Accessible Cape Town

Addo Elephant National Park, +27 42 233 0556, www.addoelephantpark.com

How many times have you visited one of our national parks and found yourself searching for the game?

Desperation often creeps in as one feels you and the wildlife are moving in tandem, destined to never cross paths? This was our first day’s experience at Addo Elephant National Park, until we wised up!

So, a word of advice to future visitors, don’t spend too much time rushing around the park in hot pursuit of the game. Rather take the leisurely route, and pack a flask of coffee and some sandwiches and snacks, ask the gate warden where the elephants have been last seen, and head for the nearest waterhole.

Park the car, switch off the ignition, push back the seats, break open the snacks, and chill out! In a surprisingly short time the game, and elephants, will begin to emerge from the surrounding bushveld.

Patience required

The number of times we found carloads of visitors rushing up to the waterhole in a cloud of dust, look around frantically, and rush off to the next waterhole was incredible. A little patience is the name of the game here, and it can produce rich rewards.

On one occasion we were so engrossed in the elephants frolicking in a waterhole ahead of us we failed to notice the now complete lack of visibility out the rear window, brought on by an elephant quietly feeding behind the vehicle!

With no engine noise, and no movement, the elephants showed that they were quite content to browse around us. We didn’t hassle them, they didn’t bother us, and we returned with some memorable moments and photographs.

Addo Elephant Park

The Addo Elephant National Park was established in 1931 (2200ha) to protect the last 11 wild elephants from extermination. Today more than 350 elephants roam through an area of 13500ha that is so diverse that no matter how many times you experience it, its magic will never fail to captivate you.

On a good day, Addo Elephant National Park offers the greatest elephant spectacle on earth. The park also offers excellent viewing of 39 black rhino, over 300 disease free Cape buffalo, 200 eland, 600 kudu, red haartebeest, leopard, as well as a host of other large and small mammals and over 400 species of birds in the greater park area.

However, the park will offer much more than just the lure of the ‘Big 5’ in a malaria free environment. With the proposed inclusion of a marine protected area species such as the southern right whale and great white shark are guaranteed ultimately making the park a ‘Big 7’ destination!

Accessible Discovery Trail

A revolutionary new access trail for the disabled has been launched in Addo, the 2km PPC Discovery Trail, the first of its kind in Africa, loops through a section of typical Addo thicket near the main park camp.

The surface of the trail is made out of polywood, a material produced from recycled plastic, and is raised slightly above the ground to avoid damage to vegetation and ensure a smooth ride for wheelchair users. Another aspect is a rope railing running along each side of the trail to help partially sighted people to navigate.

Expansion is planned, with the addition of more circular routes. Innovations like moulded animal spoor, interesting rock features and even Braille boards or audio booths could be built into the trail for visually impaired visitors.

Staying in Addo Elephant Park

The logistics of Addo lend themselves to leisurely evenings, regardless of whether one is staying in the park, or in one of the local B&B’s. The park chalets and campsite, and the restaurant are located outside of the game area, but within walking distance of a popular waterhole.

In the evenings the waterhole is floodlit, and one can view game not normally sighted in the heat of the day, such as rhino, buffalo and kudu. It’s a good idea to have an earlyish supper, and then stroll down to the viewing area and relax in the sounds of the bush.

In Addo, if the park can't accommodate you, try Valleyview B&B (Tel: +27 42 233 0349) or Woodall Farm (Tel: +27 42 233 0128). Both are no more than ten minutes drive from the park.

On our first visit to Addo Woodall Farm saved our proverbial bacon on our first evening. We had planned to take in a quick meal on arrival in the town of Addo, only to find, at 8pm in the evening, that Addo consisted of a petrol and police station! Thankfully Woodall rustled up a tasty supper and we went to bed tired but well fed.

Things have changed in Addo, and although the petrol and police stations are still there, they have been joined by a number of B&Bs offering restaurant services to hungry travellers.

Other game parks

If your interest in elephants has been tickled by the Addo trip, and you would like to get up close and personal to one of these giants then take an hour or two to visit the Knysna Elephant Park en-route back to Cape Town. Here you will be able to hand feed an elephant in an open country environment.

In Knysna we stayed at Berbia Guest Farm (Tel: +27 44 382 5429), outside of the hustle bustle of the town, with the most amazing view down the lagoon.

Other places of interest along the way are Monkeyland, the SeweWeeksPoort Pass, and the Keurbooms River Ferries.