Addo Elephant National Park

It’s been just over nine months since the new, stricter entry and exit measures were put in place at our gates in an effort to improve the safety and security of our visitors, staff, fauna and flora. This has entailed the scanning of every entering vehicle’s licence disc, as well as the driver’s license of the driver. We thank all our visitors who have understood the requirement over this time and complied.

These measures will be stepped up soon, to include the verification of all passengers over the age of 18. As of 1 April 2023, no one will be allowed to enter OR exit the Park without the VALID documentation as listed below, which must be made available for the gate staff on duty to scan.

• Driver’s license (driver of the vehicle)
• ID book/card/driver’s license for South African visitors (all persons/passengers over 18)
• Passport (for international guests)
• Valid vehicle license disk

NO DOCUMENT means NO ENTRY!

Please note that this applies to EVERYONE entering/exiting the Park:

• All passengers in vehicles
• Staff
• Staff visitors (including pedestrians)
• Official visitors
• Contractors and their staff, including BSP
• Delivery vehicles and their staff
• Wild Card holders
• Gorah and Riverbend concessions
• Open safari vehicles
• Tourist busses

To contact this section of the Park, please call 071 563 2115 – Cellphone reception is sketchy at times, so please bear with them. Alternately, please call Matyholweni Rest Camp on 041 468 0916 or the Addo Duty Cellphone 082 471 0267.

Office hours: The Reception office closes at 15:00 daily. Day hikers will no longer be accommodated after that time. Guests arriving after 15:00 will find their keys in the key boxes. They will need to report to the office the next day to complete all the necessary paperwork.

Groups planning to take on the Alexandria Trail are reminded that a minimum of three people and a maximum of 12 are allowed at a time. Starting time for the trail is no later than 10:00.

After recent and persistent heavy rain, it is advisable that only high-ground clearance vehicles drive the Woody Cape access road from the R72 during or immediately after rainy days. Regular vehicles may take it on, albeit at a slow, careful pace, looking out for potholes, on non-rainy days. Please note that this is a District road, and as such falls out of SANParks’ jurisdiction.

Additionally, access to Umsintsi Cottage on the two-track road is only possible with a high-ground clearance vehicle.

SANParks Management took a decision at the beginning of 2023 to close the Darlington Dam Fisherman’s Camp for fishing and/or camping activities.  This was in line with the minimum standard requirement for tourism (of there being functional ablutions on site) which could not be maintained after the toilets that were provided were continuously vandalised over time. Illegal firewood collection and littering was also a major problem that contributed to the decision.

Groups of 10 people or more wanting to host fishing competitions/league events in the interim are advised that they will only be able to do so once they have successfully applied and paid for an event permit through the official channels and if they provide proof that they will supply their own environmentally friendly portable toilets (specifications will be provided by SANParks) for the duration of their event.  To request an application form, please e-mail [email protected]

Groups of 10 people or more who wish to camp at the dam may contact the Conservation Manager – Anban Padayachee via email at least a week in advance – [email protected]

If they provide proof that they will supply their own environmentally friendly portable toilets (specifications will be provided by SANParks) for the duration of their stay, they will then be forwarded the necessary rules and regulations.

A permit will only be issued once proof of payment has been received upon which a permit will then be issued.  No entry without a permit.

The group leader will be held liable for any damage or breach of Park rules and regulations.

The matter will be given attention in the meantime to find a more suitable, lasting solution. Until then, Management apologises for the inconvenience.