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Today we spent an entire day at the Addo Elephant Park, which is a diverse wildlife conservation park and is one of South Africa’s 19 National Parks.  It currently ranks third in size after Kruger National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

During our visit, we spotted the following:  Termite Mounds,

Ostriches,

Warthogs,

Grysboks,

Birds,

Tortoise,

Buffaloes,

Kudos

Red Hartebeests,

 

Burchell’s Zebras

 

And mainly Elephants!!

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River Bend Lodge is a mere 55 minutes’ drive from Port Elizabeth and is an ideal malaria-free safari addition to a Garden Route holiday. Personalised game drives are led by enthusiastic and experienced guides, who will ensure you have a truly memorable safari experience. Article source: http://riverbendaddo.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-field-guides-viewspring-is-upon-us.html

Port Elizabeth Budget Accommodation

Go to:My Addo

River Bend Lodge is a mere 55 minutes’ drive from Port Elizabeth and is an ideal malaria-free safari addition to a Garden Route holiday. Personalised game drives are led by enthusiastic and experienced guides, who will ensure you have a truly memorable safari experience.

River Bend Lodge is a mere 55 minutes’ drive from Port Elizabeth and is an ideal malaria-free safari addition to a Garden Route holiday. Personalised game drives are led by enthusiastic and experienced guides, who will ensure you have a truly memorable safari experience.

Featured, OMG — By Dave on 2013/09/14 6:49 PM

Elephant mother rescues her baby after it became stuck in the mud by a watering hole at the Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa. The video was filmed by Richard Leonard while on a family holiday.

via GrindTV

Tags: Addo Elephant National Park, Baby Elephant, Baby elephant rescue video, Baby Elephant Screams for Help, Baby elephant stuck in mud gets rescued by mother, calf, Elephant Mother Rescues Baby Trapped In Mud, elephant rescue calf from mud, elephants, Mom, mother, mother elephant, Mother Elephant Rescues Baby Elephant, Mother elephant rescues stuck baby, Mother Rescues Baby Elephant Stuck in Mud, rescue, Richard Leonard, South Africa

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River Bend Lodge is a mere 55 minutes’ drive from Port Elizabeth and is an ideal malaria-free safari addition to a Garden Route holiday. Personalised game drives are led by enthusiastic and experienced guides, who will ensure you have a truly memorable safari experience. Article source: http://riverbendaddo.blogspot.com/2013/09/eve-has-aardvark-sightingand-we-had.html

Port Elizabeth Budget Accommodation

Go to:My Addo

Those who know me, know that I have a soft spot for the Addo Elephant National Park. It is a rather large spot and I would rather spend a day in the park, if given the chance, than doing anything else.


I have an amazing friend who shares this passion and gets to take some great pics as well. The following pics were recently published in a few British newspapers last week as well as being showcased on  our very own 50/50 television programme on SABC 2. 


In the light of next week (9-13 September) being SANPARKS week I asked if I could publish the pics on my blog. I encourage you all to go and take a drive through your nearest SANPark. Go take a look here for your nearest one. www.sanparks.org

Anyway, this friend is part of one of the jewels of Port Elizabeth, “Kragga Kamma Game Park” where she plays an active and exceptionally high profile part against Rhino Poaching in our country. Amongst other things that this incredibly modest, yet talented lady is also the creator of “Africa, This is why I live here“. A Facebook page for anyone who is “delighted, amused and amazed by the things you see, do and experience around you on a day to day basis whilst living in Africa (or have lived in Africa or visited Africa)”. Feel free to click on the link and “LIKE” the page. It really is a feel good, fun-filled page.


Anyway, enough rambling!!!!! On a recent trip with her family she happened upon the following photographic story.

Please note that I have the full permission of the owner to share these photographs on this page. They are all copyrighted. Please do not copy them in any form without the express permission of the photographer. Details below.


This is the picture published in the newspapers:
The write up is from the Daily Mail:

The whole story unfolds in the following 11 photographs and the captions underneath are all hers:

Thanks my Friendie for allowing me the honour of forwarding your amazing pics and story via my blog. Another visit to the park is long over due.


