On Sunday, the 11th of September the national launch of SANParks’ Open Week was held at our very own Addo Elephant National Park, Nelson Mandela Bay’s wild brother and home to not only the big five, but the big seven.
A photo posted by Chasing The Rainbow (@therainbowsa) on Sep 11, 2016 at 12:20am PDT
What is SANParks Open Week?
Open Week offers South African citizens the chance to enter all of our National Parks (except Namaqua National Park) for free from 12-16 September and some parks even extended the offer until the weekend.
This is your chance. Addo Elephant National Park is waiting and calling your name to be one with Mother Nature without attempting the long road to Kruger National Park.
A photo posted by Basil Parker (@basilparker) on Sep 10, 2016 at 11:11pm PDT
Go to Addo National Park, you won’t be disappointed
You can go on a guided game drive with a knowledgeable guide or self-drive, and easily within your first hour in Addo Elephant National Park, you can spot elephants, kudus, warthogs, zebras, tortoises and red hartebeest all roaming around freely in their natural habitat. And if you give yourself a bit more time you might be lucky enough to see lions, jackals, leopards, buffaloes and eland too. The plethora of game in the park (there are approximately 500 elephants) make it impossible to leave Addo Elephant National Park feeling disappointed.
A photo posted by Khurshid Samarqandiy (@africuz) on Sep 12, 2016 at 3:45am PDT
- From Port Elizabeth’s city centre it will take you 30 minutes to reach the Matholweni Gate.
- Addo Elephant National Park is the size of Belgium.
- If you want to stay over, you can stay in the Park; there are plenty of accommodation options inside the Park – it ranges from sleeping in a fenced camp in the middle of the game viewing area, to tent sites and log cabins. Alternatively you stay at one of the luxurious lodges nearby, a guesthouse or even opt for the less expensive backpacking accommodation if you are on a budget.
- Most of the roads are asphalt and the dirt roads are in excellent condition.
- It’s the third largest National Park in South Africa.
- It’s a Malaria-free zone.
- Staff, facilities and services are impeccable.
- There is a restaurant on site offering anything from breakfasts to Sunday lunches.
- It’s safe.
- The Park contains the largest remaining population of the flightless dung beetle.
- For the adventurous there are horse trails, 4×4 routes and marine eco tours to experience.
- There is a picnic spot (fenced) where you can have a real South African braai.
- Just around the corner you can find Zuurberg, Nanaga Farm Stall and Woody Cape.
A photo posted by Gary (@garyblomphotography) on Sep 11, 2016 at 11:16pm PDT
Whenever you are visiting a national park where there are animals it is important to remember that you entering their territory and that there are certain rules to adhere to:
- Do not get out of your car unless there is a clear sign telling you that you may alight from your vehicle. If you don’t obey this rule you can get fined. Also, do not sit on your car’s bonnet, roof or lean out of the window.
- Never attempt to feed or touch any animal.
- Do not litter.
- Do not block or obstruct the road, an animal or the flow of traffic.
- Keep to the speed limit.
- Keep on the marked roads.
- Do not disturb the animals or other visitors with loud conversations.
- Do not upload photos of endangered animals to social media, rather keep that special moment for yourself.
A photo posted by Kgosi Motsepe (@kickpushkgosi) on Sep 11, 2016 at 9:09am PDT
What are other people saying about Addo Elephant National Park?
Blogger, Odette Johaar from O So Inspired said:
“So many people in Nelson Mandela Bay are zipping past the park, not realising how amazing it is and it is literally a quick ride out of the city. We don’t need to spend thousands of rands to travel to see all of these amazing creatures. They’re literally in our backyard, and that is amazing.”
A photo posted by OD (@osoinspired) on Sep 11, 2016 at 1:00am PDT
Nadine Rose Larter, the blogger of Passing The Open Windows shared,
“Spending the day out there in nature, allowing yourself to be taken in by the existence of such fascinating creatures, is cathartic to say the least. And if nothing else, it certainly makes you ponder the world, instead of yourself…”
A photo posted by Nadine Rose Larter (@queen_nayes) on Sep 12, 2016 at 12:06pm PDT
Written by Anje Rautenbach, travel blogger at Going Somewhere Slowly. Follow her journeys around South Africa on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
A photo posted by Anje • Going Somewhere Slowly (@going_somewhere_slowly) on Sep 12, 2016 at 8:25am PDT
Article source: http://blog.nmbt.co.za/blog/entry/sanparks-open-week-addo-national-park-is-waiting
