Elephant House Safari Co. Addo Elephant Drives

There are various game viewing options available in Addo and the surrounding area as well as some exceptional cultural encounters:

1. Elephant House Safari Co. Addo Elephant Drives
2. Elephant House Safari Co. Valley Tour
3. Schotia "Tooth and Claw" Safari
4. PAN AFRICAN EXPERIENCES "Noma Tour"
5. Addo Elephant Back Safaris and Walks
6. Criss Cross Adventures River Paddle
7. Private Game Reserves
8. South African National Parks Addo Drives
9. Addo Elephant National Park Horse Trails
10. Criss Cross Adventures Mountain Tour
11. Helicopter Trip to the Beach
12. Quad Biking
13. Hike in the Zuurberg Mountains
14. Port Elizabeth City Tour
15. Other activities and bespoke packages

1. Elephant House Safari Co. Addo Elephant drives

Our in-house field guide, an elephant expert with many years' experience with the elephants of Addo conducts 2 game drives through the National Park in our open land cruiser daily, both departing and ending at The Elephant House. Drinks and snacks are provided on the game drive.

Morning Drive – 9am to 12:30pm
Afternoon Drive – 2pm to 5:30pm

R650pp per drive (includes park entry fees, drinks and snacks)

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2. Elephant House Safari Co. Valley Tour

This tour (nicknamed the "wine route tour") is a must! Clive takes one from The Elephant House to the historic Addo Polo Club then through the famous citrus groves of the Sundays River Valley to a beautiful lookout point where pioneer Sir Percy Fitzpatrick is buried. We then move on to have "sundowners" and snacks overlooking a dam on a private plantation. The trip ends with a visit to an amazing garden and tavern in the Nomatamsanqa Township. Departs 4pm and returns in time for a pre-dinner drink.

R500pp includes all drinks and snacks)

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3. Schotia "Tooth and Claw" Safari

This is a fantastic activity to round off your game viewing experience-Schotia Private Game Reserve lies adjacent to Addo's eastern boundary. This reserve has numerous antelope species and their lion sightings are exceptional!

The "Tooth and Claw" safari runs from 3pm to 7pm followed by a barbeque in their boma.Scotia is a half an hour's drive from The Elephant House. Self-drive to Schotia. Transfers can be arranged.

R660pp (including barbeque and drinks) – children all ages welcome

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4. PAN AFRICAN EXPERIENCES "Noma Tour"

This is an exceptional CULTURAL ENCOUNTER where a local cultural guide will take you to the predominately Xhosa speaking Nomathamsanqa Township to meet the people and experience real life in a modern rural township –you may even be invited into some homes and gardens, businesses and tavern – you will make new friends and it could just be the highlight of your trip!

You are collected at 15:30 and back by 17:00

R300pp Monday - Friday only

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5. Addo Addo Elephant Back Safaris and Walks

Addo Elephant Back Safaris have a base camp in a remote valley in the Zuurberg Mountains wherethey offer a unique experience "Walk with the Elephants" – one walks through the bush with the elephants and their very knowledgeable and experienced minders. This is a wonderful way in which to learn more about these giant pachyderms in their natural environment.

Departure times 08:00, 11:00 and 15:30. The drive to the Zuurberg is about an hour on a gravel road; however we highly recommend that you take advantage of either a road or air transfer in a light aircraft (weather permitting) so that you may enjoy the spectacular scenery en route.

R875pp (road transfer additional R450pp and air transfer additional R895pp)

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6. Criss Cross Adventures River Paddle

Great for the birders! Guests are collected at Elephant House by local adventure guides Chris and Terri who take you a very scenic paddle down the Sunday's River where one can view a great variety of birdlife along the riverbanks - especially look out for the riverine species including various Kingfishers, herons including the Goliath Heron and of course the magnificent African Fish Eagles.