Ayesha can be contacted on ayesha@africathisiswhyilivehere.com

BRAAI PIE

This one is for over the coals is one of my favourites having tried various pies with different fillings. Some with meat and others vegetarian. The pie can also be eaten cold the next day.

Ingredients

2 Rolls of puff pastry dough (pre bought from shop)
2 double handful of cut spinach
Any type of cooked meat (Chicken breast works the best)
250 g bacon
1 large onion
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
250 g mushrooms
100 g Feta cheese
100 g Cheddar cheese
100 g Mozzarella cheese
1 egg
¼ cup of milk

Method

Defrost the dough and roll out on cutting board. (Remember to place dough onto sandwich grill before you start stacking)
Fry onion and bacon together, set aside to cool.
Roughly chop meat, spinach, cheese and peppers.
Place the first handful of raw spinach on the dough, place meat on top, followed by the onion and bacon mixture, add the mushrooms on top.
Add any of your favourite herbs or spices to taste. Do not add salt. Ingredients are salty enough.
Add 3 cheeses and place the last of the spinach on top of the cheese.
Place 2nd piece of pasty over filling and tightly press edges with the bottom piece of pastry. It is a lot of filling, so flatten ingredients as you layer it. Brush with egg and milk mixture.
Use a sandwich grill with high edges and braai pie (not too low) on the coals.
Wrap in foil for first 15 minutes to avoid burning sticking.
Turn over continuously and braai for approximately 20 minutes or until the pastry is brown evenly.
Cut into portions and enjoy!
For a vegetarian option…just leave out the meat. Still extremely delicious. Or even better.. invent your own combinations.


If you do try this recipe please let me have feedback. It’s always exciting to hear what others think or have tried.

Oceana ($5,000-$9,999):
Clean Harbors

Atlantis ($2,500-$4,999):
Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank
Cape Cod Media Group
South Coast Media Group

Neptune ($1,000-2,499):
A Storage Solution

Triton ($500-999):
Liquid Products, LLC
Jim Ann Marie Zagzebski, Madison, WI

Pirate ($250-499):
A.D. Makepeace
Cape Clogs
The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod
HR Block, Buzzards Bay, MA
Katharine Bill Hurd, Sagamore Beach, MA
Jeff Linda Luce, Manomet, MA
Cheryl Mrozowski, Newport, RI
Mary Neumann, Stamford, CT

Siren ($100-$249):
Anonymous – 2 donors
Antaeus Wealth Management
Sue Butler Real Estate
Classy Cuts, Sandwich, MA
Convention Data Services
Doug Cathy Harper, Sagamore Beach, MA
Melissa Hoffer, Concord, MA
Dan Maybruck Plumbing Heating
Miracles in Fitness, Sagamore Beach, MA
Purple Turtle Productions
Robert Powers, Attorney, Sagamore Beach, MA
R H Construction
Bunnie Stevens, Cotuit, MA
Kathy Zagzebski, Buzzards Bay, MA

At the start of the 2013 Site_Specific Land Art Biennale week, on 11 August, the second artwork on the Eden to Addo Land Art Route – “Calling the Herd” by Strijdom van der Merwe – was unveiled.

“This exciting interactive land art work in the Keurbooms Corridor consists of several trumpet-like funnels combined in a tree shape. Visitors can blow these trumpets – recalling the sounds of elephants on their ancient migration route across the mountains. Symbolically this art work relates to the three elephant sculptures of Aartmoeders – calling them (and all humans that can hear the call)  to join in the Eden to Addo journey towards re-establishing nature’s ancient routes for all species.” – from the Site_Specific website

Eden to Addo is a conservation initiative that aims to create a living conservation corridor between the greater Garden Route National Park and Addo Elephant National Park some 400km to the east. In essence, and in layman’s terms, they are hoping to place the corridors as plasters that heals the landscape – re-establishing migration patterns of animals, which in turn supports the biodiversity and health of the plants, trees and water in the region.


How does Land Art fit into this?


The corridor will be linked with land art pieces across various mountain ranges and biomes, symbolically and creatively linking the different communities, areas and other aspects of the entire landscape. The project is aimed at raising funds for conservation, at supporting the arts and also creating opportunities for the communities in the area. 

