By Vicky · Published Jan. 8th, 2024
There are many great places to stay in and around Addo Elephant Park, read on to find the best accommodation options. For more information about park, check out our full guide to Addo Elephant Park.
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Addo Elephant Park Accommodation Map
Accommodation in and around Addo Elephant Park
If you’re keen on animals, staying within the park is highly recommended. You can see some animals at the waterholes by the rest camps and there are plenty of birds flitting about. You’ll also be there first for the gate opening into the main section of the park. However, staying inside the park, especially in the lodges, is much more expensive than staying just outside. Outside you’ll find gorgeous views and more peace and quiet.
SANParks runs several rest camps dotted around Addo Elephant National Park. The biggest and only one with camping is Addo Main Camp. The other rest camps are all smaller and have chalets or permanent tents. Matyholweni Rest Camp and Spekboom Rest Camp are in the main safari area, while Nyathi Rest Camp is further to the north yet still has big game. Narina Bush Camp is very secluded but has no large animals. Kabouga area has camping and a cottage but again no large animals.
Accommodation within Addo Elephant Park Main Safari Area
Within the Addo Elephant Park itself, there are several accommodation options run by SANParks and a couple of privately-run luxury lodges. Addo Main Rest Camp is the biggest, cheapest and only place to camp inside the main safari area of the park. SANParks also runs some basic camps in the other areas of the park.
SANParks Accommodation Summary
- Addo Main Camp – largest camp, with chalets and camping
- Spekboom Rest Camp – tented camp in the centre of the park
- Nyathi Rest Camp – posh chalets in the northern Nyathi area
- Matyholweni Rest Camp – chalets at the southern end
Private Accommodation Summary
- Gorah Elephant Camp – luxury lodge in the centre of the park
- River Bend Lodge – luxury lodge in the northern Nyathi area
- Long Hope Villa – luxurious private villa in Nyathi area
Addo Main Camp
At the main rest camp there’s the park reception, chalets, camping, a petrol station, restaurant and swimming pool for overnight guests. The gate from the main road to the rest camp is open from 7am to 7pm every day, as is the reception.
Camping at Addo Elephant Park Rest Camp
There are spots for both tents and caravans. They both have shared ablutions, a communal kitchen and all sites have power. The caravan spots are slightly larger and flatter, while some of the camping spots are on a slight slope. It’s a maximum of six people per spot. Rates start from R370 for two, with caravan sites slightly more expensive. There’s an additional charge of about R100/50 per extra adult/child and rates go up over the extended Christmas period.
Addo Chalets and Huts
There’s a range of non-camping accommodation options at Addo Main Camp. The cheapest are the two-person safari tents (from R980 for two) and the forest cabins (from R1140 for two, or R1740 for four adults). These options both have shared ablutions and a communal kitchen. The safari tents have two separate beds in a tent, while the cabins have four separate beds in a cute wooden cabin with a nice deck.
Next up are the two-bedded chalets starting from R1320 for two. Larger chalets with a sleeper couch for up to three start from R1860 for two or R2160 for three. Each has private ablutions and its own small kitchen.
Larger two-person cottages start at R1860 and also have private ablutions and their own kitchen. The two-person rondavels are the same price and have private bathrooms but share a communal kitchen. The advantage of the rondavels is that they overlook the waterhole.
Larger Chalets and Guest Houses
Family chalets are designed for up to four people and have their own kitchen and bathroom. These start from R2480 for four.
Domkrag Guest House & Hapoor Guest House are spacious larger units for up to 6 people in the Main Camp, overlooking the waterhole. From R5600 for four and an extra R530/265 for each extra adult/child.
Other SANParks Camps within the Main Safari Area
Matyholweni Rest Camp* – A quiet rest camp with cottages, some with nice views, at the southern end of the park. Two- or three-bedded cottages start from R1770 for two. Matyholweni reception is open from 07:00 to 17:00 daily, while the nearby gate is open until 18:30.
