Elephant Encounter / Walk
A once in a lifetime experience - at one with nature. Guests can enjoy an elephant encounter / walk through the diverse valleys, plains and forests of the bushveld, whilst delighting in the beauty of the flora and fauna.
Walk with, observe & feed our majestic giants, Thaba, Mukwa and Duma in their natural environment among the trees and grassland. Enjoy in-depth interpretation with their trained handlers who will share their specialized knowledge into their behaviour and the area’s unique eco-system.
Walk with them through the bushveld, ravine and forest habitat. At the conclusion of the walk, enjoy rewarding the elephants with their favorite treats.
Elephant Encounter / Walk Rates
Duration: ± 1 ½ hrs
08h00, 11h00 and 15h00
Please ensure arrival 15 minutes prior to encounter / walk time allocated above.
1 March 2020 - 30 April 2022 (per person): R695
Children between 3 and 12 years of age: R347.50
Above rates Include: Elephant encounter / walk, feeding the elephants and tea, coffee or water.
Excludes road transfers. Road transfers can be arranged through our lodge. Rates on request.
Child Policy: Children are allowed on the walk with a parent, accompanied by an elephant handler. Child rate is 50% of the adult price for children aged between 3-12 years. Children under 3 years - no charge.
What to bring: We recommend that you note the following in order to maximize your comfort during your encounter / walk:
Bird & Botany Guided walk (per person): R390
Duration: 2hrs
As traversing the bush on foot provides an entirely new perception into nature’s mysterious wonders, we offer a leisurely bush walk suited to young and old alike. The walking trails are conducted within our reserve and take place in the company of a knowledgeable guide. This valley bushveld region encompasses habitats ranging from semi-arid Karoo areas, across Fynbos-covered slopes which merge with impenetrable thickets and forests, extending into rolling grasslands which stretch all the way to the Sunshine Coast of the Eastern Cape. Blessed with this natural biodiversity the reserve is able to support a wide range of approximately 91 tree species, various birds of prey, canopy birds, song birds, nocturnal birds, ground birds and grassland birds. Be sure to look out for these species of plantlife - Pork bush, Spekboom, Elephant’s Foot Portulacaria afra, Outeniqua Yellowwood Podocarpus falcatus & Real Yellowwood Podocarpus latifolius, Plumbago Plumbago Auriculata, Schotia Schotia Afra, Karee Rhus Lancea, Sneezewood Ptaeroxylon Obliquum, White Milkwood Sideroxylon Inerme, Wild Olive Olea Africana, Kiepersol (Mountain Cabbage Tree) Cussonia Paniculata, Fynbos Cape Macchia. Be sure to look out for these species of birdlife. Birds of Prey - Black-Shouldered Kite, African Fish Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, Jackal Buzzard, African Goshawk, Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Black Harrier, African Harrier Hawk, Lanner Falcon, Rock Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon. Canopy Birds - Crowned Hornbill, Black-Collared Barbet, Greater Honeyguide, Narina Trogan, Olive Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Red-Chested Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Kacobin Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Diderick Cuckoo, Speckled Mousebird, Red-Faced Mousebird, Ducky Flycatcher, Southern Black Flycatcher, Paradise Flycatcher, Grey-Headed Bush Shrike. Song Birds - Chorister Robin-Chat, Cape Robin-Chat, Brimstone’s Canary, Olive Thrush, Cape Robin, White-Starred Robin, White-Browed Robin, White-Browed Scrub-Robin, European Golden Oriole, Black-Headed Oriole. Nocturnal Birds - Barn Owl, African Grass-Owl, African Wood-Owl, Spotted Eagle-Owl, European Nightjar, Fiery-Necked Nightjar. Nectar Feeders - Southern Double Collared Sunbird, Greater Double Collared Sunbird, Collared Sunbird. Forest Birds - Dark-Backed Weaver, Knysna Turaco. General Birdlife - Cape Batis, Common Fiscal, Southern Boubou, Cape White-Eye, African Firefinch, Common Waxbill, Red-Winged Starling, Cape Glossy Starling, Green-Backed Camoropetera, Village Indigobird, Golden-Breasted Bunting, Bar-Throated Puffback, Cape Bulbul, Dark-Capped Bulbul, Terrestrial Brownbul, Grey Tit, Southern Black Tit, Familiar Chat, Levaillant’s Cisticola, Neddicky, Red-Throated Wryneck, Grey Cuckooshrike, Fork-Tailed Drongo, Cape Crow, Pied Crow. Aerial Birds - Common Swift, African Balck Swift, White-Rumped Swift, Horus Swift, Little Swift, Alpine Swift, White-Throated Swallow, Greater Striped Swallow, Lesser Striped Swallow, Rock Martin, Common House-Martin. Ground Birds - Red-Necked Spurfowl, Common Quail, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Ground Woodpecker, Speckled Pigeon, African Olive Pigeon, Red-Eyed Dove, Cape Turtle Dove, Laughing Dove, Namaqua Dove, African Hoopoe, Green Woodhoopoe, Cape Wagtail, African Quail Finch. Grassland Birds - Secretary Bird, Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, European Roller, Plain-Backed Pipit, Cape Longclaw. Wetland / Riverine Birds - White Stork, African Darter, Grey Heron, Blackheaded Heron, African Sacred Ibis, Egyptian Goose, African Black Duck, African Finfoot, Pied Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Brown-Hooded Kingfisher, Half-Collared Kingfisher, Burchell’s Coucal.
