Visit to Addo National Park
 

Hi there! This is my first post on Fodors Forums, so thanks for any help!

I am planning my first trip to South Africa next month (late February) and will be visiting Cape Town for about 5 days, and Addo National Park for another 2 days (for a safari experience). I don't have the time to visit Kruger (which I know is a better safari experience overall), so I'm saving that for my next trip to the region!

My question is about the two days in Addo. I have reserved an afternoon/evening tour of Schotia (which I hear on this forum is great), and we are staying overnight at Addo Main Rest Camp. I am trying to figure out what to do the next day (which we have set aside for touring Addo). Should we hire a hop-on guide? Should we go with the guided tours? Self-drive?

Thanks for any advice!

You could go on a drive with the park ranger, and also self-drive. That way you'll get the benefit of the ranger's knowledge, and also spend more time out actually looking for game in your own car.

If it were me, I'd book either an early morning drive or a night drive with the ranger, (that way you can go out before/after dark, which you can't do in your own car), and then spend more of the day self-driving.

I'd agree with Celia on going out on an early morning drive or a night drive. It'll give you an overall perspective of the park and where to find animals. Then spend the rest of the day self-driving.

Check the sightings board at the entrance to the offices - it usually gives you good places to look for specific animals.

Best time to find ellies in February is at the waterholes in the afternoon. You can usually see a parade of them, and Hapoor waterhole rarely disappoints.

I'm sure you'll love Schotia. It's a totally different ball-game, and a fantastic "packaged" experience. I worked there as a part-time ranger for four years and I was PETRIFIED of those lions - they chased me everywhere. LOL! It was called "Bushpig hunting" (but "Bushpig" retired a few years ago). I think I was also fired from Schotia several times (I think they suspected I was baiting the lions, but I think I must have looked particularly enticing. Lol!)

Bushkid! That's hysterical! You were bait. :)

Warren - lots of options, but do spend the two days in the park. I would do morning and night drives (you can't night drive on your own and in general can't go out as early as the sanparks drives) and self drive during the day. I'd do 4 days Cape Town and add a day at Addo or Schotia - I love the safari experience.

Don't skip Robben Island in CT. And go see the penguins and the Cape of Good Hope if you can. Such a beautiful city.

Thanks for the helpful advice! I emailed today to book the drive tours...