About Addo Main Camp
The easily accessible Addo Main Camp is on the north side of the main game area of Addo Elephant National ...
... Park in South Africa’s Cape, and is the main hub of the park. It provides a variety of mostly self-catered accommodation types and facilities, so that it feels almost like a proper little village. One attraction here is a waterhole, which is floodlit at night, allowing guests to watch the animals coming for a drink.
Main Camp is a classic South African restcamp, with no airs or graces and absolutely no feeling of exclusivity. It makes a very good value base for self-driving visitors who prize their autonomy. The shop is well-stocked; the restaurant serves basic fare at prices to match; the interpretive centre is well worth a an hour’s visit; and the accommodation is clean, functional and great value.
Our view
Main Camp is a classic South African restcamp, with no airs or graces and absolutely no feeling of exclusivity. It makes a very good value base for self-driving visitors who prize their autonomy. The shop is well-stocked; the restaurant serves basic fare at prices to match; the interpretive centre is well worth a an hour’s visit; and the accommodation is clean, functional and great value.
Accommodation
64 rooms
Children
Excellent for children.
Open
All year
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Horse-riding
Traveller reviews of Addo Main Camp
4 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 4 Apr 2022, 1 nights
"Addo Main Camp review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 28 Oct 2015, 3 nights
"Elephant heaven"
Overall rating: Good
Arrived 28 Jan 2014, 2 nights
"Addo Main Camp - very good value for money"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 22 Nov 2009, 1 nights
"Great place to view the elephants"
Overall rating: Excellent

























