Addo National Park

Christine and I left the Garden Route and began traveling inland on 28 September.  We were taking three days to travel a picturesque, round-about way to eventually meet up with Christine's family for some camping on the Indian Ocean.  Each night was spent in a different location.

Friday night we arrived in Addo National Park:


This is a nature reserve with lots of elephants and other African wildlife.  Christine still had her new phone at this point and took most of the pictures of the wildlife we saw as we left on Saturday.  The most amazing animals sighting was two male lions in their prime walking up a ravine toward a herd of oblivious zebra grazing on the hill above.  These guys were fat, sleek, beautiful, and intimidating.  We were glad we were a distance away... far enough to get out of the car and spy on them through the binoculars.  When one looked directly at me, I was very relieved to be out of range!

We stayed in a cabin and braaied outside under the large moon.  In the public kitchen, there was a warning sign about feeding the monkeys.  We did not see any here, but I would later get to experience these firsthand while camping.

One picture I wish we still had was of a large sign at the entrance of the park.  I cannot remember the exact wording, but it warned visitors that it was against the law to drive over elephant manure.  Seriously!  Why?  To protect the amazing dung beetles feeding on and brooding in the manure from being crushed.  Later in the Kruger, we would see these amazing creatures in action.