ELEPHANT HOUSE is situated in the sun-drenched Sundays River valley, just 8km from the Main Gate into the Addo Elephant National Park .
The Colonial architecture with a series of deep verandahs filled with comfortable sofas, Persian Rugs and Africana Art set about courtyards and beautiful gardens is a feature.
8 en -suite rooms in the "Main House" (2 of which are family units) and the 6 "Stable Cottages" on the same property, set on acres of rolling lawns. (2 of these also family Units), these cottages also have BBQ facilities.
Three swimming pools on the property!
The rooms in the Main House and the Stable Cottages are all equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, minibars, and Wi-Fi access.
Guests can enjoy farm-to-table breakfasts and lunches, made with fresh local ingredients.
Excellent Game Drives into Addo are available morning and afternoon with our in-house ranger on our open Safari Vehicle - we can also book other great safaris to the Private Game Reserves in the district. Other activities available include historical/ cultural tours, canoeing and hiking.
Children are welcome.
Transfers to and from Port Elizabeth airport (1hr) can be arranged.
These suites consist of a main bedroom with full en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, & internet access, room service, king size beds, hairdryer, bathrobes & safes.
Air Conditioning, Bath Towels, Dressing Gowns, En Suite Bathroom, Ensuite, Hairdryer, Hand Towels, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Available), Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Tea / Coffee, Wardrobe
This suite consists of a main bedroom with interleading section with two additional single beds. Full en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, telephone & dial up internet access, room service, king size beds, hairdryer, bathrobes & safes.
Air Conditioning, Balcony / Deck, Bath Towels, Bath, Bed Linen, Complimentary Wi-Fi, En Suite Bathroom, Ensuite, Fridge, Hairdryer, Hand Towels, Laundry Service (Available), Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Tea / Coffee, Verandah, Wardrobe
Our cottages all consist of a main bedroom with en-suite bathroom (shower only), hairdryer, air-conditioning, tea/coffee making facilities & mini bar fridge. As well as Braai - BBQ facilities. All cottages set on 5ha of rolling lawns and each has its own veranda.
Air Conditioning, Bath Towels, Bed Linen, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Cooking Equipment, Cooking Facilities, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En Suite Bathroom, Ensuite, Fridge, Fridge/Freezer, Gas Cooker, Hairdryer, Hand Towels, Kitchenette, Laundry Service (Available), Microwave, Portable BBQ, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Table, Tea / Coffee, Verandah, Wardrobe
Our family cottage consists of a main bedroom with inter leading section with two additional single beds -ideal for young families. En-suite bathroom (shower only), hairdryer, air-conditioning, tea/coffee making facilities & mini bar fridge. They also have braai (BBQ) facilities.
Air Conditioning, Bath Towels, Bed Linen, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Cooking Equipment, Cooking Facilities, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En Suite Bathroom, Ensuite, Fridge, Fridge/Freezer, Gas Cooker, Hairdryer, Kitchenette, Laundry Service (Available), Microwave, Portable BBQ, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Table, Tea / Coffee, Verandah, Wardrobe
Accept Credit Cards, Activity Desk, Air conditioner, Baby Sitting, Bar, Barbeque Facilities, Internet Access, Malaria Free, Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking, Vegetarian
Air Conditioning, Bath Towels, Bed Linen, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, Drinking Water Filtration System, En Suite Bathroom, Gas Cooker, Gas Cylinders, Laundry Facilities, Laundry Service (Available), Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
24-hour Security, Airport Shuttle (Available), Baby Sitting, Credit Card Facilities, Room Service
Bird Watching, Boules, Game Drives, Game Viewing
Big 5, Bird Watching, Canoeing, Child Friendly Activities, Cultural Tours, Elephant-back Safaris, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Golf, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Quad Biking, Safaris
Our in-house field guide (with great experience with the elephants of Addo) conducts two safaris into Addo in our open Land Rover daily. (This is our “signature safari!”)
MORNING DRIVE: 07:30 – 12:30 R2150pp (R2400pp from 1 Sep 2026) inclusive of park entry & conservation fees, drinks and a safari breakfast
AFTERNOON DRIVE: 14:00 – 17:30 R2150pp (R2400pp from 1 Sep 2026) inclusive of park entry & conservation fees, sundowner drinks and snacks.
*Please note that children under 6 yrs. not allowed on open safari vehicle.
* This is a very popular safari, so it is highly recommended to pre-book it.
Schotia, the oldest private game reserve in the Eastern Cape (40 min drive from Elephant House) lies adjacent to Addo’s eastern boundary has over 40 mammal species and is famous for its lion sightings. This excellent safari commences at 15:00 and ends after sunset at about 19:00 followed by a lovely, cooked meal around the fire in their ‘boma’. Typically, guests are back at EH by about 21:30.