Spekboom Tented Rest Camp* – A small rest camp with five tents in the middle of the park. Each tent has two single beds, chairs, a table and braai. There are communal ablutions. Bring firewood and a torch as outdoor lighting is limited. It feels quite wild and there’s a nice waterhole and hide by the camp, however Fridays and Saturdays are less good because loud music can be heard from nearby.
Nyathi Rest Camp* – A new and fancy self-catering rest camp in the Zuurberg Mountains. Cottages start from R2350 for two. Each unit has a great view, private splash pool and deck overlooking a waterhole. It’s a 20-minute drive from the Main Addo Camp in a secluded area of the park, which still has elephants nad buffalo. Gate hours at Nyathi are 6am to 6pm, and you can’t leave your accommodation outside of these times.
Private Accommodation in the Main Safari Area
The lodges within the areas of big game are very expensive, but also very luxurious and rates include all meals and game drives.
Gorah Elephant Camp* – a 5-star colonial-style tented camp in the middle of the park offering complete luxury and great elephant encounters. TOP PICK!
River Bend Lodge* – located in Nyati Concession with only eight luxury suites. The lodge offers guided game walks, bush picnics, walks with giraffes, animal tracking and mountain hikes.
Long Hope Villa* – a private villa managed by River Bend Lodge. You must rent the entire villa and it comes with a private chef and private game drives. The villa has space for up to six guests. There are three bedrooms and an outdoor swimming pool. It’s a minimum two-night stay.
SANParks Accommodation Elsewhere in Addo Elephant Park
Zuurberg Mountains & Kabouga Area
The three locations in the mountainous regions require a high-clearance vehicle for access. There are no dangerous animals here, but you will find some antelope and smaller wildlife. Occasionally there are hippos in the Sundays River. For these accommodation options, online reservations aren’t possible so book via phone or email with the Main Camp Reception.
Narina Bush Camp* – A rustic bush camp in Zuurberg Mountains with four tents each with two single beds, rented to one group. There are shared ablutions and a camp kitchen with fridge and stove. You have to check in first at Addo Main Camp before driving at least 30 minutes to the Bush Camp car park. From there, you have to walk 500 metres along a small path over a river to the actual camp location. Once at the camp you can relax on the deck or go on a hike. It’s quite far from the main safari area, so not an ideal place to stay if you are only interested in the big game. Rates start from R1610 for four people, R300/150 per additional adult/child
Kabouga Cottage – A quaint cottage surrounded by mountains for up to 6 people, or 8 if the extra two bring their own bedding. Rates from R600 per night for two, plus R260/120 for each extra adult/child.
Mvubu Campsite – Six camping spots for up to four people each on the banks of the Sundays River. There are braai stands (bring your own firewood) and shared ablutions but no drinking water. You can swim in the river but there might be hippos! R160 per night for two plus R64/32 per extra adult/child. TOP PICK!
Woody Cape Area
Bookings for the Woody Cape Accommodation are made online or through Camp Matyholweni.
Umsintsi Cottage – A funny little two-story hut with a nice deck, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom in the middle of nowhere. R1180 for two. TOP PICK!
Langebos Huts – Two huts, each with a double and two single beds, a kitchen and a bathroom. From R1770 for four. An extra R290/145 per adult/child for up to eight people.
Accommodation near Addo Elephant Park
Accommodation outside the park is clustered around Addo Town near the main gate to the park, or in Colchester by the park’s southern gate. There are also options in the Zuurberg Mountains or near Woody Cape.
Accommodation near Addo Town
Budget
Gerald’s Gift Guest House* – A good value place with lovely rooms, a beautiful garden, an amazing breakfast, tennis court and pool. TOP PICK!
The Homestead B&B & Campsite* – Lovely little rooms with a cute pool and garden. There’s also a clean, grassy campsite.
Avoca River Cabins* – A good value place where you can stay in treetop cottages, a castle, mud huts or more, not far from the entrance to Addo.