“By creating a platform for the exploration of art and ecology in SA, we aim to help the communities living within the corridor to explore the nature of their relationship with their environment. Hikers on the 400km Eden to Addo Great Corridor Hike held in September each year, will have an opportunity to enjoy art on route. And those that cannot hike will have the opportunity to drive from one land art piece to the next in time to come, creating a tourism attraction with its associated benefits for the landowners within the Eden to Addo Corridor.” – from the Eden to Addo website

Camping
facilities for tents and caravans is available with shared ablutions and
kitchen. All have a Spekboom hedge around them for privacy.

River Bend Lodge is a mere 55 minutes’ drive from Port Elizabeth and is an ideal malaria-free safari addition to a Garden Route holiday. Personalised game drives are led by enthusiastic and experienced guides, who will ensure you have a truly memorable safari experience.

airline ticket websites: Addo Elephant Park – This small reserve, home…

This entry was posted by Lawrence Braxton on September 1, 2013 at 3:00 pm

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…rugged landscape comprising natural beauty and iconic travel specials to ireland African images travel specials to ireland in equal parts. Here you will stand on the grainy sands of the Wild Coast and see…

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The Addo Elephant Trail Run will be held on the 2nd March 2014.

Experience the thrill of running wild! Tackle the 76km or 44km Trail Run through the vast Addo Elephant National Park (75km from Port Elizabeth) and experience the remoteness of the Eastern Cape’s bushveld. Designed to test trail runners both mentally and physically, the trail tracks the mountains and valleys of the park.  Runners are challenged to run primarily on tracks within the park itself as well as some stretches of gravel roads. If you are fit enough to go the distance – come and experience the unrivalled natural diversity of the park’s vegetation and wildlife. 

LOGISTICS: Runners are required to run with a small pack to carry two drinking bottles or a bladder.  For environmental reasons, no cups or sachets will be provided at the checkpoints – water bottles will be filled. Check Points are stocked with bottled water, energy drinks, cola, tea, coffee, soup, boiled potatoes, jam and peanut butter sandwiches, oranges, bananas and sweets.

REGISTRATION: Registration will be held at the Addo Elephant National Park Main Rest Camp from 13:00 on Friday, 28 February 2014.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: There will be nurses along the route, as well as a 4×4 ambulance with paramedics and the Mountain Search and Rescue Team in vehicles.

76km ROUTE: Starts at the Entrance Gate to the Addo Elephant National Park, Kabouga, just outside Kirkwood at 06:00 on Saturday, 02 March 2013.  The 76km route winds its way over the mountains, into the Sundays River Valley and then across the escarpment of the Zuurberg Mountains to finish at the Addo Elephant Park Main Rest Camp.  There are 8 Check Points along the route.  There is a cut-off time at 16:30 at Check Point 6 (47km mark) and at 19:00 at Check Point 7 (56.5km mark).  All finishers of the 76km run will receive a miniature hand blown glass elephant serviette ring from Ngwenya Glass which will be given to the participants as they finish.

44km ROUTE: Starts at the Entrance Gate to the Addo Elephant National Park, Kabouga, just outside Kirkwood at 06:00 on Saturday, 02 March 2013. The 44km route follows a section of the 76km route to finish at Zuurberg Mountain Village.  There are 6 Check Points along the route.  There is a cut-off time at 16:30 at Check Point 6 (34km mark).  ).  All male finishers of the 44km run will receive a commemorative leather bracelet and the ladies a necklace which will be given to the participants as they finish.

PRIZE GIVING: Prize-giving for the 44km will be at the Zuurberg Mountain Village at 14:00.  Mens and Ladies trophies for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions will be handed out.  Prize-giving for the 76km will be at the Addo Elephant National Park Main Rest Camp at 19:00.  Mens and Ladies trophies for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions will be handed out.

The Check Points are set every 8 – 11 km apart.  Check the distances on the schedules.

There are 8 Check Points on the 76km.

There are 5 Check Points on the 44km.

Check Points will be equipped with water, energy drinks, cola drink and sweets.  Certain Check Points will also have oranges, sliced bread, jam, peanut butter.

