Addo Elephant National Park: SANRAL reopens Nqweba–Addo route for two-way traffic during festive season!

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has confirmed that the key route between Nqweba (formerly Kirkwood) and Addo will be open to two-way traffic from 12 December 2025 to 06 January 2026, offering welcome relief to holidaymakers travelling through the Sundays River Valley during the peak festive season.

The temporary reopening will support increased traffic volumes to and from Addo Elephant National Park and surrounding Eastern Cape tourism destinations. However, SANRAL has cautioned that the road remains an active construction zone, and motorists should travel with care.

Areas requiring extra caution
Road users are advised to take special care at the following points    

• Sunday’s River Bridge and Bezuidenhout’s River Bridge
• Traffic has been shifted to the right-hand side of the bridges, with vehicles travelling on a combination of old and newly constructed road surfaces.
• A reduced speed limit of 40 km/h applies over both bridges.
• No centreline markings
• This section of road currently has no permanent centreline. SANRAL has indicated that pre-marking will be applied, along with the installation of temporary road studs to improve visibility and guidance.

Speed limits and traffic rules

• As the route remains under construction:
• A maximum speed limit of 60 km/h applies throughout the affected section
• No overtaking is permitted
• Motorists must adhere strictly to temporary signage and traffic controls

SANRAL Eastern Cape Provincial Head Mbulelo Peterson urged motorists to plan their journeys carefully, consider alternative routes where possible, and remain cautious while using the road.

This update is particularly relevant for travellers heading to Addo Elephant National Park, self-drive tourists exploring the Eastern Cape, and locals commuting between Nqweba and surrounding areas during the busy holiday period.

 

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Important Notice: Game capture operations at Addo Elephant National Park (12 - 16 May 2025)!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced scheduled game capture operations in the Main Camp area of Addo Elephant National Park from 12 May to 16 May 2025. Visitors are urged to keep a safe distance from the helicopter and capture teams during these operations. Additionally, SANParks requests that guests remain vigilant and allow vehicles involved in the operation to pass along the park roads.

Located in South Africa's Eastern Cape, Addo Elephant National Park is renowned for its thriving elephant population and diverse wildlife. Established in 1931 to protect the region’s last remaining elephants, the park has successfully grown their numbers from just 11 to over 600. Many of Addo's elephants are naturally tuskless, a genetic trait linked to past hunting pressures.
Beyond elephants, Addo Elephant National Park is home to the Big Five - lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo - as well as various marine species, making it one of South Africa's most diverse and unique conservation areas.

Addo Elephant National Park: Temporary power outage scheduled for 06 May 2025!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced a planned electricity shutdown at Addo Elephant National Park's Main Camp on 06 May 2025, from 08:00 to 17:00. The temporary power outage is necessary to connect the park's newly built family accommodation units to the electrical grid.
The power interruption will affect all accommodation units, the administration offices, reception, restaurant, and shop at the Main Camp.
While SANParks is making arrangements to ensure a smooth check-in process at reception, visitors are kindly asked to be patient with staff during this essential upgrade.

Located in South Africa's Eastern Cape, Addo Elephant National Park is renowned for its thriving elephant population and diverse wildlife. Established in 1931 to protect the region’s last remaining elephants, the park has successfully grown their numbers from just 11 to over 600. Many of Addo's elephants are naturally tuskless, a genetic trait linked to past hunting pressures.
Beyond elephants, Addo Elephant National Park is home to the Big Five - lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo - as well as various marine species, making it one of South Africa's most diverse and unique conservation areas.

Addo Elephant National Park: Elephant Contraception Operations on 22 March 2025

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that elephant contraception operations will take place at Addo Elephant National Park's Main Camp area on 22 March 2025. To ensure safety, SANParks advises visitors to keep a safe distance from the helicopter, support vehicles, and park staff during the procedure.

Located in South Africa's Eastern Cape, Addo Elephant National Park is renowned for its thriving elephant population and diverse wildlife. Established in 1931 to protect the region’s last remaining elephants, the park has successfully grown their numbers from just 11 to over 600. Many of Addo's elephants are naturally tuskless, a genetic trait linked to past hunting pressures.

Beyond elephants, Addo Elephant National Park is home to the Big Five - lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo - as well as various marine species, making it one of South Africa's most diverse and unique conservation areas.

For more updates on Addo Elephant National Park, SANParks, and South Africa's wildlife conservation efforts, stay tuned!

Addo Elephant National Park: Addo Main Camp currently without water provision!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has informed the public that the Addo Main Camp in Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa's Eastern Cape is currently without water provision. According to SANParks, this is due to burst water pipe. SANParks' technical staff are attending the problem, but it is currently unclear when the issue will be rectified. We'll keep you posted!

Addo Elephant National Park: Eight new double family chalets to build within the next 12 month!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the construction of eight new double family chalets and accompanying infrastructure will soon commence in Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa's Eastern Cape. The new facilities will be located in Addo Main Rest Camp. According to SANParks, these types of units have been in high demand for many years. The construction site will be located closest to Cottages 44 to 51. Work is expected to start later this week and will be finished in about 12 month. We'll keep you posted!