Expert Africa's gallery
When we travel we take lots of photos ourselves to give you a real and un-edited view of the safaris. See our 25 pictures of Addo Main Camp to get the candid view.
View galleryAddo Main Camp: Our full report
The easily accessible Addo Main Camp is on the north side of the main game area of Addo Elephant National ...
... Park in South Africa’s Cape, and is the main hub of the park. It provides a variety of mostly self-catered accommodation types and facilities, so that it feels almost like a proper little village. One attraction here is a waterhole, which is floodlit at night, allowing guests to watch the animals coming for a drink.
Within Addo Main Camp you have a wide choice of accommodation options, from chalets and rondavels to tents and camping pitches. The different types of accommodation include:
- Caravans and 30 campsites with a maximum of six per site, close to ablution facilities and a camp kitchen
- 5 safari tents, each with two single beds, bedding, fan and towels, communal ablution facilities and kitchen
- 2 guest houses, each for up to six people, called Hapoor and Domkrag, which overlook the floodlit waterhole (two bedrooms, en-suite bathroom, living room, fully equipped kitchen, fan in the lounge)
- 6 rondawels overlooking the waterhole and sleeping two travellers each (two single beds; shower, toilet, hand basin; communal kitchen shared with the other huts)
- 22 chalets, which can accommodate three adults or two adults plus two children (bedsitter with two single beds and a sleeper couch, bathroom with bath and shower, fully equipped kitchen). Two of them are accessible for disabled people.
- 6 semi-detached chalets sleeping two travellers in a twin configuration (bathroom and kitchenette)
- Chalet 16 for a family of up to six people (one bedroom with a double bed and a bedsitter area with two single beds and a sleeper couch; bathroom; kitchen)
- Chalet 15 with 2 single beds in an open-plan area with mini-kitchen, shower, toilet and hand basin
- 13 cottages for a maximum of two travellers each with two single beds, bathroom and a kitchenette with microwave and fan
- 10 wooden forest cabins with four single beds each, a table, chairs, toilet, shower and hand basin in an open area; communal kitchen
Within easy distance from all of the rooms the main areas at Addo Main Camp consist of:
- A swimming pool open from November to February,
- A lookout platform overlooking a night-lit waterhole and an underground hide opposite it, which allows close views of wildlife,
- Picnic and braai area overlooking the waterhole,
- A bird hide offering views of a small wetland,
- The PPC Discovery Trail where you can learn about the thicket vegetation during short walks,
- The Ulwazi interpretive centre, which informs visitors about the park’s history and wildlife and displays e.g. a great wall of horns,
- A shop selling curios, snacks and basic supplies (opening hours 08:00-18:00 in winter, 08:00-19:00 in summer)
- An al-la-carte restaurant open from 07:30 to 22:00 (bookings advisable)
- And a fuel station selling petrol and diesel between 07:30 and 16:30.
Activities in the area concentrate on 4WD wildlife safaris, which are offered by the camp. Nevertheless most visitors will drive themselves without a guide, enjoying the freedom to explore as they wish to.
Other activities around Addo Main Camp include horse riding and some short walks, for example on the educative PPC Discovery Trail. A bird hide overlooking a small wetland area allows birding enthusiasts to get a closer view of some of the 200 bird species that have been reported in the main area of the park.
Geographics
- Location
- Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa
- Ideal length of stay
- We’d stay for two to four days, perhaps combining it with Camp Matyholweni further south in the park.
- Directions
- Addo Main Camp is easily accessible by self-drive. It’s about 75km away from Port Elizabeth. First take the N2 northwards, then change on the R335 towards Addo. Enter Addo Elephant National Park and just follow the road to get to Ado Main Camp.
- Accessible by
- Self-drive
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Room Only
- Food quality
- Addo Main Camp’s restaurant is continuously open from 7:30 am until 10 pm. Food here is generally good and modestly priced.
Visiting in 2013, the breakfast menu ranged from R29-55 (UK£1.80-3.45; US$2.95-5.60); with an English Breakfast for R45 (UK£2.73; US$4.34). For lunch you could for example have an Addo Burger for R45 (UK£2.73; US$4.34), some kalamari or fish and chips for R69 (UK£4.19; US$6.66).
However, Addo Main Camp clearly majors on steaks and burgers. In the evening steaks with a variety of sauces were on offer as well as some vegetarian options and a small kids menu for R35 (UK£2.12; US$3.38). We chose a delicious 300g chargrill sirloin for R105 (UK£6.37; US$10.13) with a sauce mushroom pepper monkey gland for R12 (UK£0.73; US$1.16) once and a kudu grilled to medium and served in red wine sauce, with rice and vegetables at a cost of R420 (UK£25.50; US$40.52) another time.
Beverages include a fairly extensive menu of bottled wines ranging from R90 to R120 (UK£5.46-7.29; US$8.68-11.58) as well as soft drinks, teas, coffees and espressos.
Travellers who prefer self-catering can buy a relatively good selection of food at Adoo Main Camp’s shop. Here, there are for example some high-end pickled vegetables on offer, lots of crisps, biscuits and sweets, a small range of canned vegetables and fruits, a very limited selection of bread, a couple of rice, couscous and pasta options, hot and cold drinks, bottled water, oils and sauces. Fresh ingredients like tomatoes, a bit of salad, apples, ham, milk and yoghurt are available too, although the choice of those is very limited. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Drinks included
- None
Special interests
- Family holidays
- We are increasingly including Addo’s Main Camp in family safari holidays to South Africa; it’s great for self-drive visitors. Children will love their own barbeque, whilst Main Camp has space to run around – as well as an excellent interpretive centre to explore.
- See ideas for Family holidays in South Africa
- Birdwatching
- Addo Main Camp appeals to birders in South Africa due to its bird hide which overlooks a little wetland. Look out here for 200 bird species reported in this section of the park. The whole park hosts over 400 bird species.
- See ideas for Birdwatching in South Africa
- Wildlife safaris
- Addo Main Camp offers both guided 4WD safaris and a self-drive base. Its biggest attraction are the park’s very relaxed elephants, whilst other game includes endless zebra, kudu and warthog. It’s good, but don’t expect the most game-rich wildlife safari in South Africa.
- See ideas for Wildlife safaris in South Africa
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children are welcome at Addo Main camp, although there are no services or equipment specifically for families with young children.
- Property’s age restrictions
- None
- Equipment
- There are no cots or high-chairs available.
- Generally recommended for children
- Yes.
- Notes
- As Addo Main Camp is fully fenced, you can think of it as relatively safe. Nevertheless we advise to keep children under parental supervision since no fence can stop dangerous animals of a smaller size, say for example snakes.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Addo Main Camp
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Addo Main Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