Familiar faces at the Check Points are Rudi Thirion and friends, Yvonne from Magnolia BB, Otters Pool, Charles and Monty Owen and family (and the best soup ever!),  Thijs, William, Deon and Mileen.  These special and dedicated people come back year after year to look after the participant.

Article source: http://showme.co.za/events-entertainment/sporting-events/addo-elephant-trail-run/

airline ticket websites: Addo Elephant Park – This small reserve, home…

This entry was posted by Lawrence Braxton on September 1, 2013 at 3:00 pm

Share

…rugged landscape comprising natural beauty and iconic travel specials to ireland African images travel specials to ireland in equal parts. Here you will stand on the grainy sands of the Wild Coast and see…

Comments

The Addo Elephant Trail Run will be held on the 2nd March 2014.

Experience the thrill of running wild! Tackle the 76km or 44km Trail Run through the vast Addo Elephant National Park (75km from Port Elizabeth) and experience the remoteness of the Eastern Cape’s bushveld. Designed to test trail runners both mentally and physically, the trail tracks the mountains and valleys of the park.  Runners are challenged to run primarily on tracks within the park itself as well as some stretches of gravel roads. If you are fit enough to go the distance – come and experience the unrivalled natural diversity of the park’s vegetation and wildlife. 

LOGISTICS: Runners are required to run with a small pack to carry two drinking bottles or a bladder.  For environmental reasons, no cups or sachets will be provided at the checkpoints – water bottles will be filled. Check Points are stocked with bottled water, energy drinks, cola, tea, coffee, soup, boiled potatoes, jam and peanut butter sandwiches, oranges, bananas and sweets.

REGISTRATION: Registration will be held at the Addo Elephant National Park Main Rest Camp from 13:00 on Friday, 28 February 2014.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: There will be nurses along the route, as well as a 4×4 ambulance with paramedics and the Mountain Search and Rescue Team in vehicles.

76km ROUTE: Starts at the Entrance Gate to the Addo Elephant National Park, Kabouga, just outside Kirkwood at 06:00 on Saturday, 02 March 2013.  The 76km route winds its way over the mountains, into the Sundays River Valley and then across the escarpment of the Zuurberg Mountains to finish at the Addo Elephant Park Main Rest Camp.  There are 8 Check Points along the route.  There is a cut-off time at 16:30 at Check Point 6 (47km mark) and at 19:00 at Check Point 7 (56.5km mark).  All finishers of the 76km run will receive a miniature hand blown glass elephant serviette ring from Ngwenya Glass which will be given to the participants as they finish.

44km ROUTE: Starts at the Entrance Gate to the Addo Elephant National Park, Kabouga, just outside Kirkwood at 06:00 on Saturday, 02 March 2013. The 44km route follows a section of the 76km route to finish at Zuurberg Mountain Village.  There are 6 Check Points along the route.  There is a cut-off time at 16:30 at Check Point 6 (34km mark).  ).  All male finishers of the 44km run will receive a commemorative leather bracelet and the ladies a necklace which will be given to the participants as they finish.

PRIZE GIVING: Prize-giving for the 44km will be at the Zuurberg Mountain Village at 14:00.  Mens and Ladies trophies for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions will be handed out.  Prize-giving for the 76km will be at the Addo Elephant National Park Main Rest Camp at 19:00.  Mens and Ladies trophies for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions will be handed out.

The Check Points are set every 8 – 11 km apart.  Check the distances on the schedules.

There are 8 Check Points on the 76km.

There are 5 Check Points on the 44km.

Check Points will be equipped with water, energy drinks, cola drink and sweets.  Certain Check Points will also have oranges, sliced bread, jam, peanut butter.

Familiar faces at the Check Points are Rudi Thirion and friends, Yvonne from Magnolia BB, Otters Pool, Charles and Monty Owen and family (and the best soup ever!),  Thijs, William, Deon and Mileen.  These special and dedicated people come back year after year to look after the participant.

River Bend Lodge is a mere 55 minutes’ drive from Port Elizabeth and is an ideal malaria-free safari addition to a Garden Route holiday. Personalised game drives are led by enthusiastic and experienced guides, who will ensure you have a truly memorable safari experience.

