Elephant House is a rambling colonial farmhouse with thatched roofs, deep verandas filled with comfortable sofas, Persian Rugs and a private art collection, built around courtyards and lush gardens.
It is situated in the Sunday’s RiverValley, an easy 45 minute drive from the historic Indian Ocean harbour town of Port Elizabeth in the malaria-free Eastern Cape.
Children are most welcome and baby sitters are available on request. Children also have full use of the “Club Room” which has games, a TV with a DVD library, and a laptop computer.
Elephant House is proudly hosted on TravelKids.co.za.
Please click on 'DETAILS', 'SERVICES', 'PRICES', 'CONTACTS' buttons below for more information and details.
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Address: 8km from main gate to Addo Elephant National Park
Town: Addo
Province: Eastern Cape
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Details
Rooms: 7
Age group All ages
Services
FACILITIES GENERAL INFORMATION
Room description:
Elephant House has 7 spacious fully air-conditioned and heated en-suite rooms (one of which is a family suite) with private verandas.
Room facilities:
Air-conditioning
Bathrobes
Hairdryers
Heating
King size beds – extra length
Safes
Telephone and dial-up internet access
24 hour room service
Lodge facilities:
2 Swimming pools set in the lush gardens
Dining – light lunches on the terrace or beside the pool and delicious three course candlelit dinners served daily – superb country cuisine complimented by a selection of great Cape wines!
Game drives into Addo on open 4X4Land Cruiser
Varied list of other activities including Day trips to nearby Private reserves, Elephant Back safaris, Horseback safaris, canoeing on the river, Helicopter trips as well as Cultural, Historical and Agricultural tours in the valley
"Club Room" for guests' use with DVD library, games and laptop with complimentary internet access
Laundry/Valet
Transfers arranged
Baby sitting facilities available
Helicopter Landing Facilities (33:30:50 S 25:41:50 E)
Facilities Nearby:
AddoElephantNational Park
Addo Polo Club (tennis & squash courts available) 3km
Summer – (Oct – May, Mon to Fri) COMPLIMENTARY massages, manicures etc by in house therapist.
Complimentary afternoon tea/cake.
Complimentary glass of champagne at "sundowner" time.
Complimentary day membership of Addo Polo Club (tennis & squash courts).
Social & Environmental Responsibility:
We are very involved with the local community, our policy is to only employ, empower and uplift people from our community and to support their enterprises (for transfers, laundry, fresh food supplies, local artisans etc)
In addition to this, we sponsor and support the following:
The children displaced by the AIDS pandemic in the Langbos community
Nomathamsanqa Educare Centre
Noatasanqua Cricket Club
Ajax Addo Football Club
The Wilderness Foundations "Umze Whethu" project
The Mayibuyu Ndlovu Development Programme
Paterson Cultural Group
Activities in our Addo area:
AddoElephantNational Park is one of the world’s great conservation success stories and embraces one of the highest concentrations of big game in Africa and thus offers some wonderful game viewing opportunities.In addition to the famous elephants of Addo there are also lion, buffalo, black rhino, hyena, jackal and a variety of antelope species.Of the smaller animals the surricates and the flightless dung beetle are of great interest.Over 150 species of birds have been recorded in the area.
The vegetation that one encounters in the area is known as “Valley Bushveld” – this is a biome unique to the river valleys of the Eastern Cape.The plants are tough and drought resistant (Addo’s average annual rainfall is 385mm) with a high proportion of succulents much loved by elephants, black rhino and kudu.Per cubic meter, Valley Bushveld is able to support more animals, birds and insects than any other biome on earth, in addition, one of the dominant plant species here, the “Spekboom” is one of the worlds best carbon converters!
