About Elephant House
Elephant House is a comfortable, owner-run lodge just 5km from the main entrance of Addo Elephant National ...
... Park in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, a 45-minute drive from Port Elizabeth. Comprising the main Elephant House and its Stable Cottages, it offers a homely, country-style ambience and is well-suited as a base for activities both in the park and in the fertile Sundays River Valley.
Members of the Expert Africa team have visited the Elephant House (and Stable Cottages) several times over the last ten years and have always found it to be comfortable and welcoming, with the owner Clive ever present to check that everything is running smoothly. It is also great value for money and perfectly located for exploring Addo. We generally view it as a base for your own activities, although good guided game drives are available too.
Our view
Members of the Expert Africa team have visited the Elephant House (and Stable Cottages) several times over the last ten years and have always found it to be comfortable and welcoming, with the owner Clive ever present to check that everything is running smoothly. It is also great value for money and perfectly located for exploring Addo. We generally view it as a base for your own activities, although good guided game drives are available too.
Accommodation
14 rooms in total
Children
Good for all ages.
Open
All year
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Private activities
Quad-biking
Traveller reviews of Elephant House
8 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 19 Apr 2023, 3 nights
"Elephant House review"
Overall rating: Average
Arrived 1 Jul 2019, 3 nights
"Elephant House review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 20 Nov 2017, 2 nights
"Not the best part of the trip"
Overall rating: Average
Arrived 15 Nov 2014, 5 nights
"Great Location"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 10 Nov 2014, 2 nights
"Elephant House review"
Overall rating: Good
Arrived 9 Apr 2013, 2 nights
"Elephant House review"
Overall rating: Good
Arrived 9 Nov 2010, 1 nights
"Elephant House review"
Overall rating: Good
Arrived 27 Dec 2007, 1 nights
"Elephant House review"
Overall rating: Average























