Even though there was a light drizzle we decided to still head to Addo Elephant National Park, we stopped at the Instore deli for coffee & a savoury muffin for Richard & spanakopita for me & a macadamia brownie to share, to take with us as a picnic.
Addo is approximately 1 1/2 hours south of Jeffery’s Bay & near Port Elizabeth.
I was prepared today with my camera ready when we entered the park (having missed the ostrich’s at Karoo) & we quickly spotted a tortoise & some dung beetles.
Addo is self drive & 1640 square kms. We spotted lots of Red Hartebeests & Kudus & Zebras at a distance. We then encountered 2 Zebras close enough to get some great photos & then a close up ostrich. I was beginning to think we wouldn’t see any elephants & then we turned a corner & 2 other cars were parked & as we drew nearer we spotted an elephant, unfortunately it was turning & heading in the other direction but still WE SAW AN ELEPHANT.....
We also saw 1 buffalo & then we were very lucky to see a lion, so that’s 3 of the big 5 ticked off!! The lioness was just strolling along the road, stopped, looked at our car, yawned & wondered off into the bushes, a minute later & we’d have missed her. Next was the mother warthog with her babies, very cute. The weather really didn’t help us, it drizzled or rained most of the day meaning even at the waterholes we spotted no animals. It was worth the drive though as this was our 1 st encounter with elephants & lions in the wild.
Richard did keep reminding me it was the Addo Elephant Park & not the Addo Elephants Park!!
As we’d driven through the park we entered at the gate near Colchester & exited through the Addo gate. We did stop for a cup of tea at base camp. Google maps then took us along a couple of dirt roads on the way home & we only went on the N2 motorway for about 4 junctions.
We had cold chicken (left over from our roast) & the vegetables as a salad for dinner. We’re sitting here with the stoep doors open listening to the little girl below talking to her dolls & the sound of the canal lapping at the bank. Not sure how many people reside in this community but it’s sooooo quiet.