Addo Elephant National Park was like a combination of I Spy and I’m Thinking of an Animal. . . but in real life. We drove around with our heads peered up against (and out of) the van windows, looking for animals to mark off of our charts. We really wished we had more than one pair of binoculars.

She was being really funny, “Why did we pack jackets today? I’m sweatin’ like a sinner at church!” We were actually relieved to be visiting South Africa during their cooler, winter temperatures. 

We were somewhat impressed with what we had seen, but we had really hoped to find an elephant or a lion or a dung beetle, so we kept driving around. But we mostly just saw lots of birds and lots of warthogs:

And then we realized there were two elephants:

Then Steve yelled at us to look out the back window. The next two or three minutes were unreal. A small herd of elephants ran right towards our car:

It was one of those experiences where Steve and I looked at each other in disbelief. . . this was really happening!

This last elephant made us a little nervous. He stopped, looked right at us like he was bothered, waved his trunk around at us, but then he finally turned back and kept going into the brush with the other elephants:

Rachel immediately asked, “Is that an extra trunk?”

Steve about died laughing. He caught it on video. . . so I’m sure she will be teased for decades to come.

And with that, we decided it was time to go. . . because it’s always best to depart on a high note.

There is lodging available at Addo Elephant National Park, and if we were to go back again someday, I would want to spend at least one night sleeping in the park.

On our drive back to Port Elizabeth, I asked Steve to pull over so I could take this picture. But I should have taken it as a panorama. . . it was the largest cemetery I had ever seen:

Since we had been in the car for most of the day, we stopped at Hobie Beach to let the kids run around and play.

Here’s my picture of Shark Rock Pier:

But it sure was it windy. Hence the reason we packed our jackets:

There were a lot of comments that came out of Steve’s mouth, including things like:

“I don’t know why anyone would ever want to live in Port Elizabeth.”

(Hmmm. . . maybe it’s because they have miles and miles of pristine beaches. . . or maybe it’s because of the scuba diving, surfing, kiteboarding, or world famous whale watching.)

“Every single time we come to Port Elizabeth, it’s windy.”

(That was especially funny to me. . . because you know, we’ve been to Port Elizabeth all of three times.)

“If we had to move to South Africa, this is the last place I would pick to live.”

(Not true. . . but Steve clearly didn’t like the wind.)

We went back to our hotel and met up with Derrick and Gcobisa, who had spent the day at the local mall. Derrick bought Gcobisa a pair of red Converse All Stars. Even though Gcobisa has small feet and wears kids’ sizes, the shoes still cost $50 USD.

I was starting to get nervous about all of these great pictures we had taken on our trip that had been downloaded onto my computer, but weren’t backed up anywhere. Since internet speeds were relatively decent at the hotel, I decided to pay for 24-hours of internet to get as many pictures as I could loaded onto my blog as a backup.

We hadn’t ever really eaten a real lunch and the kids were starving. So Steve, Derrick, and the kids went to eat dinner at the hotel’s buffet.

The cost was something like $20 per adult, so I decided to stay in our room and work on uploading pictures. Gcobisa stayed behind with me, so I could get her registered for a visa interview. There weren’t any appointments available in Durban, where we had planned to have her interview, so we made the appointment for Johannesburg.

Steve texted me: You want to come.
Me: Are you sure? I just ate a bunch of crackers and half a pound of cheese.
Steve: Salad, fruit, rice, potatoes, lots of desserts.

So I went. The salad was lame. The fruit was picked over. The rice was served with curry. Menudo curry. (Menudo is cow stomach lining and has the most putrid smell ever.) None of the other entrees were the least bit appetizing. The desserts were gross.

I ate a small salad, a dry roll, and pushed the rest of my food around on my plate. . . All I could think about was how good the salads and pizza had been at Charlie’s Pizza and Pasta the night before. Lesson learned. Always, always, always, walk around and check out the buffet before you pay twenty bucks to eat.

But you know. . . you win some, you lose some. And the elephant experience was definitely a win.

