Nature Reserves
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Addo Discover the magic of the Karoo with a unique wilderness experience at the exclusive 5-Star Blaauwbosch Private Game Reserve.
Bordering the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape, the reserve offers malaria-free wildlife viewing of a wide variety of game.
Professional rangers will introduce you to lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard, rhino, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, antelope, abundant birdlife and rare flora on interesting game drives.
An awesome thing to do is go on a walking safari to shadow cheetah as they prowl for their prey.
Nature Reserves
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Sidbury Not only does Kwantu Private Game Reserve offer magnificent wildlife viewing in a malaria-free zone, it also has an elephant sanctuary and endangered animals in an untouched wilderness.
From the comfort of specially equipped open Land Rovers, visitors are able to encounter impressive white rhino roaming freely on the plains.
Entertaining antics of playful Vervet monkeys and Chacma baboons is commonplace as is the comical sight of warthog families speeding across the plains with their trademark tails held high. Other wildlife to spot is zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, blue duiker, kudu, porcupine, aardwolf, caracal, and leopard.
With over 250 different species of birds, Kwantu is an orchestra of sound, colour and movement. Even novice bird watchers will thrill at a glimpse of the gorgeous Narina Trogon or the Knysna turaco. Other birds to see are various kingfishers, owls, sunbirds, eagles, kites, and water fowl. Informative and friendly guides soon have guests marvelling at their intriguing and unusual habits.
Nature Reserves
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Alicedale Malaria free and home to an impressive diversity of animals, Bushman Sands Game Reserve boasts wonderful Big 5 wildlife viewing opportunities.
Situated on 40 square kilometres of former farmland, the reserve has reintroduced animals that once roamed here over 200 years ago. Lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, elephant, rhino, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, zebra, giraffe, hippo, kudu, eland, springbuck and waterbuck can all be found.
Sunset cruises on the reserve’s large dam present perfect opportunities for spotting wildlife such as elephant and antelope. Other things to see are the Bushman rock art paintings that date back thousands of years.
Things to do near
Addo
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Animal Parks
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Addo Elephant National Park (7.8 km from Addo) Cuddle a snake, count all 64 teeth of a Nile crocodile and get up close to a sky predator.
Emphatically not a zoo, the Addo Raptor and Reptile Centre is a rehabilitation and education facility providing a home and veterinary care for rescued birds of prey and reptiles.
Daily live shows and guided tours allow visitors to come face to face with the venomous Cape Cobra and numerous other deadly African snakes.
A large component of their work is educating authorities, the public, retailers and young folk. The focus is to create a better understanding and awareness of these misunderstood and largely misaligned creatures.
Some of the animals and birds were rescued from the pet trade or are injured and not able to be returned to the wild. Others are sourced from reputable reptile breeders.
+27 (0) 82 332 3499
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 09:00 - 18:00
Feeding tours: Tuesday to Sunday 18:00 (bookings are essential).
Popular Attractions
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Colchester (20.2 km from Addo) Schotia Game Reserve is one of many private reserves in the Paterson area
This reserve has 3 of the Big 5, however the lions are the main attraction. Tour packages will help you get as close as possible to get the best viewing of rhino, hippo, giraffe and lion.
Popular Attractions
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Colchester (20.2 km from Addo) For the adventurous, exploring Addo Elephant Park on horse back is a truly amazing experience.
Prior experience is not required to enjoy these trials, and each trip will be accompanied by a guide. Trails last about 3 hours.
For more information, contact SAN Parks to book your excursion.
Beaches
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Colchester (24.6 km from Addo) The estuary of the incredibly scenic Sundays River with its spectacular sand dunes and views of Algoa Bay is a knock out! Situated at the southern boundary of the Addo Elephant National Park, the Sundays River Mouth is calm and peaceful and offers a relaxing and memorable experience. The beach is exquisite - totally pristine with some of the highest dunefields in South Africa.If you're visiting this area a wonderful thing to do is go cruising on The Sundays River Ferry. The double decker ferry features a raised viewing deck which is a great place from which to watch the bird life along the river banks and game in the bush. Contact Les Kingma to book a cruise on 041 4680945 or 082 4654391.
Beaches
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Wells Estate (30.4 km from Addo) St Georges Strand is Port Elizabeth's most northern beach stretching all the way up to the Coega Harbour breakwater. A long jetty heads out into the sea from the sand dunes. Although the water is blissfully warm, take care as surf conditions can be dangerous. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer holiday season. Be prepared to walk a fair distance to the beach from the parking area.
