave us the same chalet as the one we had seven years ago.

We planned to unpack the car and then have a drive to Hapoor Dam. We collected the key at 1 p.m, but as we arrived at #17 there was no linen and no towels. Back at the reception they told us they have a late delivery and we should unpack our luggage and wait in our chalet for the chambermaid to finish her tasks.

As we didn't want to spend our time in a chalet which was not ready at all, we soon were off to the game viewing area. It was a very hot day, the thermometer of the car showed 38 degrees centigrade. The first animals we saw were warthogs, we were going to see a lot of them in the park.

This one just finished a nice mud bath.



Three ostrichs were cooling down in a waterhole.



As we arrived at Hapoor Dam we couldn't believe our eyes. It seemed as if almost all the elephants of the park met at the dam.



They showed us how they make little ellies ...



These youngsters already finished their mud bath ...



... and mother and child arrived at the dam.



Little ellie playing with water ...



We never watched so many ellies at once. Hapoor Dam was very busy at this early afternoon. I read in the forum, you have to go to Hapoor Dam to see many ellies, but I didn't expect this.


Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

The warthog was trying hard to attract our attention.



We enjoyed watching a group of youngsters having a mud bath. Dad watching them?



There was a coming and going.
... and still making little elephants ...



The little ones played tag ...



... and others had to hurry up to catch up with their family again.




Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

On our way back to the camp we passed these nice stripes. The zebras are much closer to the road than the ones we saw in the Karoo. Do they have washed stripes?



No animals at Gwarrie Pan. Seven years ago we were lucky to see a herd of elephants with many little ones there. But nothing compares to our recent sighting at Hapoor Dam.

Back at the camp nothing changed at #17. No linen, no towels and we discovered that there was no electricity as well. The chambermaid checked that there was no electricity for the entire row of chalets. The electrician didn't know the reason for this power outage.
At the reception, no chance to get another accomodation. No cold beer this evening?

I read all the flyers at the reception, had another visit to the shop .... it was too hot to sit outside at #17 at the patio.
Finally they fixed the electricity problem and as we came back to #17 they had even new towels and fresh bed linen for us.
Now it was time to unpack the car and have a shower. In the meantime it was getting cloudy more and more. Only 26 degrees centigrade when we left for another visit to the game area.

On our way to Domkrag Dam we saw more stripes and our first red hartebeest in Addo.



The loop was very quiet. Suddenly the car in front of us stopped ... buffalos!



First many young ones crossed the road, at the end a big buffalo followed.

Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

Is this year a good year for tortoises? I never saw so many tortoises as during this year's holidays!
Close to the crossing towards Gwarrie Pan a big leopard tortoise was feeding.



I still hear it munching the grass when I see these pictures.
Gwarrie Pan again was very quiet, but on our way we saw some kudus.



Back to the camp a YR mini meeting was coming up. This was one of the great surprises of our holidays. Reading the yellow ribbon announcement pages before we started for our holidays made it clear there are no forumites in the parks at the same time we visit. Things turned as I had the chance to access Internet during my stay with the ostrichs, I had a forumite message in my Inbox.
Now we were on our way to the camping area to see Rooikat.

Rooikat, it was a pleasure to meet you and your family. We discovered we are addicted to the same places. Much to soon it was time for us to leave for our dinner reservation at the restaurant. This was the view from our table.


Hapoor himself.

Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

After dinner we had a look at the well-lit waterhole. We were lucky to see an elephant cow with little one drinking. When they left a big elephant bull arrived to satisfy his thirst. Then it became very quiet at the waterhole and we headed for our patio at #17.

It was great to listen to the sound of the bush. In the torch light we saw many elephants close to the fence and you could hear the breaking branches. After a cold drink it was time to go to bed. No moonlight to light the scene, it was very dark. A last look with torch light showed a little spring hare right at the fence.

Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

26.02.2008 Addo Elephant National Park
We slept very well and started our game drive not that early this morning. Again kudus on our way to Gwarrie Pan.


We soon were on our way to Hapoor Dam. This morning there were less elephants at the dam than last time, but it is always exciting to watch what happens.
I got all of them in one picture.


We stayed for a while to see a small group of elephants drink and more elephants arrive at the dam.


The temperature was very comfortable, good to stay longer, but the ellies decided to leave the dam and so did we.


It was time for a “Sunrise Breakfast“ at the restaurant.

