| It was summer and time for a holiday. What I | | | | see, covered with lush green bushveld, clear |
| wanted was to go on one of the many South | | | | sunny sky, the weather not too hot and wild |
| African safaris available, I wanted to see | | | | birds' creating the ambience for the perfect day. |
| elephants and I did not want to worry about | | | | In moments like this you appreciate the finer |
| malaria. This all added up to one place: Addo | | | | things in life, a good glass of wine, paired with a |
| Elephant. | | | | platter of cheeses and a good book. |
| Why so worried about malaria? | | | | Addo Elephant Park |
| Although I have nothing against travelling to areas | | | | My first safari trip to the Addo Elephant Park was |
| where tourists are warned against malaria, you | | | | brilliant! I've never seen a black rhino before so |
| usually have to start with medication before hand. | | | | when I had my first encounter, I couldn't believe |
| There was not enough time for me to start the | | | | just how big this animal really is. The tour guide |
| procedure, so the only option for a safari was to | | | | informed us that this was the largest male in the |
| go on a malaria free safari, which happened to be | | | | park and that he has quite the reputation as the |
| in the Eastern Cape Province where the Addo | | | | local Romeo, since he has fathered most of the |
| Elephant National Park is located. | | | | calves that were born in the park. We saw |
| Originally created as a sanctuary for the eleven | | | | gemsbok, black wildebeest, buffalos, springboks |
| remaining elephants of this area, the success of | | | | and of course, my favourite amongst the animal |
| Addo Elephant Park became home to more than | | | | kingdom, elephants. With their majestic strides |
| 450 elephants today. Subsequently the park had | | | | their troop was slowly moving towards the river |
| to be expanded and now also houses Cape | | | | banks. I've never seen so many cameras being |
| buffalos, the endangered black rhino, lions, spotted | | | | pulled out of their covers all at once. While the |
| hyenas and a number of antelope species. The | | | | elephants were playing in the water, the tourists |
| park lies deep within the dense bushveld of | | | | and I got trigger happy with our cameras. |
| Sundays River region and what is really is striking | | | | I was sure that I got a few keepsakes and I was |
| about this National Park is its unrivalled natural | | | | content to continue on our safari towards the |
| diversity. Of South Africa's seven major | | | | ocean shore. This is the one big thing that sets |
| vegetation zones, five features in the Addo | | | | Addo Elephant Park aside from any other South |
| Elephant Park and to top it all off, instead of the | | | | African park, the fact that they have both marine |
| Big 5, they have the Big 7 which includes: | | | | and land wildlife. Although we did not see a white |
| elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard, rhino with the two | | | | shark, we were fortunate enough to see whales. |
| extra being whales and the great white shark! | | | | During their breeding season the Southern Right |
| Amakhala Safari Lodge | | | | Whales swim down to the Cape Town area |
| All arrangements seemed perfect, except for one | | | | where they stay for a few weeks before moving |
| small detail, accommodation. I must admit I was | | | | on again. In one day I got the chance to see both |
| little disappointed that I couldn't find | | | | the biggest land and sea mammals! What more |
| accommodation within the park, but booking at | | | | could you ask for on a holiday? |
| such late notice, I had nobody but myself to | | | | I think that even though this was a holiday that |
| blame. I was very relieved though when I found | | | | really needed better preparation, everything, from |
| accommodation at the Amakhala Safari Lodge, | | | | accommodation to the safari trip was well above |
| which was located very near to both the | | | | anything I expected. By the time I was on my |
| Shamwari and Addo Elephant Park. | | | | way back home I felt well rested and really |
| It never ceases to amaze me just how beautiful | | | | pleased with the fact that I got to see both |
| South African nature is! I'm sitting on the veranda | | | | elephant and whale in one day. Not many have |
| overlooking a valley that is, as far as the eye can | | | | had the pleasure of such an experience. |