TOOTH & CLAW SAFARI: R2500 pp – (R2600 from 1st Oct 2026) including dinner and drinks, children welcome - CHILDREN 5 AND UNDER HALF RATE (small babies on laps no charge).
FULL DAY ADDO & SCHOTIA: 08:30 – 21:30 R5000pp
(Add R750pp for a transfer there and back)
We have developed a fabulous “Safari Package” combining both Addo & Schotia giving you a very good chance of spotting a wide variety of animals in different habitats all on one day.
Morning drive into Addo departing at 07:30 (breakfast served on this safari) back for lunch on the verandah before being transferred to Schotia for the famous “Tooth & Claw Safari” (dinner served in their ‘boma’) then transferred back to Elephant House in the evening. R5500pp (R5850pp from 1st Oct 2026)
*Pre-booking essential
This 2500-hectare private game reserve near Addo has lion, buffalo and various antelope species.
A knowledgeable guide takes guests on an open 4x4 past citrus groves to the reserve which is situated on the banks of the Sundays River - in the hope that you will view lion, giraffe, wildebeest, plains zebra and many other antelope species including kudu, eland, springbuck, impala, waterbuck, bushbuck and even sable antelope. The game drives include a short stop for a snack and drinks in the bush and ends with a buffet-style meal cooked over open fires in their ‘bush boma’ (weather and capacity-dependent). In inclement weather your meal will be served in Tangelos restaurant.
The meeting point and HQ of this reserve is conveniently situated just 1,5km from Elephant House!
•Sunrise Drive 06:30 includes breakfast R1850pp
•Sunset Drive 16:30 includes dinner R1850pp
This fantastic “big 5” reserve (40 min drive from EH) is home and HQ to one of the world’s leading conservationists, veterinarian Dr Will Fowlds. They offer a very good half day safari which begins at 09:00 and ends with a lunch on their fantastic reserve.
R2150pp (R2270pp from 27 Aug 2026) –when booking please check times and rates as these also vary according to season.
Another beautiful reserve (just under 1hr drive from EH) which offers a half day safari including lunch at their lodge. They are famous for their rare white lions.
R2050pp – when booking please check rates and times as these vary according to season.
Visitors are also welcome to “self-drive” into Addo in their own vehicles (the main artery through the park is tarred and the various loops off it are very good gravel roads.) No booking is required, pay your park entry and conservation fees at the main gate.
40km from EH is Bellevue Reserve on the Olifantskop Pass which offers guided walks through the bush, one of the highlights being able to get reasonably close to giraffe.
•Giraffe walking safari (06:00, 09:00 & 15:00) R900
•Giraffe & Buffalo encounter (06:00, 09:00 & 15:00) R1380
Great for birders! A local adventure guide and taken for a gentle, scenic paddle down a lovely stretch of the Sundays River. Highlights include spotting various kingfisher species, goliath heron and African fish eagle. The custom designed two-man canoes are comfortable and safe (no prior paddling experience is needed!)
MORNING PADDLE (recommended) 08:30 – 11:00 R800pp
AFTERNOON PADDLE 14:30 – 18:00 R800pp
Addo Elephant Park has a beautiful section (without big game) in the Zuurberg mountains (which is a 20-minute drive from Elephant House) Here there is a very scenic hiking trail marked out through the valleys and fynbos ridges of the Zuurberg.
A fantastic activity for the energetic “adrenalin junkies”! A short hike up to the edge of the valley gets one to the starting platform of the highest, longest and fastest double zip-line in the country! Zip for 500m over the valley and finish off with a well-deserved refreshing drink at their very picturesque café next to the river. A wonderful outing for families with young kids and teenagers!
This tour gets one ‘under the skin’ of the area. Starting at Elephant House one is taken in an intimate group (max 4 persons) through the famous citrus groves of the Sundays River valley, stopping at various points to learn about the history, agriculture and culture of our valley. One of the stop – off points is at “The Lookout” where Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, pioneer and author of the famous South African book Jock of the Bushveld is buried, from here the tour heads to Nomathamsanqa Township to be warmly welcomed by smiling local faces and learn a little about contemporary rural life in a modern Africa.
Departs at 16:00 and back in time for a pre-dinner drink. R1000pp including drinks and snacks. (Monday - Friday only)
For something fun whilst on holiday! A quad biking tour through beautiful citrus groves and a bit of bush down to the river on automatic quad bikes with Criss Cross’ adventure guides.
1 ½ hrs R750pp
At Elephant House we serve light lunches under the vines or beside one of the pools , a small ( but excellent!) wine list to enjoy with your lunch.
3km from Elephant House is MOLO LOLO RESTAURANT - excellent Afro/French cuisine ( they have a well known cookery school on the premises) They also have excellent vegetarian options.
This excellent restaurant is very busy and pre booking is recommended.
1,5km away from Elephant House is Tangelos Restaurant with its good South African a la carte menu
3km away from EH is Africanos ....extensive a la carte menu including sushi.