After breakfast we were back to the game viewing area to visit Spekboom Hide and do the Mbabala Loop.
As we went upstairs at Spekboom Hide a buffalo crossed the road. The waterhole was quiet. We saw a far away jackal and again a warthog.



Finally the warthog came to drink.

Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

It's a Canon PowerShot S5 IS.

We soon were on our way to Mbabala Loop. The loop was very quiet, some tortoises on the road, dung beetles and a lonely kudu.


We arrived at Hapoor again. I used my new wide lense.


An elephant walked to the dam.


As I enjoyed watching the ellies having their mud bath


I heard SO say „Look over there!“
There was a big elephant herd on the way to Hapoor Dam heading right to the place where we parked. I decided to give way...


... and discovered that the opened gap was still not big enough for this big number of animals.


The Addo elephants are very peaceful animals, not offensive as many you meet in Kruger. Finally they all made their way to the dam walking between the cars.


Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

Another elephant already left the dam and started picking up the nice fresh green.


A Black-headed Heron walked near the dam.


Back to the camp at noon we had a rest at our patio. It was very relaxing to watch honeybees in a bush close to the chalet.
After a nice burger at the restaurant we started for Hapoor again. It was overcast and we heard some far away thunders. At Domkrag loop it started raining and we saw some wet stripes.


No need for a cooling footbath in a waterhole for the ostrichs.


To my surprise Hapoor was quiet. No party as the day before.
At the gravel road close to Hapoor a little herd crossed the road.



We saw the first ellie check the scene and then giving a sign to the rest of the herd that it is safe to cross. Then it was time for a short visit of mother and chield at Hapoor until it turned out to be very very quiet again.


As we arrived at Kadouw Lookout Point the rain stopped and we had a nice view. A little beetle came across.


At the picture you can see there is still a rain drop at it's back.

Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

Thank you for your nice words. Yes, every report recalls wonderful memories.
There are so many events to remember...-

The little beetle at Kadouw Lookout was very kind and stayed without movement until the pictures were taken.
Then it started again knocking at the ground. A hard business looking for a wife on a rainy day.

Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

On our way to Zuurkop Lookout Point it was again very quiet. Zuurkop Lookout provides a great view. With my binos I saw many kudus and a jackal cross the gravel road not far away.

As we drove down the hill there were many horns to see in the bush ...




... and more stripes.





Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

A Chanting Goshawk watched the Domkrag area.



Back to our chalet we took a shower and were back to our patio with the wonderful view to the game area again. This evening we decided to stay at the patio and take sandwiches for dinner. More and more kudus arrived at the scene, some came very close to the fence.



Suddenly all the kudus looked in one direction at the same time. What was coming?
Buffalos on the way to the waterhole.



After the buffalos passed we saw the kudus, now browsing at the hill. Some could be seen as silhouettes against the evening sky.
A small animal started digging close to a bush. It always paused in it's work to stand up and watch the area. Suricate? No, the binoculars showed an animal with a white tag. It was a yellow mongoose and there were more family members close to the hard working fellow.



Just a picture to prove ...
They were a little bit far away, I hope you can find them.
The buffalos came back from the waterhole. It seems we watched each other.



The buffalos stayed at the hillside. It got very dark, no moonlight, but a cloudy sky. Sitting at the patio we listened to the sound of the bush. We heard the alarm of a jackal several times. Soon it was bedtime after a very eventful day.

Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

27.02.2008 Addo Elephant National Park
Our departure day started at 6 o'clock in the morning with the packing of our car. It was overcast and no animals to see from our patio.
At half past six we entered the game area. Gwarrie Pan first appeared very quiet ...



... later we watched kudus arrive in the bush close to the Pan.
At Rooidam we saw remains close to the road. To which animal may they belong?



The Domkrag loop showed the first rays of the sun.



We saw our first southafrican scrub hare.



At the viewpoint of Domkrag waterhole we met Rooikat and family again.
Together we watched zebras, red hartebeests and ostrichs come and go at the waterhole.




Much too soon we had to say good-bye and leave the game area for another „Sunrise Breakfast“.
We had a last look at the camp waterhole for this time and saw elephants at the hillside close to the camp.



We left Addo Elephant National Park soon after breakfast, another „long time no see“ visit of a National Park was planned.

Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

SO uploaded our video of the elephants at Hapoor Dam.

Hapoor Dam

Enjoy.

Reports 2008
West Coast National Park
Cape of Good Hope National Park and Boulders
Karoo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park

Thanks for a great trip report Sable with many wonderful photos. Brings back many happy memories!!