This is the view from our beautiful room at the Homestead B&B in Addo. We strongly recommend to book your accommodation in advance, because rooms in Addo are somewhat limited. We were lucky enough to find this nice place, along with their friendly owners, the Whittle family.

To begin with, the weather was not the best, no, it was really bad! When we entered at the Addo Elephant National Park, the sky was covered completely, but at least it did not rain. Anyway, about 500 meters into the park we encountered the first herd of about 30 elephants crossing the gravel road...

...they headed directly for the water hole, and I could not stop taking photos. We were in a fantastic position to photograph these wonderful animals, probably mothers with their calves.

The matriarch, flapping her ears to cool off, protected the calves while they enjoyed the water hole.

Some elephant bulls were also present, but they arrived later at the water hole.

Some facts about the park: Proclaimed in 1931, when the number of elephants had dwindled to only 11, the Addo Elephant National Park now provides sanctuary to some 370 elephants, as well as lions, buffalo, black rhino, plenty of birds and several species of antelope.

Park expansion has resulted in Addo becoming the third largest national park in South Africa, where uniquely six of South Africa's seven habitat biomes are represented. Rain occurs throughout the year, some 450 mm annually, and with a temperate to warm climate both the animals and the vegetation thrive.

The park is situated some 72 km from Port Elizabeth. Though the access road to the camp is tarred, the roads in the park are gravelled, but this should be no problem for your rental car.

Okay, nuff said. Even the biggest male turned his back to us now. Time to explore the rest of the park...

There is, for example, the Red Hartebeest, which we found close to the Janwalpan water hole.

A warthog enjoys the fresh grass of the park.

View from the Zuurkop viewpoint. This is one of the three "climb out points", i.e. viewpoints where you are allowed to leave your car. At all other times you have to stay in the car (which is understandable since Elephants and Lions are present in the park).