The Kraal Addo* – With gardens, a casual pub and a restaurant. Cheap and close to Addo, but needs some TLC.
Medium
River Front Estate* – Self-catering accommodation overlooking the Sundays River.
Addo Dung Beetle Guest Farm* – A beautiful guesthouse with views of the Zuurberg Mountains.
Bydand B&B* – A comfortable place to stay with a lovely outdoor pool, close to Addo with a great breakfast.
Stellenhof Guest House* – A bed and breakfast surrounded by a lovely bird-filled garden and farmland.
Chrislin African Lodge* – A tranquil lodge with a pool and cottages.
Addo Wildlife* – A peaceful lodge with a pool, restaurant, wildlife centre and farmstall.
Addo African Home* – A family-friendly eco-lodge with cute rondavels and rooms on lovely grounds with a pool, restaurant and braai area.
Rosedale Organic Farm B&B* – A cute B&B 15 minutes from Addo Elephant Park and set in a nice garden with citrus fruit trees.
De Old Drift Guest Farm* – stay on a citrus farm in a peaceful area near Addo town. You can also go horseriding or canoeing here.
Luxury
Elephant House* – A lovely relaxed place to stay, with activities including guided game drives to the park, canoeing, golf and cultural tours. TOP PICK!
Hitgeheim Country Lodge* – in the Sundays River Valley. Each room has outdoor showers and a private deck with views.
Africanos Country Estate* – A hotel with a pool and restaurant with a modern feel.
Woodall Country House and Spa* – A luxurious manor on a peaceful citrus farm with a lovely restaurant and bar.
Accommodation near Colchester
Budget
Pearson Park Resort* – A campsite also with little cabins to rent with great views across the river to big sand dunes.
Sundune Guest House* – Clean rooms backed by a garden and scenic river. Some rooms have a kitchenette.
Addo River-View Lodge* – Clean apartments or larger holiday homes backed by a garden and scenic river. TOP PICK!
Medium
Elephants Footprint Lodge* – A nice lodge with activities on offer such as game drives, river cruises, and sea and dune excursions.
Happy Jackal Guest House* – Lovely spacious rooms on the banks of the Sundays River. TOP PICK!
Dungbeetle River Lodge*- A classic lodge by the river in Colchester, close to the Alexandria dune fields.
Accommodation in the Zuurberg Mountains
Medium
Zuurberg Mountain Village* – A hotel over 150 years old with hiking trails here, tennis courts and a children’s play area, all with views of the Zuurberg Mountains.
Luxurious
Ikwanitsha Lodge* – A lodge with beautiful views and surrounded by animals near the Zuurberg Mountains.
Kuzuko Lodge* – A family-friendly lodge with great views and good safari activities. Other activities on offer include fly fishing, visiting bushman paintings, bird watching, horse riding, quad biking and nature walks.
Stargazer Safari Camp* – a super fun place in Bellevue Forest Reserve where you sleep outside on a bed on a deck underneath the stars.
Camp Figtree* – A very luxurious lodge with fantastic views in the Zuurberg Mountains section of the park. TOP PICK!
Accommodation near Woody Cape
Cheap
Woody Cape Nature Lodge* – Campsites, dorms and chalets are available at this lodge close to the Alexandria sand dunes and beach. Has had maintenance issues in the past but is now under new management.
Ocean View Camping – A lovely campground in nature with great views. Each site has a flush toilet, hot shower and electricity. Sites are located in woodland next to the beach with a large dune field to the west. R150/100 per night per adult/child. To book email [email protected] or phone +27 (0) 82 5733 660.
Luxurious
Hopewell Lodge* – A beautiful and very exclusive luxury lodge within Hopewell Private Game Reserve. TOP PICK!
Guidebooks to explore more of South Africa
For more information about park, check out our full guide to Addo Elephant Park. There are several other great places to explore not so far away along the Garden Route, such as Ebb & Flow Rest Camp in Wilderness or de Hoop Nature Reserve. For more hikes and activities, check out our Guide to South Africa.
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