Addo Elephant National Park full-day safari: 700+ elephants

Eight hours tracking over 700 elephants across one of Africa's densest herds

A full-day open safari tour of Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth, led by a professional English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned vehicle with park entry, lunch and hotel pickup included. The park holds one of the world's highest concentrations of elephants, over 700, alongside lions, black rhinos, spotted hyenas, leopards, zebras, antelope and the rare Addo flightless dung beetle. Children from age 5 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day safari at Addo Elephant Park

• Drive 30 minutes from Gqeberha airport
• Embark on guided safari tour
• Spot elephants and diverse wildlife
• Explore unique biodiverse environment

The experience

Addo Elephant National Park sits just 30 minutes from Gqeberha airport and was established in 1931 to protect eleven elephants. The park has grown into a thriving ecosystem where those 700-plus elephants now roam across vast landscapes, making it one of the densest elephant populations on earth. The wildlife extends far beyond the traditional Big Five: you'll watch for lions, buffaloes, endangered black rhinos, spotted hyenas, leopards, multiple antelope species, zebras and the park's signature Addo flightless dung beetle. A species found nowhere else.

Your guide drives the open vehicle through the park for the full eight hours, stopping where wildlife appears. The vehicle is air-conditioned and equipped with binoculars for each passenger. Pickup happens at your accommodation in the morning, and the tour includes bottled water, coffee or tea, and lunch during the day. WiFi is available on board. The guide speaks English and knows where animals congregate by season and time of day, so the route shifts based on what's moving on any given morning.

Drop-off returns you to your accommodation at the end of the day. The park is suitable for all fitness levels since you remain in the vehicle. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller if needed.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle with binoculars.
• park entry and admission.
• lunch.
• bottled water, coffee and tea.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• WiFi on board.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 46 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Urban Africa Tours

Is this one for you?The full eight hours means you spend the entire day in the vehicle with the guide, which is what allows the route to follow where animals are moving rather than sticking to a fixed schedule. If you want to maximize wildlife sightings and can commit to a full day, this pace works in your favor.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

How many elephants will I actually see on the tour?

Addo Elephant National Park holds over 700 elephants, one of the highest densities globally, but sightings depend on where animals are grazing or resting on the day you visit. Your guide knows the park's patterns and drives to areas where elephants are most likely to appear, though no safari guarantees a specific number of sightings.

What wildlife besides elephants can I spot at Addo?

Lions, buffaloes, endangered black rhinos, spotted hyenas, leopards, zebras, various antelope species and the Addo flightless dung beetle all live in the park. The dung beetle is found only at Addo and nowhere else on earth.

Is the eight-hour tour one continuous drive, or are there stops?

The guide drives the open vehicle throughout the day and stops whenever wildlife appears or at points where animals are visible from the vehicle. You remain seated in the air-conditioned vehicle rather than walking, so the pace is set by what the guide spots and where the animals are positioned.

What's included in the tour price?

Park entry, the professional guide, air-conditioned vehicle, binoculars, bottled water, coffee or tea, lunch, hotel pickup and drop-off are all included. Gratuities for the guide are not included.

How far is Addo from Port Elizabeth airport?

The park is a 30-minute drive from Gqeberha airport, so travel time to the park is short and the tour can start early in the morning.