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Cape Compass

Addo & the Eastern Cape

Malaria-free Big Five safari.

Elephant herds in Addo and luxurious private reserves, all malaria-free, at the end of the Garden Route.

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Addo & the Eastern Cape

Addo

Ways to build a Addo trip

The Eastern Cape is where we send families and travellers who'd rather avoid malaria medication. Addo Elephant National Park protects more than 600 elephants, and the surrounding private reserves offer the full Big Five with lodge experiences to rival the north.

It's an easy add-on to a Garden Route road trip, or a short flight from Cape Town into Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

Game drives

Guided drives in Addo and private reserves like Shamwari and Kwandwe.

Family safari

Junior ranger programmes and age-appropriate activities.

Coast & bush

Combine sand dunes and beaches with the safari.

When to go

Best time to visit Addo.

Game viewing is good all year. Autumn and spring offer the most comfortable temperatures.

  • JanGood
  • FebGood
  • MarBest
  • AprBest
  • MayBest
  • JunGood
  • JulGood
  • AugGood
  • SepBest
  • OctBest
  • NovBest
  • DecGood

Seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere.

  • Cape Town’s winter rains fall June to August
  • Kruger’s dry season (May to September) is peak game viewing
  • Summer rains fall November to March in the north and east
  • Whale season on the Cape coast runs June to November

Highlights

  • Large elephant herds at Addo's waterholes
  • Malaria-free Big Five private reserves
  • Family-friendly lodges with kids' programmes
  • Easy combination with the Garden Route

Practical tips

  • Ideal for families with young children. Some lodges welcome all ages on game drives.
  • Fly back to Cape Town or Johannesburg from Gqeberha.

Experiences

Things to do in Addo.

Common questions

Addo, answered.

Read the full FAQ
Can you see the Big Five in the Eastern Cape?

Yes. Several private reserves and Addo itself are home to all five, in a malaria-free area.

Tailor-made trips

Tours including Addo.

Duration
Budget

2 of 2 tours

11 days · Cape Town & Winelands · Garden Route · Eastern Cape

Garden Route Self-Drive

Breakfast daily, 4 dinners · 4 activities · Rental car & route book

  • Clifftop whale watching in Hermanus
  • Knysna lagoon and Plettenberg Bay beaches
  • Tsitsikamma forest and Storms River Mouth
  • Malaria-free safari finale in Addo

From

$2,890

per person, complete package

From $5,780 for two · international flights excluded

View itinerary

12 days · Cape Town & Winelands · Garden Route · Eastern Cape

Malaria-Free Family Adventure

Breakfast daily, all meals on safari · 8 family activities · Flights & transfers

  • Boulders Beach penguins and Table Mountain
  • Plettenberg Bay beaches and marine safaris
  • Junior ranger programme on safari
  • Malaria-free throughout

From

$5,250

per person, complete package

From $10,500 for two · international flights excluded

View itinerary

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