Peter Giddy Guided Tours. In association with SA Guided Tours. www.saguidedtours.com
Contact Peter for this and other special experiences
peter.giddy@gmail.com
Addo Elephant Back Lodge
November 2017
Sunday morning.
I fetch Natalia (a Synchro Swim Coach who is staying with Claudine) at 8.00am and we drive through to the Elephant Back Safari. Cronje and Claudine's daughter, Taegan is a Syncro swimmer and this is how Natalia gets to stay with them.
This drive from Port Elizabeth is just 125km but you should allow yourself three hours to get there comfortably in time for your appointment.
Take the N2 from Port Elizabeth to Nanaga where you turn right on the N10 towards Patterson.
Drive for just over 10km after Patterson and look out for the Krom River turnoff to the Left. This is about 95km from Port Elizabeth.
The dirt road from the N10 to the Elephant Back Safari is 26km. The first 15km is a reasonably drivable road. This takes you to the Addo Palace where there is a gate. Once you are through the exit gate you have about 30 minutes of slow driving -- about 11km. Drive very carefully as the roads are in bad condition and you don't want to have a puncture or other upset.
After driving through the Elephant Back Safari gate you continue for about 500m at which time you see a clearly marked sign indicating a Right Turn to the Day Visitors and Elephant Back riding.
We arrive about 15 minutes early. We had picked up a wounded Knysna Loerie which we tried to give water and to save but the bird died. Seemed so sad as this is a really spectacular bird.
The guides arrived and explained the procedure for the morning. Moffat was in charge. The guides today were Chris; Thembani and Mark who was our guide. We were on Mukwa. He is the largest of the Elephants. The other two are Duma -- the smallest but dominant elephant and Taba. Duma has to separate Mukwa and Taba as these two tend to fight when close to each other.
Mark in front; then Natalia and I was at the back. Mukwa was quite okay with the three of us on his back. It is NOT a comfortable ride. But certainly an experience. Natalia was completely overwhelmed by the whole activity. She had so much fun despite chaffing her ankle. We walk down the road and then turn right onto a field where there are Zebra, Giraffe and Blesbok. Here Moffat takes some pics before we continue on our half hour of being on these 3 meter high giants.
Once the ride is over the Elephants walk down to a gathering point. It is here we can get up close and encounter the real size of the animals.
Once the food is finished the elephants make their way to the Pool where they drink and splash themselves.
Finally we walk across to the feeding area where Moffat brings us some Elephant Food which we feed to the elephant both through the trunk and also direct into their mouth.
We then move down to the main area of the lodge where we are given some delicious Spaghetti Boglonaise for our midday meal. The wifi is strong. wildebees101
At 13.30 we pack up and leave for home. It takes us just over 2 hours. Natalia sleeps the whole way home.
This was a really special experience and totally worthwhile.
Peter Giddy Guided Tours
Contact Peter for these and other Tours
- Garden Route Tour
- Addo Elephant Park Safari
- Cultural and Historical City Tours
- Township Tours -- visiting homes; small industry; Schools; and a meal if pre arranged.
- Wildlife reserves and transfers
- Airport and City Transfers
website www.saguidedtours.com
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