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 38 pictures of Elephant House to get the candid view.
View galleryElephant House: Our full report
Elephant House is a comfortable, owner-run lodge just 5km from the main entrance of Addo Elephant National ...
... Park in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, a 45-minute drive from Port Elizabeth. Comprising the main Elephant House and its Stable Cottages, it offers a homely, country-style ambience and is well-suited as a base for activities both in the park and in the fertile Sundays River Valley.
Elephant House itself is a converted colonial farmhouse with thatched roofs, courtyards, verdant gardens, secluded corners and deep verandas. The covered outside areas, as well as the house, are furnished with comfortable sofas, Persian rugs, artwork and interesting old photos and maps, and every year since opening in 1998 the owners have added something new. The most substantial addition are The Stable Cottages, which are set in four acres of lush lawns just across the quiet gravel access track and are lighter and more contemporary in design. The two properties are in some respects semi independent of each, although out of season guests at the Stable Cottages sometimes eat at the Elephant House and the reception and all activities are organised from here too.
As both buildings are just off the main road, the lodge doesn’t feel as remote as some other safari lodges, but once inside they offer a comfortable haven. In some of the rooms you may hear faint road noise, though this was not loud enough to bother us during our various stays here, most recently in March 2016.
There are a total of 14 rooms split across the two properties – eight rooms in the Elephant House, and six Stable Cottages.
The main Elephant House incorporates eight ‘standard’ rooms, two of them designed for families. Although these large, thatched rooms differ in terms of layout, character and furnishings, all are well appointed but unpretentious, with exposed rough brick and cream-painted plaster walls. You can expect, too, an extra long king-size bed with bedside tables and lamps, a writing desk with fresh flowers, a comfy armchair, and wooden venetian blinds as well as dark, heavy curtains. Every room has air conditioning and heating, and five of them open out onto a private veranda and small grassy courtyard.
The spacious en-suite bathroom has polished concrete floors, an open shower, separate bath and basin with hairdryer and bathrobes provided. .
Of the two family rooms here, one is in the main courtyard and has a separate living room with an antique coffee table and a convertible sofa bed. The other is detached and set slightly away from the other rooms, with a more modern décor as well as indoor and outdoor showers.
Inside, the main area at Elephant House is a wonderfully colonial clubroom with comfortable seating areas and great coffee table books, as well as a large TV with DVDs, games and a laptop for guests’ use. Outside, oriental rugs, paintings and photos, and comfy armchairs and sofas on the wide verandas overlooking grassy courtyards create a very informal and relaxed space. The country-style dining room is very informal, too, its combination of wall lights and candles,creating a mellow mood for your evening meal (though some may comment that it is a little dark). Breakfast and light lunches are served on the terrace or beside the pool.
Elephant House boasts two pools, one bigger than the other and set in a large garden, the other more privately located off the lawns. The gardens here are beautiful and attract a variety of bird species.
Set around a vast lawn, the six Stable Cottages are modern Cape country-style in design, with light and bright interiors, reed ceilings and private verandas. All have full air conditioning and heating, and feature both stocked minibars (at your expense) and tea/coffee-making facilities. Two of the cottages work well for families, with a separate inter-leading bedroom for children. The configuration of these means that adults have to walk through the children’s room in order to get to the bathroom, but unless your children are light sleepers, this is unlikely to be a problem.
Breakfast at the Stable Cottages is usually served in the Wine Bar which has a modern African feel, with smart dining tables and chairs, comfortable sofas and armchairs, and of course a bar. Floor-to-ceiling windows make this feel a large and airy space and the wide veranda provides a warm and sunny spot to relax. In peak season, afternoon tea, lunch and dinner are served here, but out of season guests at the Stable Cottages will often have all their meals at the Elephant House.
The Stable Cottages are great for families, as there is lots of space for children to run around and play outside. There is also a playroom, including TV and DVD player with a selection of DVDs at the Wine Bar, along with a comfortable lounge, and outside you’ll find a table tennis table and set of boules. There is also a large (12m) swimming pool with sunloungers in front of the cottages.
We have visited many times over the years, and one of the things we love about the Elephant House is the friendly staff. , Not only have the owners – Clive and Anne Read – remained the same, but so have the manageress, Charlene, head guide, Aubrey, and other staff. This speak volumes about what a great place this is to work, as well as to visit.
Elephant House (including the Stable Cottages) offers a broad variety of activities, although naturally wildlife safaris in Addo Elephant National Park are the big draw. Most travellers drive themselves here, and spend much of their time exploring Addo in their own car; the national park's main gate is barely five minutes’ drive away.
If you don't want to drive yourself, there are two game drives a day into the national park, led by an in-house field guide who has been at the lodge for years. Drives, with drinks and snacks included, depart at 8.30am and 2.00pm respectively, and in the past we have found them very good.
Other activities within a 45-minute drive of Elephant House include birdwatching on a guided paddle tour, visits to the Sundays River Valley's citrus groves, encounters with the local community in the Nomatamsanqa Township and visits to Port Elizabeth.
Sporty travellers might like to hike in the scenic Zuurberg Mountains, go on a quadbike tour through a farmer's orchards, have a round of golf at one of the nearby golf clubs or play tennis, polo or squash at Addo Polo Club, which is only 3km from the lodge. (NB: It's essential that you read the Quadbike warning in the 'Health & Safety' section below for our comments on insurance issues regarding this activity.)
Finally, there’s the option of a half-day safari in one of the many relatively small private game reserves in the area:
- The tiny Schotia Safaris Private Game Reserve claims to be the oldest private game reserve in the Eastern Cape, and may well be one of the most densely stocked. Games drives here run from 3.00pm to 9.30pm, and include a night drive and braai (barbecue) supper in their boma (outdoor enclosure).
- East of Addo, Amakhala Game Reserve covers 75km2 and has 11 lodges of its own.
- Pumba Private Game Reserve is north-east of Addo and covers about 65 km², an area that is shared by two lodges of its own.
Geographics
- Location
- Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa
- Ideal length of stay
- 2 to 4 nights here gives you ample opportunity to explore Addo Elephant National Park.
- Directions
- Situated on the R335, just under 50km from Port Elizabeth and 5km from the Addo Elephant National Park main gate.
- Accessible by
- Self-drive
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Bed & Breakfast
- Food quality
- Whenever we have eaten here the food has been of a good standard and very tasty. We would comment though that there is no separate menu for children, and the three-course dinner may be a little large and sophisticated for younger palates.
Breakfast is a combination of a cold buffet of cereals, juices, cheese, meats etc, and hot dishes served to your table. Champagne is often on offer too!
Lunch of sandwiches and salads is a very relaxed and casual meal. A packed lunch can also be prepared for you if you ask in advance.
Evening dinner is a set three-course meal (there is always a vegetarian option available) using fresh local produce. On our last visit in March 2016 we had butternut squash soup, followed by a Karoo lamb chop accompanied by mashed potato and seasonal vegetables, and finished off with a Malva pudding with cream.
Just a short walk away, or a one-minute drive, you’ll find the owner-run Lenmore Restaurant and Farmstall, a very relaxed and informal place that would suit families, especially those with younger children. It serves a range of meals, from pizza made in the dedicated outside pizza oven, to steaks, schnitzels, seafood and salads, while the adjacent shop is a good place to stock up on snacks to keep you going when self-driving in the park. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- A room service is available 24 hours a day.
- Drinks included
- No drinks are included.
Special interests
- Family holidays
- With spacious family rooms, a large garden and lawn, three pools and a relaxed atmosphere, Elephant House is well prepared for families. Set just outside the malaria-free Addo Park, it provides a convenient base for family safari holidays in South Africa.
- See ideas for Family holidays in South Africa
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children of all ages are most welcome at Elephant House.
- Property’s age restrictions
- There are no age restrictions here.
- Special activities & services
- Babysitters are available on request – although they're likely to be local women who work at Elephant House rather than qualified childminders.
- Equipment
- There are cots and highchairs available to use. There is also a children’s playroom with TV and DVD player, rocking horse and games, plus plenty of outside space for them to burn off excess energy.
- Generally recommended for children
- Yes
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Elephant House
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Elephant House 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

100% success

100% success

50% success

50% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success
Communications
- Communications
- There is a telephone in each room as well as WiFi throughout. There is full cellphone reception too.
- TV & radio
- The lounge/clubroom in the main Elephant House has a TV with full satellite channels.
- Water supply
- Mains
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- No
- Medical care
- There is a doctor in Addo Town, about a 10-minute drive from Elephant House. The closest serious hospital can be found in Port Elizabeth.
Quadbike warning: Quadbiking is sometimes available as an activity from Elephant House. As with any potentially dangerous activity, it's vital that you take responsibility for ensuring that you have adequate travel insurance prior to getting involved. Be aware that some insurances cover quadbike activities only for bikes with lower engine ratings’ check such clauses particularly carefully before you get on a bike. - Dangerous animals
- Moderate Risk
- Fire safety
- Fire extinguishers are found throughout the property.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Private activities
Quad-biking
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- A laundry service is available at an extra charge.
- Money
- Each room has an electronic safe.
- Accepted payment on location
- The lodge accepts cash in South Africa rand, as well as Visa and Mastercard.
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Elephant House's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Elephant House.
Other lodges in Addo Elephant National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same 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.

Addo Main Camp
Addo Rest Camp offers a variety of self-catering accommodation types to suit all tastes. Overlooking a floodlit waterhole, the camp allows guests to get a closer view of the elephants in the park.

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 Elephant House 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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