Addo Elephant National Park

Q: What animals can you see in Addo Elephant National Park?

The most likely sightings are Speckled Mousebird (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Southern Fiscal (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Hadada (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Cape Turtle Dove (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Fork-tailed Drongo (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 1006 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

Q: When is the best time to visit Addo Elephant National Park for wildlife?

April has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Q: Can you see African Bush Elephant in Addo Elephant National Park?

Yes — about 52% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Addo Elephant National Park, based on 532 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Q: Can you see Plains Zebra in Addo Elephant National Park?

Yes — about 47% of wildlife watchers report a Plains Zebra sighting in Addo Elephant National Park, based on 435 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Q: Can you see Lion in Addo Elephant National Park?

Yes — about 33% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Addo Elephant National Park, based on 224 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Q: Can you see African Buffalo in Addo Elephant National Park?

Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a African Buffalo sighting in Addo Elephant National Park, based on 310 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

🇿🇦 South Africa

🐘 Elephant Encounters in Addo Wilderness

🌍 #88 Global · 4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #39 in Africa #4 in Desert & Scrub

Southern Africa, South Africa 1006 spp. recorded

Nestled in the malaria-free Sundays River region of South Africa, Addo Elephant National Park is a protected sanctuary defined by dense Mediterranean scrub and rolling thicket. This distinct habitat shelters a thriving population of the African Bush Elephant, the signature species that roams the park's dusty tracks and dense bush.

-33.258° S 25.236° E

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Loxodonta africana

Equus quagga

Panthera leo

Syncerus caffer

📊 Most Spotted

Colius striatus

Lanius collaris

Bostrychia hagedash

Streptopelia capicola

Dicrurus adsimilis

Motacilla capensis

Lamprotornis nitens

Corvus capensis

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Corvus albus

Telophorus zeylonus

Andropadus importunus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Loxodonta africana

Equus quagga

Panthera leo

Syncerus caffer

📊 Most Spotted

Phacochoerus africanus

40–50% · Likely

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

40–50% · Possible

Alcelaphus caama

30–40% · Possible

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Cynictis penicillata

Giraffa giraffa

Aepyceros melampus

Papio ursinus

Taurotragus oryx

Tragelaphus angasii

Tragelaphus scriptus

Suricata suricatta

📊 Most Spotted

Colius striatus

Lanius collaris

Bostrychia hagedash

Streptopelia capicola

Dicrurus adsimilis

Motacilla capensis

Lamprotornis nitens

Corvus capensis

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Corvus albus

Telophorus zeylonus

Andropadus importunus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Stigmochelys pardalis

30–40% · Possible

Chersina angulata

20–30% · Possible

Lygodactylus capensis

Hemidactylus mabouia

Bitis arietans

Pelomedusa galeata

Bradypodion ventrale

Pachydactylus maculatus

Cordylus cordylus

Agama atra

Dispholidus typus

Acontias orientalis

📊 Most Spotted

Sclerophrys capensis

20–30% · Possible

Hyperolius marmoratus

Sclerophrys pardalis

Xenopus laevis

Cacosternum nanum

Cacosternum boettgeri

5–10% · With luck

Amietia delalandii

5–10% · With luck

Strongylopus fasciatus

Breviceps pentheri

Kassina senegalensis

Tomopterna delalandii

<5% · Rare

LC Endemic

Strongylopus grayii

<5% · Rare

Animal Events

🐦

Southern Fiscal Breeding Display

May

During May, Southern Fiscal males perform conspicuous territorial displays, attracting mates.

LC Endemic

Lanius collaris

60–70% · Likely

🦎

Leopard Tortoise Basking

Aug

In August, Leopard Tortoises emerge to bask on warm rocks after the rains.

Stigmochelys pardalis

30–40% · Possible

🦌

Lion Pride Activity

Jun

June sees increased lion hunting activity as prey species gather around water sources.