Game Drive on our property (per person): R450
Duration: 2hrs
Our experienced rangers create every opportunity to ensure exceptional viewing during your game drive on this 1000 hectare wildlife property. Excellent sightings, of amongst others, eland, waterbuck, blesbuck, wildebeest, giraffe and zebra can be enjoyed across the reserve’s biomes which are made up of fynbos, sub topical thicket and forest. Our reserve is situated in the pristine valleys of the Zuurberg Mountains bordering the Greater Addo Elephant National Park, regarded as Southern Africa’s most biologically diverse Park as it supports 5 of the 7 recognized biomes, or eco-regions of Southern Africa. Your guide will offer information on all wildlife, botany and also give you the historical background of the area. Be sure to look out for these species - Eland - Taurotragus Oryx, Kudu - Tragelaphus Strepsiceros, Waterbuck - Kobus Ellipsiprymnus, Impala - Aepyceros Melampus, Leopard - Panthera Pardus, Vervet Monkey - Cercopithecus Aethiops, Baboon - Papio Ursinus, Blue Wildebeest - Connochaetes Taurinus, Zebra - Equus Burchelli, Giraffe - Giraffa Camelopardalis, Mountain Reedbuck - Redunca Fulvorufula, Red Hartebeest - Alcelaphus Buselaphus, Common Duiker - Sylvicapra Grimmia, Bush pig - Potamochoerus Porcus, Caracal - Felis Caracal, African Wild Cat - Felis Lybica.
Includes accommodation and all meals, excludes all activities, transfers and beverages.
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Explore servicesE-Bike Tours (per person): R800
Duration: 2hrs
The e-bike trails are conducted within our reserve and take place in the company of a knowledgeable guide. There is an easy trail for beginners and a moderate trail for the more experienced rider. Rate includes a guide, top of the range electrique bicycles, helmet and bottled water. Age restriction is 13 years (we do however have a child seat attachment for babies / toddlers).
*Rates subject to change without prior notice
In-house Beauty Therapist (per person): POA
Duration: (Dependent on treatment)
Our in-house therapist offers a range of treatments from manicures & pedicures to various massages. Enjoy the open-air pampering from the privacy of your own deck overlooking the bush. Relax while we combine nature’s inherent healing & beautifying qualities with the latest technologies to create balance and harmony of the body. Complete the pampering by unwinding in your private spa bath thereafter.
(A list of treatments & prices is available in each room and at reception.)
*Pre-booking is essential*
Addo Elephant National Park
Morning half day Big 5 game drive to
Addo Elephant National Park return.
Per Person: POA
Price includes: •
Pick up and return transfer (Pick up at Barefoot Addo Elephant Lodge at 6am and return at 1pm)
, Conservation fees, Full breakfast in the Addo Elephant National Park, Refreshments.
Afternoon half day Big 5 game drive to
Addo Elephant National Park return.
Per Person: POA
Price includes: Pick up and return transfer (Pick up at Barefoot Addo Elephant Lodge at 1pm and return at 6pm), Conservation fees, Refreshments and snacks.
Full day Big 5 game drive to Addo
Elephant National Park return.
Per Person: POA
Price includes: Pick up and return transfer (Pick up at Barefoot Addo Elephant Lodge at 6am and return at 6pm), Conservation fees, Full breakfast in the Addo Elephant National Park, Refreshments or guests will have a set menu at Cattle Baron restaurant. Lunch refreshments and snacks, Lunch is a traditional South African braai - weather permitting.