Article source: http://mleballard.blogspot.com/2013/08/south-africa-day-14-addo-elephant.html

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2 nights were spent at Jeffrey’s Bay, a little surfer town by the coast. Sadly, it was raining for majority of our first day so we didn’t do much apart from wander down the beach and get drenched. We did stretch our creative minds by playing a game called “utensils”, invented by the lovely Susie, […]

Port Elizabeth Budget Accommodation

Go to:My Addo

Addo Elephant National Park was like a combination of I Spy and I’m Thinking of an Animal. . . but in real life. We drove around with our heads peered up against (and out of) the van windows, looking for animals to mark off of our charts. We really wished we had more than one pair of binoculars.

She was being really funny, “Why did we pack jackets today? I’m sweatin’ like a sinner at church!” We were actually relieved to be visiting South Africa during their cooler, winter temperatures. 

We were somewhat impressed with what we had seen, but we had really hoped to find an elephant or a lion or a dung beetle, so we kept driving around. But we mostly just saw lots of birds and lots of warthogs:

And then we realized there were two elephants:

Then Steve yelled at us to look out the back window. The next two or three minutes were unreal. A small herd of elephants ran right towards our car:

It was one of those experiences where Steve and I looked at each other in disbelief. . . this was really happening!

This last elephant made us a little nervous. He stopped, looked right at us like he was bothered, waved his trunk around at us, but then he finally turned back and kept going into the brush with the other elephants:

Rachel immediately asked, “Is that an extra trunk?”

Steve about died laughing. He caught it on video. . . so I’m sure she will be teased for decades to come.

And with that, we decided it was time to go. . . because it’s always best to depart on a high note.

There is lodging available at Addo Elephant National Park, and if we were to go back again someday, I would want to spend at least one night sleeping in the park.

On our drive back to Port Elizabeth, I asked Steve to pull over so I could take this picture. But I should have taken it as a panorama. . . it was the largest cemetery I had ever seen:

Since we had been in the car for most of the day, we stopped at Hobie Beach to let the kids run around and play.

Here’s my picture of Shark Rock Pier:

But it sure was it windy. Hence the reason we packed our jackets:

There were a lot of comments that came out of Steve’s mouth, including things like:

“I don’t know why anyone would ever want to live in Port Elizabeth.”

(Hmmm. . . maybe it’s because they have miles and miles of pristine beaches. . . or maybe it’s because of the scuba diving, surfing, kiteboarding, or world famous whale watching.)

“Every single time we come to Port Elizabeth, it’s windy.”

(That was especially funny to me. . . because you know, we’ve been to Port Elizabeth all of three times.)

“If we had to move to South Africa, this is the last place I would pick to live.”

(Not true. . . but Steve clearly didn’t like the wind.)

We went back to our hotel and met up with Derrick and Gcobisa, who had spent the day at the local mall. Derrick bought Gcobisa a pair of red Converse All Stars. Even though Gcobisa has small feet and wears kids’ sizes, the shoes still cost $50 USD.

I was starting to get nervous about all of these great pictures we had taken on our trip that had been downloaded onto my computer, but weren’t backed up anywhere. Since internet speeds were relatively decent at the hotel, I decided to pay for 24-hours of internet to get as many pictures as I could loaded onto my blog as a backup.

We hadn’t ever really eaten a real lunch and the kids were starving. So Steve, Derrick, and the kids went to eat dinner at the hotel’s buffet.

The cost was something like $20 per adult, so I decided to stay in our room and work on uploading pictures. Gcobisa stayed behind with me, so I could get her registered for a visa interview. There weren’t any appointments available in Durban, where we had planned to have her interview, so we made the appointment for Johannesburg.

Steve texted me: You want to come.
Me: Are you sure? I just ate a bunch of crackers and half a pound of cheese.
Steve: Salad, fruit, rice, potatoes, lots of desserts.

So I went. The salad was lame. The fruit was picked over. The rice was served with curry. Menudo curry. (Menudo is cow stomach lining and has the most putrid smell ever.) None of the other entrees were the least bit appetizing. The desserts were gross.

I ate a small salad, a dry roll, and pushed the rest of my food around on my plate. . . All I could think about was how good the salads and pizza had been at Charlie’s Pizza and Pasta the night before. Lesson learned. Always, always, always, walk around and check out the buffet before you pay twenty bucks to eat.

But you know. . . you win some, you lose some. And the elephant experience was definitely a win.