Panthera leo

30–40% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

50–60

40–50

50–60

40–50

African Bush Elephant

50–60

40–50

30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

Plains Zebra

50–60

40–50

30–40

40–50

50–60

40–50

30–40

40–50

Lion

20–30

30–40

40–50

30–40

20–30

40–50

30–40

20–30

30–40

African Buffalo

40–50

30–40

20–30

40–50

20–30

30–40

Speckled Mousebird

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

50–60

Southern Fiscal

50–60

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

Hadada

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

Cape Turtle Dove

60–70

40–50

60–70

70–80

50–60

60–70

50–60

Fork-tailed Drongo

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

40–50

50–60

Cape Wagtail

40–50

50–60

70–80

50–60

30–40

50–60

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

50–60

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

Cape Crow

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

Egyptian Goose

50–60

30–40

40–50

60–70

40–50

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

Pied Crow

50–60

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

Bokmakierie

40–50

50–60

70–80

50–60

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

30–40

Sombre Greenbul

60–70

40–50

50–60

70–80

60–70

20–30

40–50

60–70

Animal Events

🐦 Southern Fiscal Breeding Display

🦎 Leopard Tortoise Basking

🦌 Lion Pride Activity

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent

🐘 Elephant Encounters in Addo Wilderness

🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

679

🐒 Mammals

190

🦎 Reptiles

106

🐸 Amphibians

1006 Total Species

850 Global average across 296 parks

59 Threatened 14 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

57%

📊

Coverage (223 species at ≥5% of 1006 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

22%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 mammal)

46% Global avg

20%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

134 Global avg

148

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

15 Global avg

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

27 Global avg

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Addo Elephant National Park?

The most likely sightings are Speckled Mousebird (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Southern Fiscal (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Hadada (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Cape Turtle Dove (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Fork-tailed Drongo (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 1006 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Addo Elephant National Park for wildlife?

April has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see African Bush Elephant in Addo Elephant National Park?

Yes — about 52% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Addo Elephant National Park, based on 532 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Plains Zebra in Addo Elephant National Park?

Yes — about 47% of wildlife watchers report a Plains Zebra sighting in Addo Elephant National Park, based on 435 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Lion in Addo Elephant National Park?

Yes — about 33% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Addo Elephant National Park, based on 224 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see African Buffalo in Addo Elephant National Park?

Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a African Buffalo sighting in Addo Elephant National Park, based on 310 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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Addo Elephant National Park

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant

Plains Zebra

Lion

African Buffalo

📊 Most Spotted

Speckled Mousebird

Southern Fiscal

Hadada

Cape Turtle Dove

Fork-tailed Drongo

Cape Wagtail

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

Cape Crow

Egyptian Goose

Pied Crow

Bokmakierie

Sombre Greenbul

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant

Plains Zebra

Lion

African Buffalo

📊 Most Spotted

Common Warthog

Greater Kudu

Khama

Vervet Monkey

Yellow Mongoose

Southern Giraffe

Impala

Chacma Baboon

Common Eland

Nyala

Northern Bushbuck

Slender-tailed Meerkat

📊 Most Spotted

Speckled Mousebird

Southern Fiscal

Hadada

Cape Turtle Dove

Fork-tailed Drongo

Cape Wagtail

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

Cape Crow

Egyptian Goose

Pied Crow

Bokmakierie

Sombre Greenbul

📊 Most Spotted

Leopard Tortoise

Angulate Tortoise

Cape Dwarf Gecko

Tropical House Gecko

Puff Adder

Cape Terrapin

Eastern Cape Dwarf Chameleon

Spotted Thick-toed Gecko

Cape Girdled Lizard

Southern Rock Agama

Boomslang

Linnaeus' Lance Skink

📊 Most Spotted

Ranger's Toad

Painted Reed Frog

Leopard Toad

African Clawed Frog

Dwarf Dainty Frog

Boettger's dainty frog

Common River Frog

Striped Stream Frog

Thicket Rain Frog

Senegal Kassina

Cape sand frog

Clicking Stream Frog

Animal Events

Southern Fiscal Breeding Display

Southern Fiscal