Information for Guides

Download the Manual for Guides operating in the Addo Elephant National Park.

All guides on open game drive vehicles (individuals or staff members of organisations/establishments who bring guests into the Park for guided game drives) will have to write an examination based on the above manuscript in order to qualify for accreditation to act as a nature/field/tourism guide.

Candidates can register at the Game Drives Reception Office to write the exam which is scheduled according to need. Alternatively, contact Clive Gibson on 084 200 4083 to make special arrangements. Exams will be conducted in Addo Elephant National Park in the Interpretive Centre starting on the pre-arranged dates. It will take the form of a multiple-choice questionnaire (100 questions), with an 80% pass required in order to receive accreditation.

The aim of this manual is to provide information for nature/field guides wishing to operate in the Park.  This will help to clarify facts about Addo and will hopefully allow guides to give the correct information to tourists.

The manual is also a useful resource for learners, members of the public and new employees as part of their orientation.

Naturally, as new information becomes available and as facts about the Park (for example, the status of the elephant population) change, this manual will be updated.

Every effort has been undertaken to ensure the accuracy of the information in the manual. In addition, this manual does not claim to contain all the information about all aspects of the Park. Some sections are more detailed than others.

This manual does not include all the knowledge needed by nature guides, such as detailed knowledge about animal behaviour, ecology etc. This type of information can be obtained from other books/ reference material. A list of recommended reading is given at the end of the manual.

Animal numbers are not included as these are in a continual state of change.