Half Day meet and greet at the Park
(Road transfers to & from the lodge are
NOT included/self drive to Addo)
Per Person: POA
Price includes: Big 5 Game Drive, Conservation fees, Game drives depart from Addo reception and guests leave vehicle at reception. Start at 7am and ending at 12pm
Full day meet and greet at the Park
(Road transfers to & from the lodge are
NOT included/self drive to Addo)
Per Person: POA
Price includes: Big 5 Game Drive, Lunch refreshments and snacks, Lunch is a traditional South African braai - weather permitting. Start at 7am and ending at 5pm
Some of its unique features include:
This is a private tour through the National Park with an accredited guide. Now the third largest national park in South Africa, Addo Elephant Park has expanded to conserve a wide diversity of biodiversity, landscapes, fauna and flora. Stretching from the semi-arid Karoo area in the north around Darlington Dam, over the rugged Zuurberg Mountains, through the Sundays River valley and south to the coast between Sundays River mouth and Bushman’s river mouth, Addo covers about 180 000 hectares (444 700 acres) and includes the Bird and St Croix Island groups. This finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 450 elephants, Cape buffalo, a variety of antelope species as well as the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo.
Crisscross Adventures: River Safari: *POA
Duration: 3hrs
08h30, 14h30, 17h30
Birdwatchers and Nature Lovers Paradise: Explore the Sundays River. Includes transfers to & from Barefoot Addo Elephant Lodge, drinks and snacks, custom canoes & life jackets.
The guided Addo River Safari allows guests to explore a different side of Addo and view game and birds on the riverbank while you drift down some of the most scenic parts of the Sunday’s River in a custom designed, comfortable and safe canoes (no paddling experience needed).
The popular Addo River Safari offers guests the best bird watching experience in the Eastern Cape, where one can find countless water birds, 7 different species of kingfisher and the chance of sighting the magnificent fish eagle.
The Custom canoes are ultra stable and provide excellent photographic opportunities to wildlife photographers- especially bird watching enthusiasts.
Addo Elephant National Park
& Schotia Safaris
(Per person) POA
Price includes a 4 hour game drive in the Addo National Park with transfers to and from the Lodge, lunch and conservation fees, then on to Schotia for the full afternoon Tooth & Claw Safari.
The Schotia Tooth & Claw Safari is a four hour guided game drive in an open Land Rover or Land Cruiser with a short refreshment and toilet break at the halfway point.
After an amazing experience, where you will view more animals than you thought possible, enjoy a delicious dinner which is prepared over an open fire. Return to Barefoot Addo Elephant Lodge at approximately 10h30pm.
Schotia Safaris: Tooth
& Claw Safari
Per Person: *POA
Children 4 & under: *POA
Duration: 8 hrs
The Schotia Tooth & Claw Safari is a four hour guided game drive in an open Land Rover or Land Cruiser with a short refreshment and toilet break at the halfway point. After an amazing experience, where you will view more animals than you thought possible, enjoy a delicious dinner which is prepared over an open fire. Schotia tries to show guests as much as possible on a drive and concentrate on the popular sightings like Rhino, Buffalo, Elephant, Hippo, Giraffe and the King of the Beasts – Lions!! A short, spot lit night game drive providing the possibility of more nocturnal animals completes your experience as you return to the reception area.
Arrival from 14h30: Report to reception (sign indemnity; make sure bookings are correct etc.) Meet your guide/ranger. Enjoy a cup of tea/coffee. Make sure you have all your cameras, batteries, jackets, binoculars etc. Please inform the office if you have any special requirements e.g. wheelchairs, frail, children, fears, allergies, dietary requirements etc. Please make sure that you have absolutely no fruit in any bag, handbag, packet or jacket pocket. The reason for this is that the elephants can smell food, whether open or closed and they will try to get it.
From 15:00 to about 18:30: you will view many Antelope, Wildebeest, Zebra, Crocodile, Giraffe, Rhino, Hippo, Elephants, Lions, etc. At around 16:30: you will have a toilet and refreshment stop.
At about 19:00: you will go to the Lapa for a lovely cooked meal around the fires. The usual menu is venison or beef stew/roast, chicken casserole, roast potato, rice, mixed vegetables in cheese sauce, mushroom sauce, home-made bread, dessert, tea / coffee.