There are various game viewing options available in Addo and the surrounding area as well as some exceptional cultural encounters:
Elephant House Safari Co. Addo Elephant drives Our in-house field guide, an elephant expert with many years experience with the elephants of Addo conducts 2 game drives through the National Park in our open land cruiser daily, both departing and ending at The Elephant House. Drinks and snacks are provided on the game drive. Morning Drive– 9am to 12:30pm Afternoon Drive - 2pm to 5:30pm R600pp per drive (includes park entry fees, drinks and snacks)
ElephantHouseSafariCo.Valley Tour This tour (nicknamed the “wine route tour”) is a must! Clive takes one from The Elephant House to the historic Addo Polo Club then through the famous citrus groves of the SundaysRiverValley to a beautiful look out point where pioneer Sir Percy Fitzpatrick is buried. We then move on to have sundowners and snacks overlooking a dam on a private plantation. The trip ends with a visit to an amazing garden and tavern in the NomatamsanqaTownship. Departs 4pm and returns in time for a pre-dinner drink. R450pp (includes all drinks and snacks)
Schotia “Tooth and Claw” Safari Schotia Private Game Reserve lies adjacent to Addo’s eastern boundary. This reserve has numerous antelope species as well as lions (the lion sightings here are renowned). The “Tooth and Claw” safari runs from 3pm to 7pm followed by a barbeque in their boma Schotia is a half an hour’s drive from The Elephant House. Self-drive to Schotia. Transfers can be arranged. R660pp (including barbeque and drinks) – children all ages welcome – under 5 yrs = half price
Addo Elephant Back Safaris and Walks Addo Elephant Back Safaris have a base camp in a remote valley in the ZuurbergMountains. They offer a unique experience “Walk with the Elephants” – where one walks through the bush with the elephants and their very knowledgeable and experienced minders. The walk is not strenuous and at an enjoyable pace. This is a wonderful way in which to learn more about these giant pachyderms as they go about their business of walking, feeding and watering in their natural environment. Departure times 08:00, 11:00 and 15:30.The drive to the Zuurberg is about an hour and a half on a gravel road; however we highly recommend that you take advantage of the transfer so that you may enjoy the spectacular scenery en route.
All children welcome on Elephant Back Safari – children under 12 pay half the adult rate All children above 12 = adult rate
“Big 5” Private Game Reserves There are several other “big 5” private game reserves within a 45 minute drive of Elephant House – all of these offer excellent half day safaris (including a meal), which we can book for you. They are: PUMBA AMAKHALA BUSHMAN SANDS GAME RESERVE
South African National Parks Addo Drives The park guides offer superb morning, afternoon, sunset and night drives of 2hrs each in open vehicles through the AddoNational Park. On the night drives, apart from the nocturnal species, one often encounters black rhino and buffalo. Winter Safaris at 7am (R170pp), 9am (R170pp), 12pm (R170pp), 3pm (R170pp), 3pm (R170pp), 6pm (R255pp), 7:30pm (R190pp) Summer Safaris at 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 8pm. Please check rates at reception when booking. NOTE:No children under the age of 6 years allowed on game drives.
Addo Elephant National Park Horse Trails The AddoNational Park offers morning and afternoon safaris on horseback through the reserve accompanied by a ranger, one often has the opportunity of viewing game close up on the trail through the elephant area. Beginner rides at 8am-10am at R170per person and Advanced Rides from 2-5pm – cost R220pp. They also offer horse trails in the ZuurbergMountains. Please enquire at reception for times & rates. NOTE: No children under 10 years allowed.
Helicopter trip to beach We are able to arrange a helicopter trip to a beautiful unspoiled beach on the Indian Ocean for a beach picnic and swim. You are picked up and brought back to the front lawn of Elephant House by helicopter. Your flight to the beach lasts about 15 – 20 minutes and you will see the AddoElephantPark (although one is not allowed to fly directly over it) from the air.