100% success

100% success

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0% success

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0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- All accommodation units at Addo Main Camp provide plug points with a 220V electricity supply. Nevertheless travellers will need their own international or two-point plug adaptors.
- Communications
- A public telephone is accessible at the reception and during our most recent visit in May 2013 we had strong mobile reception at Addo Main Camp.
For more traditional messages, the post is collected from the post box near the reception every week day morning. A post office can be found in Addo Town, approximately 15km from the park. - Water supply
- Mains
- Water supply notes
- Water supply is very reliable here.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- No
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Addo Main Camp is fully fenced off, with the gate to the wildlife area at its north-west end and an entrance gate in the south.
- Fire safety
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Horse-riding
Extras
- Disabled access
- In Place
- Laundry facilities
- Addo Main Camp does currently not provide any laundry service.
- Money
- The First National Bank with ATM is located in Addo Town, 15km from the park. For other banking facilities head to the town of Kirkwood (35km distance) or Port Elizabeth (75km from the park).
There are no safes at Addo Main Camp. - Accepted payment on location
- For paying cash you will need South African Rand at Addo Main Camp. Alternatively credit cards are accepted for payment of accommodation and most activities, shop purchases and restaurant meals.
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Addo Main Camp's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Addo Main Camp.
Other lodges in Addo Elephant National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.

Elephant House
Elephant House is a welcoming, owner-run base for those wishing to explore the Addo Elephant National Park and the surrounding area.

River Bend Lodge
Located on a private concession within the Addo Elephant National Park Riverbend Lodge is a very comfortable base from which to discover Addo.

Gorah Elephant Camp
A beautiful safari camp set within Addo Elephant Park. Lovely tented suites and great game viewing make this a great stop along South Africa's glorious Garden Route.

Camp Fig Tree
Camp Fig Tree is a luxurious lodge located just outside Addo Elephant Park. It is well situated for visits to the park itself.

