Addo's Elephants - 283km

Other large mammals to be seen include eland, red hartebeest and Cape buffalo – at one time, this was the only population of foot-and-mouth-free buffalo in South Africa. The park has played an important role in the reintroduction of this species elsewhere in South Africa and in Namibia. Dungbeetles are some of the park’s smaller residents.

GREATER ADDO NATIONAL PARK

The protection enjoyed by the elephants in Addo has led to the need to expand the park. From its original size of 6 852 ha, the park has been increased to over 100 000 ha, and the planned Greater Addo Elephant National Park will eventually cover an area of 400 000 ha, stretching right down to the coast, including the Alexandria dunefields. The park will be able to support more than 2 500 elephants and will also offer visitors the opportunity to see whales and dolphins offshore.

ZUURBERG PASS

Before the construction of the Olifantskop Pass north of Paterson, the route from Port Elizabeth into the interior took travellers over the Zuurberg Pass. The historic Zuurberg Inn, built in 1861 as a coaching inn, was badly damaged by a fire in 1902, but was subsequently rebuilt. From the summit, there are sweeping views northwards over the Great Karoo, with the vast expanses of Addo bush stretching to the south.

ZUURBERG SECTION OF THE ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK

Originally a state forest, the 21 121-ha Zuurberg was proclaimed a national park in 1985. It was amalgamated with the Addo National Park ten years later, and has since been enlarged through further land acquisitions. It is a rugged wilderness characterised by spectacular folded mountains, deep forested kloofs and a diversity of vegetation types. Visitors can explore the area on foot by following self-guided day walks or set off on an overnight horse trail.

Along the way, visitors may chance upon kudu, bushbuck, mountain reedbuck, grey rhebok, common and blue duikers and Cape mountain zebra. A family of hippo from the Kruger National Park was reintroduced into the Sundays River in 1992.

PATERSON

Established in 1879, the country village of Paterson was named after its founder, John Paterson. A prominent Eastern Cape personality, Paterson founded the Eastern Cape Herald newspaper in 1845 and played a major role in establishing the Grey Institute in Port Elizabeth.

SHAMWARI GAME RESERVE

...is the only privately owned Big Five reserve in South Africa that is located in a malaria-free area. Covering 18 000 ha, the reserve was opened in 1992 and has won several international awards for its conservation vision. The reserve has been stocked with over 5 000 animals; in addition to the Big Five, there are 18 antelope species and a large diversity of smaller mammals. Also of interest is Credo Mutwa’s Kaya Lendaba (the house of stories), a traditional African arts and culture village depicting the culture and lifestyles of the Xhosa and other southern African peoples.

The programme for day visitors starts at noon with lunch on the game-viewing deck of the Conservation Centre. Designed in partnership with the Born Free Foundation, founded by actress and conservationist Virginia McKenna, the centre consists of a museum and educational facility. Lunch is followed by an hour-long visit to Kaya Lendaba, and visitors are then taken on a game drive under the guidance of an experienced game ranger. The programme concludes at around 18:30.