Spirits of the past" Tour This is a story that must be heard of frontier wars, pioneering spirits and heroic people bound together by indomitable determination and gritty humour. Recapture the Spirits of the Past renowned historian and raconteur Alan Weyer whose captivating narrative of this region’s proud history of spectacular battles and courageous people will add a new dimension to a visit to the Eastern Cape
CrisscrossMountain Tour Guests are collected at Elephant House by local adventure guides Gary Fitzpatrick & Christopher Pickles and taken into a remote, pristine section of the nearby Zuurberg Mountains (the drive takes one through a section in the Greater Addo Elephant Park where one may encounter the endangered Black Rhino) to "Otto's Pool" - where one can enjoy a leisurely stroll along a bubbling mountain stream that bypasses caves, waterfalls, rock pools and a natural fountain. (The more energetic are able to hike through the indigenous forest up to open grasslands). A delicious lunchtime braai (BBQ) is served beside a clear deep mountain pool where one can have a relaxing dip into the water or float on a tube.Bird watching here is phenomenal! Duration: 9am - 4pm R1 100pp (inclusive of park entrance fees, drinks, snacks, braai and transfers from and back to the lodge)
CrisscrossRiver Tour Guest are collected at Elephant House/Stable Cottages by Chris and are taken for a very scenic paddle down the Sunday's River. Explore a different world down on the river - view game and birds along the riverbanks (great birding here too - especially look out for the riverine species including various King Fisher species as well as Goliath Herons and African Fish Eagles - while your guides paddle you down some of the most scenic parts of the valley.
Quad Bike Tours (for the more adventurous….) Various Quad Bike tours – experience something different!Guests ride through the orchards of a working citrus farm and even pick your own bag of oranges in season!For the more adventurous, take a splash through the river on a quad. Helmets & Goggles provided. Juice & snacks served after both tours.
Hike in the ZuurbergMountains In the beautiful Zuurberg section of the AddoElephantNational Park there is a scenic hiking trail through the valleys and onto the fynbos ridges of the mountains. Normal park entry fees apply.
Bushman Sands Golf Course Bushman Sands is an exciting partnership between Shamwari and the Government in which they have revived and created wonderful employment opportunities in the dormant old railway town of Alicedale – 40min drive from Elephant House. A magnificent 18-hole (“Bushveld links”) Gary Player design golf course is a feature of the hotel. Please enquire at reception for golf bookings. Bushman Sands Hotel also has a day spa.
Port ElizabethCity Tour The Indian Ocean Rim city of Port Elizabeth has a fascinating history being the landing point of the 1820 British Settlers and latterly a very significant centre in the anti apartheid movement. A tour to Port Elizabeth where you will visit central Port Elizabeth’s historical and natural attractions, combined with a visit to the townships (which will take you to some famous sites in the struggle against apartheid) is indeed extremely fascinating. Optional visits to the Dolphinarium, Intsimbe Beads, RonBellingArtGallery, The Horse Memorial, No. 7 Castle Hill (a restored Settler Cottage) and St Georges Park – the famous cricket ground (where the first cricket and rugby test matches in South Africa were played) can also be included on your tour.
Other activities and bespoke packages We will try to tailor your stay to suit your needs as much as possible in order for you to get the best chance to experience all the area has to offer, for example, in season, we are able to arrange a visit to a citrus farm to watch the picking, a chukka of polo at the Addo Polo Club, a round of golf at Kirkwood Golf Club or if you are suffering from “safari fatigue” even a visit to the famous Volkswagen factory in Uitenhage!
Please feel free to discuss any special activities that will enhance your stay with us. Of course, you may simply want to DNA (do nothing at all!)
NOTES: All rates include VAT and are subject to change without notice.
The success of most of these tours is dependent on favourable weather; as a result, in the event of inclement weather a tour may be cancelled at short notice. Occasionally, on the advice of the ranger, we may vary the departure time of a safari to ensure that the guest gets the best possible experience.
Prices
PRICES GENERAL INFORMATION
SUMMER '09/'10 1 Oct 2009 - 30 Apr 2010 Colonial Rooms - R1 450 pp sharing / R2 175 single
WINTER '10 May '10 and Jul - 30 Sept '10 Colonial Rooms - R750 pp sharing / no single supplements
WINTER '10 1 Jun '10 - 15 Jul '10 Colonial Rooms - R1 450 pp sharing / R2 175 single
For last minute SPECIALS please enquire now for more information.
Prices are subject to change without notice. All rates are per person per night and include breakfast, VAT and tourism levy. 3rd / 4th person in Colonial room R500 per night. Children under 4yrs stay for free. Baby sitting R50/hr
General Terms & Conditions:
A deposit of 35% secures your reservation.
Full accommodation account to be paid 30 days prior to guest’s arrival.
Bookings confirmed of 3 or more rooms 50% deposit required within 7 days of confirmation and the balance payable 30 days prior to guests’ arrival.
Elephant House 
