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Addo Elephant National Park travel info Addo Elephant National Park (AENP), initially proclaimed in 1931 to preserve what remained of the elephant population in the Eastern Cape, has undergone considerable expansion from its original 6 852ha to its present 80 000ha. The park is perhaps now in it’s most significant phase of expansion, with plans to enlarge the conservation estate of the park to approximately 400 000ha - the "Greater Addo". Situated 73km from Port Elizabeth in South Africa's Eastern Cape, the conservation success story of this park is world famous. Since its proclamation, the last eleven elephants in that region have bred to number 350, its 11718 ha also offering sanctuary to the last Cape buffalo and black rhino of a very scarce Kenyan sub-species. Also notable is the unique flightless dung beetle, which is found almost exclusively in Addo. Day sightings of animals are frequent and an illuminated waterhole provides excellent nighttime game viewing. Protection of the elephant has resulted in simultaneous protection of an ecosystem, which supports a fair number of antelope, numerous reptile, amphibian and insect species and a recorded 170 bird species.
Seasons
The Eastern Cape climate, influenced by the nearby Indian Ocean, provides rain evenly distributed throughout the year. Winters days are pleasant, rarely exceeding mid-twenty temperatures (degrees Celsius). Nights can be cold. The peak summer months(Nov-Mar) may be very hot (up to 35 degrees Celsius). Wildlife viewing is good year round.
Wildlife
Lion and spotted hyaena have recently been re-introduced into the Park. 400 species of bird have been recorded.
You should see: elephant, jackal, zebra, warthog, kudu, eland, hartebeest, springbok, buffalo, hippo, baboon, vervet monkey
You may see: Cape fox, caracal, mongoose, black rhino, bushpig, duiker, klipspringer, porcupine, genet, weasel, suricate (meerkat)
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