MORNING PADDLE (recommended): 9am - 12am R450pp
SUNDOWNER PADDLE: 3:30pm – 6:30pm R450pp

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7. Private Game Reserves

In addition to Schotia there are several other "big 5" private game reserves within a 45 minute drive of Elephant House – all of these offer excellent half day safaris (including a meal), which we can book for you. They include:

• Amakhala
• Pumba
• Lalibela

Please enquire about times and rates.

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8. South African National Parks Addo Drives

The park guides offer 2 hour drives in open vehicles – morning, noon, sunset and night drives through the Addo National Park. (No children under 6 allowed on open vehicle)

Please check rates at reception when booking.

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9. Addo Elephant National Park Horse Trails

The Addo National Park offers great horseback safaris – at the main camp they offer rides for beginners in the mornings (8am) and from 2 – 5 pm a guided ride (for advanced riders!) in to the game area. The park also offers very scenic horse trails in the Zuurberg Mountains. Please enquire at reception for times & rates. Note no children less than 10 yrs.

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10. Crisscross Adventures Mountain Tour

This is a full day trip where guests are collected at Elephant House by local adventure guides Christopher& Terri Pickles and taken into a remote, pristine section of the nearby Zuurberg Mountains (the drive takes one through a section in the Greater Addo Elephant Park) to "Otto's Pool" - where one can enjoy a leisurely stroll along a bubbling mountain stream that bypasses caves, waterfalls, rock pools and a natural fountain. A delicious lunchtime braai (BBQ) is served beside a clear deep mountain pool where one can have a relaxing dip into the water or float on a tube. Enquire at reception for rates.

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11. Helicopter trip to beach

We are able to arrange a helicopter trip to a beautiful unspoiled beach on the Indian Ocean for a beach picnic and swim. You are picked up and brought back to the front lawn of Elephant House by helicopter. Your flight to the beach lasts about 15 – 20 minutes and you will see the Addo Elephant Park (although one is not allowed to fly directly over it) from the air.

Chances are that you shall be the only person on the beach so this is indeed a very special experience! The chopper takes a maximum of 3 passengers. A second helicopter can be arranged if you have a larger party. You are only charged for actual flying time, in other words one can spend as long as one likes on the beach at no extra expense.

R8 000* (including drinks & picnic).*approx. price.

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12. Quad Bike Tours

Experience something different! A local farmer offers Quad Bike tours through his orchards –guests ride through the orchards of a working citrus farm and even pick your own bag of oranges in season! For the more adventurous, take a splash through the river on a quad. Helmets & Goggles provided.

Quad bike tour of farm (+- 1,5hrs) R??pp

Extended farm quad bike tour includes river crossing & snacks (+-2hrs) R??pp

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13. Hike in the Zuurberg Mountains

Enjoy a hike in the beautiful Zuurberg section of the Addo Elephant National Park where there is a scenic hikingtrail through the valleys and onto the fynbos ridges of the mountains. Normal park entry fees apply.

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14. Port Elizabeth City Tour

The Indian Ocean Rim city of Port Elizabeth has a fascinating history – this is the landing point of the 1820 British Settlers and latterly a very significant centre in the anti-apartheid movement. A tour to Port Elizabeth where you will visit central Port Elizabeth's historical and natural attractions, combined with a visit to the townships (which will take you to some famous sites in the struggle against apartheid) is indeed extremely interesting.

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15. Other activities and bespoke packages

We will try to tailor your stay to suit your needs as much as possible in order for you to get the best chance to experience all the area has to offer, for example, in season, we are able to arrange a visit to a citrus farm to watch the picking, a chukka of polo at the Addo Polo Club, a round of golf at Kirkwood Golf Club or if you are suffering from "safari fatigue" even a visit to the famous Volkswagen factory in Uitenhage!

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Please feel free to discuss any special activities that will enhance your stay with us. Of course, you may simply want to DNA (do nothing at all!)

NOTES:

All rates include VAT and are subject to change without notice.

• The success of most of these tours is dependent on favourable weather; as a result, in the event of inclement weather a tour may be cancelled at short notice.
• Occasionally, on the advice of the ranger, we may vary the departure time of a safari to ensure that the guest gets the best possible experience.