Addo Main Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

The hub of the national park, with self-catering chalets, a restaurant, a swimming pool, and the famous floodlit waterhole.

Places in Addo Main Rest Camp

Addo Main Rest Camp restaurant A restaurant at the hub of the national park, alongside self-catering chalets and a swimming pool.
Addo Main Rest Camp cafe Casual dining at the self-catering hub of the park.
Addo Main Rest Camp floodlit waterhole viewing area The famous floodlit waterhole that draws elephant herds throughout the night, viewable with a drink in hand.
Floodlit waterhole tradition The famous floodlit waterhole at Addo Main Rest Camp that draws elephant herds throughout the night.

Best time to visit: May to September (dry winter) offers the best game viewing as vegetation thins and animals gather at waterholes.
Getting around: Addo Main Rest Camp is the hub of the national park, with a well-maintained network of gravel and tarred roads for self-driving, and private lodges on adjacent concessions offering night drives.
Currency: South African Rand (R)
Language: English, Afrikaans, isiZulu and isiXhosa are all widely spoken.
Timezone: SAST (UTC+2)
Current trends: Addo's lodge scene continues to leverage its unique 'Big Seven' status, with Addo Main Rest Camp's floodlit waterhole guaranteeing after-dark elephant sightings for self-catering visitors, while private concession lodges like Gorah Elephant Camp and Kuzuko Lodge offer the exclusive night drives that the public park itself doesn't provide.

Private concession district — Home to Gorah Elephant Camp, Kuzuko Lodge, and other private luxury lodges offering exclusive night drives.
Zuurberg Mountain Village district — A mountain village lodge option offering a different landscape from the main flatland park.