Addo Elephant National Park

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03876ba3.gif"> <bR> <div> <B>Addo Elephant National Park</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="7bab4870.jpg" border=0 width="180" height="135" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Copyright (c)<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Arial Narrow" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Brush Script MT" >EL Travel Bugs</FONT></div> <div> <B>"Please do not be alarmed if an elephant should approach your vehicle; just give them space to move on by."</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03976bc1egdyqn.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Brush Script MT" ><B>EL Travel Bugs ~ Travel Tales & Photos</B></FONT><B>   |   </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EL Travel Bugs Travel Tales Photos"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A><B>    </B><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><IMG SRC="7b61e1e0.gif" border=0 width="30" height="30" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> back to <B> </B><A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="South Africa"><U><B>South Africa</B></U></A><B>  </B><B> |   </B><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Travel Adventures"><U><B>Our Most Recent Travel Adventures</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03976ba3.gif"> <div> <B>Addo Elephant National Park</B></div> <div> <B>While visiting South Africa, we decided to visit a wild game</B></div> <div> <B>park, so we head for Gorah Elephant Camp, a private</B></div> <div> <B>reserve within the Addo Elephant National Park that </B><B>offers</B></div> <div> <B>authentic tent accommodations...plumbing but no electricity.</B></div> <div> <B>Why not be a little adventurous!</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="417" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 162 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="74fc88c0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="140" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Dung Beetles at Work</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="200"><div> <B>First, we are greeted at the main gate by a smiling ranger who ask that we avoid running over any dung piles as there could be a flightless dung beetle at work, which are found exclusively in this region.</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>Armed with our instructions, we drive along the red clay, gravel</B></div> <div> <B>road to the main camp, which is about a total of 10 kilometers.</B></div> <div> <B>Our eyes are fully dilated looking for piles of dung and wild</B></div> <div> <B>elephants on a charge.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>  </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Never thought that the dung piles would be more of a problem</B></div> <div> <B>than elephants...though we expertly swerve around these piles</B></div> <div> <B>even if it meant scraping up against the brush along the road.  </B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="428" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 235 WIDTH="204"><div> <B><IMG SRC="7c1c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Gorah Elephant Camp's Main House</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"But we did not harm a single dung beetle!"  Stated upon our arrival.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="213"><div> <B>When we arrive at main camp, </B><B>we discovered that we had claw marks all along the side of our rental car.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003399" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>  The staff told us that these thorny barbed bushes are called the “African Thorn Acacias”, known to make an impression in the wild.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033FF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> "No problem" our staff informs us, apparently this happens frequently...and they can buff out these fierce marks from our vehicle.</B></FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <I><B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="425" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 166 WIDTH="224"><div> <B>A ranger guides us to our assigned tent, elevated on a wooden platform and connected to the main house by a series of boardwalks.  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> We learn that this is necessary to avoid their infamous Puff Adders (snakes)!  That certainly puts new meaning to the phrase...</B></FONT></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="7c3bc8d0.jpg" border=0 width="188" height="141" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>    `Watch your step!'</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></I></div> <div> <I><B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="429" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 261 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="7c59a740.jpg" border=0 width="154" height="116" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Our tent accommodations</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="7c79c750.jpg" border=0 width="156" height="117" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="262"><div> <B>Our tent is quite large and comfortable with a neat bathroom behind the wall of our bedroom / sitting room area. </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>With no electricity, we use candles and lamps for light and our water is heated by gas.  We have all the comforts of home except hairdryers and the ability to charge our camera batteries.  </B></div> <div> <B>Who needs those things when we can hear the roar of a lion near our tent during the night, or ....</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></I></div> <div> <I><B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="432" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 172 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="7c9c8a10.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="161" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="7cbc8a60.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="166" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 220 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="7cdc8ab0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="171" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="216"><div> <IMG SRC="7cfb86a0.jpg" border=0 width="184" height="106" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Catching a glimpse of elephants, lions, zebras, hartebeest, and a family of warthogs drinking from the water-hole off the verandah of the Camp's main house.</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></I></div> <div> <B>On our first morning, we encountered wildlife within out tent.</B></div> <div> <B>A crafty little Vervet monkey </B><B>helps himself to our coffee's</B></div> <div> <B>sugar bowl </B><B>but quickly darts through the tent flap opening,</B></div> <div> <B>leaving a trail of sugar in his wake.</B></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="422" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 185 WIDTH="239"><div> <IMG SRC="7d1cd8e0.jpg" border=0 width="205" height="142" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Sneaky buggers...keeping watch for a tent-raiding opportunity.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="172"><div> <B>One of the warnings we're given is to keep your flaps closed and locked when not in the tent as the resident </B><B>m</B><B>onkeys love to reek havoc with guests' belongings looking for sweets.  What about while you are inside?</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <I><B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="414" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 181 WIDTH="201"><div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF3380" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>We are taken on two game drives a day with one of the rangers.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF3333" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF3300" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>The late afternoon drive, after tea and refreshments, allows us to see various species foraging for their meals.</B></FONT><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>When darkness sets in, the nocturnal favorites begin their rounds.</B></FONT></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="7d3c8af0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="175" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 166 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="7d7c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="202"><div> <B>A female elephant and her 3 year-old feed and play at sunset.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>  </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Watching and listening to these wild animals makes us realize how privileged we are that they allow us to be apart of their day.</B></div> <div> <B>   </B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></I></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="431" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 206 WIDTH="234"><div> <B>Upon our departure from this fantastic Game Camp, we take care to avoid those thorns while not squashing a dung pile.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>  </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>To our pleasant surprise, we encounter two male lions walking up the road toward us.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>  </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Now experienced with animal encounters, we know that they will ignore us and wander off the road to let us by.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="186"><div> <B><IMG SRC="7daba930.jpg" border=0 width="186" height="147" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>What a nice farewell</B></div> <div> <B>treat from the Gorah Elephant Camp. </B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Return to our trip...<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="id68_back_in_cape_town.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="South Africa"><U><B><IMG SRC="6d246270.gif" border=0 width="70" height="39" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><IMG SRC="79a23230.gif" border=0 width="35" height="35" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>Authored by</B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Brush Script MT" ><B>EL Travel Bugs</B></FONT><B>, </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" >Copyright (c)</FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Free Travel Tips"><U><B><IMG SRC="7b564500.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>       </B><A 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