Beaches
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Wells Estate (32 km from Addo) Well’s Estate Beach is situated in the northern part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Precinct. This blue Flag Beach is great for kids and boasts well-maintained water slides and paddling pools. Facilities are excellent and lifeguards are on duty during the summer holiday peak season.
Galleries and Museums
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Zuurberg (34.4 km from Addo) The original blacksmith at Ann's Villa, established in 1855 is now a registered museum. It was an essential stop for wagons after they had traversed the Zuurberg Pass. Virtually all the original tools are on display. Comprehensive guided tours are offered.
Hiking Trail
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Bluewater Bay (34.5 km from Addo) The Aloe Trail starts at the top of Tippers Creek Road between Amsterdamhoek and Bluewater Bay. The circular route is marked with red arrows and overlooks Amsterdamhoek and the Zwartkops estuary.
Vast numbers of aloes line the beginning of the trail, offering a blaze of colourful blooms during June and July and attracting numerous sunbirds. Keep following the red trail inland before returning to the ridge at a trig beacon. From here there are extensive views over the Zwartkops estuary, the saltpan and Zwartkops Nature Reserve.
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 7 km
Nature Reserves
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Sidbury (34.7 km from Addo) Not only does Kwantu Private Game Reserve offer magnificent wildlife viewing in a malaria-free zone, it also has an elephant sanctuary and endangered animals in an untouched wilderness.
From the comfort of specially equipped open Land Rovers, visitors are able to encounter impressive white rhino roaming freely on the plains.
Entertaining antics of playful Vervet monkeys and Chacma baboons is commonplace as is the comical sight of warthog families speeding across the plains with their trademark tails held high. Other wildlife to spot is zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, blue duiker, kudu, porcupine, aardwolf, caracal, and leopard.
With over 250 different species of birds, Kwantu is an orchestra of sound, colour and movement. Even novice bird watchers will thrill at a glimpse of the gorgeous Narina Trogon or the Knysna turaco. Other birds to see are various kingfishers, owls, sunbirds, eagles, kites, and water fowl. Informative and friendly guides soon have guests marvelling at their intriguing and unusual habits.
Beaches
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Swartkops (36.1 km from Addo) Swartkops Beach is a tiny stretch of shoreline that extends the Swartkops river mouth. Swartkops is a great spot for all kinds of fishing, lazing around and swimming and is ideal for travelling families.
Galleries and Museums
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Uitenhage (37.2 km from Addo) The Cuyler Manor was built as a homestead for General Jacob Glen Cuyler, Landdrost of Uitenhage from 1806 to 1827. This typical Cape Dutch house has been lovingly restored and furnished, and functions as a living museum. Demonstrations of traditional activities including soap and candle making, baking and weaving can be arranged.
Golf Courses
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Uitenhage (37.7 km from Addo) Uitenhage Golf Club features a full 18-hole course in the lovely garden city of Uitenhage.
Club facilities include a bar, halfway house, and a boardroom with function facilities. Vistors are welcome everyday.
Dams Vleis
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Uitenhage (38.1 km from Addo) Willow Dam is an open area where visitors and locals alike can kick back and relax.
Just a short drive from town, this is an ideal place for picnics. A playground for kids is supplied.
Galleries and Museums
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New Brighton (39.5 km from Addo) A symbol of our freedom and unconventional in terms of museum design, the Red Location Museum is definitely worth a visit.
Red Location is one of the oldest townships of Nelson Mandela Bay, named for the corrugated iron barrack buildings which have rusted to a deep red. Many famous political and cultural leaders lived in Red Location and a number of significant ‘struggle’ events occurred during Apartheid.
Museum visitors are treated as active participants rather than consumers. The past is represented as a set of memories, disconnected yet bound together by themes using the concept of the Memory Box. This was inspired by the boxes that migrant labourers used for storing their precious possessions when separated from their families.
Red Location also draws together the strands of struggle that commemorate the efforts by different groups to free themselves.
The museum complex includes an art gallery, market, a creative arts centre, library, adult literacy centre and a conference venue.
Corner Olof Palme and Singaphi Streets, New Brighton
+27 (0)41 408 8400
Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Friday 10:00 - 16:00
Saturday at Sunday 09:00 - 15:00.
Galleries and Museums
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New Brighton (39.5 km from Addo) Looking for interesting and offbeat things to do in Port Elizabeth? Experience the sights and sounds of life in a traditional South African urban community during a half-day township tour.
Gugu's Township Tour will take you into the heart of New Brighton Township, one of Port Elizabeth's oldest and biggest townships, where you will experience authentic South African culture.
The guided tour includes a visit to the outstanding Red Location Apartheid Museum, a traditional Xhosa meal and mingling with locals at a shebeen (pub).
www.gugustownshiptours.co.za