Addo Elephant Park is Awesome

Addo Elephant Park is very popular park and getting accommodation at short notice in not easy. I was lucky to get the cheapest accommodation next to camping in the form of a fully equippe Forest Cabin which sleeps four and has a small bathroom.  A communal kitchen was just a few steps away and we used it for our washing up.   We cooked our breakfast at the picnic site did braais for our suppers.   The cabin also had a microwave, kettle and toaster.   We were delighted with our tiny but cosy accommodation and as we were out most of the time all we needed was a place to lay our heads at night so space was not a number 1 priority.  When you’re used to camping – this was pure luxury!  (The following two photographs were found on the internet as I forgot to take some myself!)

Forest Cabin – Addo Elephant Park Main Camp

Our Home for two nights

Our full day in Addo was awesome.  We tried to find the lions but they kept well out of sight this trip.  Nevertheless we just enjoyed everything we did see.

The mornings were very chilly but the sun shone all day the park was gloriously green.   The photos will tell the story.

Mrs Shelduck was very noisy as we looked down her at Domkrag Dam Lookout Mr Shelduck was there too but he refused to pose

The Egrets waking up at Domkrag Dam

A long-billed pipit (I think – pipits and larks always fox me)

The ever present and totally beautiful Bokmakierie

The sombre greenbul calls continuously while hiding in the foliage – His call goes – “Willie Willie come out and fight.”  Perhaps because we had Willie in the car he showed himself for a change.

This Southern Boubou was very confiding at Jack’s Picnic site

Sombre Greenbul watching Willie cook breakfast!

Southern Boubou posed often

Bar-throated Apalis at Jack’s picnic site

The Speckled Mousebirds were everywhere

Karoo Scrub-robin

Red-necked spurfowl

African Hoepoe

Egyptian Goose at Hapoor Waterhole

Mrs Shelduck at Hapoor Water Hole

I think this is a neddicky

Secretary Bird

Willie – our personal breakfast chef

Breakfast was delicious

Addo of course is famous for its elephants.   They are all over the park and one has drive slowly and cautiously.  Usually they are tolerant of tourists but they still like you to know who is boss.

This one warned us not to come any closer!

One of our stops was at Zuurkop where Earl had his incident last time we were there!  I watched him like a hawk this time and thankfully all was well!

Be careful, Willie, those lions could appear at any minute!

Willie and Rachel admiring the view from Zuurkop Lookout

Looking to the east we saw an elephant making it’s way toward Zuurkop

Looking north at elephants passing by Zuurkop

There was plenty to see on our drive around the park on Monday.  It was good to see that there were healthy herds of kudu, zebra, red hartebeest and buffalo.

A thirsty buffalo

Handsome male Kudu

Red Hartebeest having a rest

Stripy pony

Mrs Kudu peering at us through the foliage

Jackal sneaking off into the bush

The most fun was had at the waterholes where we watched the antics of the elephants and the very funny warthogs.

Marion Baree Waterhole

Baby elephant chasing a warthog away

Brave warthog grabbing a drink between the legs of the giants

There’s beauty in his ugliness

Elephant wrestling match

Not a sound can be heard as a herd of elephant approach Hapoor waterhole

Baby mirroring Mommy

Enjoying a refreshing drink together

We certainly enjoyed our brief visit and were sad to have to leave on Tuesday morning.  At 7:00 am we left our cabin, drove slowly to the South Gate and then all the way home stopping only for breakfast and short leg-stretch breaks.   We finally arrived home at 6 pm.