Camp Matyholweni
An easily accessible safari camp in Addo Elephant Park, Matyholweni offers self-catering family cottages, as well as access to the nearby town of Colchester.
When to go to Addo Elephant National Park
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Addo Main Camp in Addo Elephant National Park
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
South Africa in January
January is considered one of the best months to travel. In Cape Town the weather is hot and generally dry. The Garden Route is also excellent at this time of the year but has a more temperate climate, with slightly lower temperatures and rain can fall at any time of the year. In the Kgalagadi temperatures often top 40°C and short, sharp thunderstorms are also fairly frequent. Wildlife tends to disperse, although birding is excellent.
As this is the high season in the Cape there are numerous events, festivals and outdoor activities to attract visitors. Accommodation books up quickly and it may be necessary to book at least a year in advance. Reservations will often be needed for restaurants and visitor attractions too.
- Hot, largely dry days with clear skies – except on Garden Route
- Wildlife disperses in the Kalahari but birding excellent
- Events, festivals and outdoor activities staged for the high season
- The high season in the Cape, accommodation can cost up to 50% more
- Pre-booking of activities & attractions is essential
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in January
South Africa in February
In February conditions are largely the same as in January, although temperatures can be slightly higher, especially in the interior. The wind in Cape Town starts to ease off. Although the Garden Route can experience some rain, the days are pleasantly warm and largely dry.
The Kgalagadi remains very hot, but the birding is still excellent. Wildlife viewing can be tricky especially if there has been some rain, as the resulting long grass can obscure the animals.
For visitors it’s still the high season, but with the local school holidays over and residents back at work, it is less busy than December and January. Accommodation costs remain high and it’s still advisable to pre-book certain activities and restaurants.
- Hot, largely dry days with little cloud
- Wind starts easing in Cape Town
- Slightly less busy than December & January
- Accommodation costs remain high, activities still best pre-booked
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in February
South Africa in March
March is still a very good time to visit. Conditions remain dry and very warm in Cape Town, although temperatures start dropping off towards the end of the month. The wind has usually died right down.
The Kalahari remains very hot and in years of good rains vegetation is at its most lush – making wildlife viewing tricky.
Typically, the crowds dwindle, but it can get very busy if Easter falls in March. It is also worth bearing in mind that during major events in March, including the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Cape Epic Mountain Bike Tour, The Cape Town Carnival and the International Jazz Festival, accommodation can get very full.
Attractions remain busy but booking is less essential.
- Temperatures start falling towards the end of the month
- Cape Town hosts a number of world class sport and cultural events
- Wildlife in the Kgalagadi disperses, game viewing more challenging
- Crowds diminish as the high season comes to an end
- Accommodation can get busy during major events
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in March
South Africa in April
April is South Africa’s “shoulder” season and is often the most pleasant. Not too hot, not too cold, some rain but not masses. In Cape Town and along the Garden Route days are usually sunny, warm, windless and largely dry, although in Cape Town the chance of rain increases from the end of the month.
In the Kgalagadi the rainy season is typically over and migratory birds are starting to make their journey back up North. Vegetation remains lush but wildlife viewing starts picking up towards the end of the month.
The region is still relatively busy (especially of its still Easter) but it gets quieter towards the end of the month thus availability improves. Accommodation rates start to decrease, and it becomes less important to book restaurants and attractions in advance.
- Temperatures still warm and very pleasant, with little wind.
- Rain starts easing in the Kalahari and migratory birds start to depart
- Less busy, especially towards the end of the month - busy over Easter
- Accommodation frees up and prices start to come down
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in April
South Africa in May
May marks the start of the dry season in the Kgalagadi. Days are warm and dry with almost zero rainfall. Night-time/early-morning temperatures can drop towards 0°C. Wildlife viewing is at its peak as animals concentrate around the few remaining water sources.
Days can still be warm and sunny in Cape Town and on the Garden Route, but the weather becomes a lot more variable. May heralds the start of the rainy season in Cape Town and the winelands. Night-time temperatures rarely drop below 10 degrees in the coastal areas.
With far fewer tourists, accommodation prices are at their lowest. There is rarely any need to pre-book activities, but reservations are still advisable at some of the top restaurants.
- Higher chance of rain in Cape Town & the Winelands
- Day time temperatures drop significantly
- Wildlife viewing peaks in the Kgalagadi
- Low season so rarely busy & very few crowds
- Low season rates at the hotels & lodges
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in May
South Africa in June
Winter is now in full swing. Maximum temperatures in Cape Town rarely reach 20°C and the rainy season is well under way. Outdoor activities therefore become limited, but a number of high-quality indoor events are organised.
The Garden Route has, in general milder weather and less rain than Cape Town.
June sees the arrival of the first whales which migrate to the South African coastline to give birth.
In the Kgalagadi, daytime temperatures are warm but nights and early mornings are bitterly cold. Wildlife viewing is excellent as animals are drawn to the few remaining permanent water points.
Overall tourist numbers are at their lowest, as are the costs of flights and accommodation.
- Cold & wet weather in Cape Town, Kgalagadi warm days but cold at night
- One of the best months for wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
- Whales start arriving to have their calves
- Low visitor numbers & no crowds
- Accommodation & flight prices remain low