Eastern Cape: Addo Elephant National Park steps up entry and exit measures!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the new, stricter entry and exit measures at Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape, which got introduced in July 2022, will be stepped up soon to include the verification of all passengers over the age of 18. As of 01 April 2023, no one will be allowed to enter or exit the National Park without the valid documentation as listed below, which must be made available for the gate staff on duty to scan.

• Driver’s license (driver of vehicle)
• ID book/card/driver’s license for South African visitors (all persons/passengers over 18)
• Passport (for international guests)
• Valid vehicle license disk

Please note that this applies to everyone entering/exiting Addo Elephant National Park:

• All passengers in vehicles
• Staff
• Staff visitors (including pedestrians)
• Official visitors
• Contractors and their staff, including BSP
• Delivery vehicles and their staff
• WildCard holders
• Gorah and Riverbend concessions
• Open safari vehicles
• Tourist busses

Eastern Cape: Addo Elephant National Park introduces stricter entry & exit protocols!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that in an effort to bolster security, stricter entry and exit protocols will be put into place at the gates of Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. Effective 01 July 2022, no one will be allowed to enter or exit the Park without the valid documentation as listed below, which must be made available for the staff on duty to scan. The new entry and exit protocols will be for the benefit of the Addo Elephant National Park fauna and flora, as well as its visitors and staff.

• Driver’s license (driver of vehicle)
• ID book/card (South African citizens and residents over 18)
• Passport (International visitors)
• Valid vehicle license disk

Please note that this applies to everyone entering/exiting Addo Elephant National Park:

• All passengers in vehicles
• Staff
• Staff visitors (including pedestrians)
• Official visitors
• Contractors and their staff, including BSP
• Delivery vehicles and their staff
• WildCard holders
• OSV concessions including their visitors
• Bus tours
• Gorah and Riverbend concessions

Eastern Cape: Addo Elephant National Park implements the amended level 1 lockdown restrictions! [update]

update (18 December 2020): The Management of Addo Elephant National Park has announced that, after many deliberations, it has decided to re-open Jack's Picnic Site and the one at Main Camp. Guests are uged to adhere to all necessary Covid-19 protocols at all times.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that guests to Addo Elephant National Park outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape are temporarily not allowed to braai or picnic in the Park. This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa`s latest announcemenet (14 December 2020) to help curb the resurgence of Covid-19. This specifically applies to the ever-popular Jack`s Picnic Site inside the game viewing area of Addo Elephant National Park and the picnic area at the Main Camp. The ablution blocks at Jack`s will remain open. In addition, open safari vehicles for game-viewing can only load 50 percent of the allowed capacity. These measures prevail from the 16 December 2020 to the 15 January 2021.

Eastern Cape: The attractions of the Sundays River Valley & the Greater Addo Area! (video)

The Emfuleni Corridor Tourism Association (ECTOUR), an umbrella body of tourism associations from various tourism nodes across South Africa's Eastern Cape, has released a new image video highlighting the various attractions of the Sundays River Valley and the Greater Addo area. The Sundays River Valley is located in the Cacadu District Municipality. It stretches stretches from Addo in the south to Kirkwood further north. The valley is known for its evergreen world of citrus trees (the trees are in full bloom in October and bear fruit all winter) as well as for the world-renowned Addo Elephant National Park, which has the Big 7 in their natural environment within its borders. Enjoy!

Africa's longest double zipline to open near Addo (Eastern Cape)

Africa's longest double zipline will open in the Sundays River Valley near Addo, located about 1 hrs from Port Elizabeth, on 01 September 2014. The zipline runs 60m over the Sundays River, which is known to South Africa's fastest-flowing river when in flood. With a lenth of about 500m the "double zipline" flies two riders over the river at up to 60 km/h depending on your weigh. An automatic breaking system stops your motion as you approach within 40m of the end of the zipline. A ride with the zipline costs R200/person (guides & equipment included; allow 1hrs). For more info about the zipline and all other adventures offered by "Adrenalin Addo", visit their website! Enjoy!

Post by Adrenalin Addo.

Addo Elephant National Park: New wildlife and roads for Colchester area

Over 100 buffalos, which are very valuable in conservation terms due to their disease-free status, were translocated from the main game area of Addo Elephant National Park to the Colchester area, the newly developed part of the Park. Furthermore 80 red hartebeest, 40 Burchell’s zebra and over 20 eland were released into the area. Some of the 80 haretebeest are coming from the Mountain Zebra National Park, while the remainder of hartebeest, the zebra and eland were purchased through the World Bank project which is being implemented in the Park. The Colchester area will see the return of elephants, lions and other wildlife when plans to take down fences between the Park’s main game area and Colchester area are put into action. This is likely to take place late in 2010.

Seventeen kilometres of tourist roads leading off from the Park’s Southern Access Road, have just been opened in this Colchester area, giving visitors a richer wildlife viewing experience while exploring this newly developed area of the Park. The construction of an additional 20km of roads in the Park’s Colchester area will begin in January 2010.
The newly developed area of the Park is accessible from the Matyholweni Gate, just off the N2 near the town of Colchester (about 40km from Port Elizabeth).

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