Addo Elephant National Park is a large reserve close to Port Elizabeth. The elephant population in this area was persecuted to the point of near destruction and the local herd was diminished to just eleven animals when the park first opened in 1931. Seventy years later the herd stands at over 400 individuals. It is a huge success story and the park is now also home to the 'Big Five', as well as kudu, eland, red hartebeest, and many bird species. In fact the park says it has the 'Big Seven', as off its shores are also whales and great white sharks!
The park has five of South Africa's seven major vegetation zones
Addo has become the focus of one of the most ambitious conservation projects in South Africa, with the ongoing creation of Greater Addo. What is unique about this expansion plan is that it relies on projects involving the private sector.
The Gorah concession is an area of 4,000 hectares of private concession at the edge of the park, not open to the general public. It is for the exclusive use of the guests at Gorah Elephant Camp.