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in June
South Africa in July
The winter weather continues with very cold nights and early mornings in the Kgalagadi and virtually no rainfall. Vegetation here is really thinning out now and water even more scarce – so wildlife is easy to spot.
Despite the winter and local school holidays, Cape Town remains a great place to visit. On a wet and cold day, the Two Oceans Aquarium, Zeitz Mocca (art museum) and the Cape Town Comedy Club all make for great days out, as does a trip to the wine country or the annual Oyster Festival at Knysna.
By mid-July most of the whales have arrived to give birth. Hermanus is the best place to see them.
At the height of the low season, so accommodation and flight prices remain low.
- Generally cold & wet in the Cape, but good quality indoor events
- Very good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
- Oyster festival in Knysna
- Local school holidays can make places a little busier than usual
- Accommodation and flight prices remain low
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in July
South Africa in August
While August experiences mostly wintry weather it does mark the very beginning of spring with temperatures starting to rise. Visitors are drawn to the West Coast and Namaqualand to see the wildflowers, which start blooming in late August and can be seen until mid-September. Whales are still in abundance now too.
The Kgalagadi is now very dry and wildlife vieiwng is still good. Temperatures start climbing towards the end of the month.
Despite the weather , visitor numbers can be high as the northern hemisphere schools close for their summer holidays. It may be a good idea to book certain attractions and restaurants in advance.
Simlarly, although accommodation prices are still low, flight prices can be a little higher than in previous months.
- Temperatures start rising – but still potential for cold & wet weather
- Wildflowers on the West Coast & in Namaqualand
- Good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
- Whales continue to attract visitors
- Can get busy due to northern hemisphere school summer holidays
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in August
South Africa in September
Good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi continues and daytime temperatures increase quite dramatically. Mornings and evenings are still on the chilly side, but not as cold as they are in June, July and August.
The 1st of September is officially the start of spring in Cape Town. Days become warmer but not quite warm enough to enjoy the city’s beautiful beaches. Venues all over Cape Town play host to various artists during the Cape Town Fringe Festival.
Rainy days are fewer, but night times can still get chilly. Many hotels are still charging low season rates making September great value for money.
Elsewhere, Hermanus hosts the popular annual Whale Festival, and in the West of the Cape, wildflowers continue to bloom until the middle of the month.
- The start of spring; temperatures start rising
- Whale festival in Hermanus
- Cape Town Fringe Ferstival attracts a wide range of artists
- Wildflowers blooming well until the middle of the month
- Good wildlife viewing continues in the Kgalagadi
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in September
South Africa in October
The weather starts warming up nicely, Cape Town experiences pleasant days, with much less rain, nights can still be quite cool, but not cold. Some days are now warm enough to enjoy the beach. This is one of the best months to visit the Cape Region.
October is one of the hottest months in the Kalahari. Water remains very scarce, so the wildlife viewing is still very good. Towards the end of the month the odd spectacular thunderstorm is possible with much lightning and thunder. Migratory birds start to arrive, and resident species gear up for the breeding season.
The whales are still present with Hermanus and False Bay the best places to see them.
- Days start warming up; fewer rainy days in Cape Town
- Very hot in the Kalahari – thunderstorms season starts
- Migratory birds start arriving & resident birds start breeding
- Whale watching still excellent in Hermanus and False Bay areas
- Start of the high season, getting busy and accommodation prices rise
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in October
South Africa in November
By November Cape Town is experiencing summer conditions with hot, clear days and warm, pleasant evenings. It’s a great month to enjoy the beaches before the peak holiday season in December. There are no real downsides to visiting in November and you may even get a few accommodation specials before prices go up for the festive season. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens begins their summer outdoor concerts with local and international artists performing.
The Kgalagadi remains hot but thunderstorms are a bit more regular. With the rains, water sources become more plentiful and wildlife disperses but this is when herbivores such as Springbok start lambing. Photography improves as conditions become less hazy.
This is the last month for regular whale sightings – they tend to migrate back down south by early December.
- Summer now in full swing, with temperatures often reaching 30°C
- Rainy days scarce; evenings warm & very pleasant
- Antelope start lambing in the Kgalagadi; wildlife generally dispersed
- Last month for regular whale sightings
- Good time to visit Cape Town before the peak holiday season
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in November
South Africa in December
December is usually Cape Town’s hottest month when temperatures frequently breach 30°C. You can expect hot and cloudless days, and almost no rain but December does see the occasional very windy day.
The Kalahari is still hot, but temperatures are not quite as high as previous months. With the rainfall the bush transforms into various shades of green. Wildlife disperses as water become more widely available.
The Garden Route enjoys warm to hot days with rain at any time but usually not over an extended period.
Mid to late December becomes incredibly busy with concerts, festivals and various outdoor activities in Cape Town. Hotel prices rise, tourist attractions and beaches are crowded and most popular sites and restaurants need to be booked in advance.
- Long, hot sunny days
- Kgalagadi bursts into life as rainy season kicks in
- Wildlife viewing a bit trickier as wildlife disperses
- Cape Town buzzing with concerts, events, festivals etc
- Peak season: attractions get very busy & accommodation costs rise
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in December

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