My Addo visit was very short. Too short. But it was everything I needed. And more.
It was scorching hot when I arrived at around lunch time. I dropped my tent at a camp site and decided that I would go for a drive first and pitch the tent later when it was cooler.
I loved it when the guard at the gate reminded me to look out for the Flightless Dung Beetles. I was so looking forward to seeing these little creatures, and I saw quite a few of them.
I arrived at Hapoor Dam in time for a pool party. When I planned my trip I was hoping to spend some quality time with elephants. I got more than I had hoped for.
I spent the next two hours parked next to the waterhole and just enjoyed the elephants. I took lots of photos. Their enjoyment of the water and mud in the heat was the best thing I’ve seen in a long time.
They would completely submerge themselves in the muddy water. 
It wasn’t just in the water that the elephants entertained.
They came really close to my car as well.
When they came closer than I have ever been to an elephant, my heart rate did increase a little. But not once did I ever feel uncomfortable.
Even though I took lots of photos, I also just watched and enjoyed.
I absorbed and absorbed and absorbed the elephant fabulousness until it felt as if I could burst.
If my visit to Addo had to end at that moment, I would have been satisfied. I was finally able to tear myself away from Hapoor Dam. Just as I was about to leave, another herd arrived. This green field was brown and barren on every previous occasion I had been to Addo, but not this time. A herd of elephants in a green field – nothing short of perfection.
The ground in the Addo camping area was very hard, and pitching my tent took real effort. But eventually everything was in place. The plan was to have a braai, but the braai in my campsite did not have a grill and I did not feel like dragging a heavy braai from another camp site. I decided to have a meal at the restaurant.
The next morning I was out of the gate about 5 minutes after it opened. The birding was fantastic – the feathered ones obviously enjoyed the cool of the morning. My bird list for the Addo leg of my trip was shorter than I would have liked. But I was in Addo less than 48 hours, so it was to be expected. And given that I spent about half my visit at Hapoor dam, it did not give me a lot of time to find the birdies. That did not mean that I did not see many wonderful birds during my short stay.
One of the highlights was a Fiery-necked Nightjar on my morning run. There were many Sombre Greenbuls and Karoo Prinias. I also saw a few Emerald-spotted Wood Doves, but a lot fewer Bokmakieries than expected. I also spotted a flock of Wattled Starlings. A pair of African Spoonbills were feeding at Domkrag Dam. There was a Cape Teal at Rooidam and a few black-Saw-wings on the Ngulube Loop.
On the morning that I left the Park There were lots of European Swallows that flew along the road in front of my car. It reminded me of a pod of dolphins in front of a ship. It was so cute.
I also saw a few raptors – Common and Jackal Buzzards, Black-winged and Yellow-billed Kites and a Rock Kestrel. Addo is a place where you are guaranteed to find many Pale Chanting Goshawks, and this trip was no exception.
I loved the golden light on the South African Shelducks and the Ant-eating Chat.
I was also very happy to see both White-throated and Brimstone Canaries.
I had 2 wonderful sightings of Denham’s Bustards.
I found a pair of Red-necked Spurfowls not far from the camp. A cute little Kittlitz’s Plover was hanging around Hapoor Dam.
It wasn’t just the elephants that enjoyed the water at Hapoor Dam. This Hadeda copied the elephants and had a cooling splashdown of his own.
On my last morning I found a small little flock of Pearl-breasted Swallows. They are such cute birds, and I was so happy to see them as I haven’t seen one in some time.
After exploring the southern section of the Park, I headed back north. There was a herd of elephants at a small waterhole.
I parked my car to enjoy the youngsters.
They were very entertaining.
The day had warmed up a lot, and when I reached Hapoor the pool party was in full swing – again.
I wasn’t going anywhere. I loved their sleek, mud-covered faces.
Just like the previous day, their enjoyment was obvious.
The Tinyfants were adorable.
You could almost see the smiles on their faces.
This little one was still too nervous to go in, but he still wanted to participate. Adorable.
Again the elephants came close to my car. It was some of the best moments of the trip.
I just could not get enough of these wonderful animals.
I need to mention that there are other elephants in Addo, not just elephants!
I saw a few young Zebras. There were 2 little ones that decided to take a nap on the other side of Hapoor dam. They napped for so long, I actually started go get worried!.
Zebras are so photogenic. I just love photographing them..
While driving back from Rooidam I found a pack of 5 Black-backed Jackals. Some of them seemed like youngsters and they were very nervous to cross the road in front of me. I reversed a little, and after some hesitation they followed the adult. Another jackal was digging at Marion Baree, he must have found a snack in the ground and gobbled it up very quickly. All the jackals I saw were in excellent condition. Their fur was thick and shiny, very different to some of the mangy jackals I have seen in the Park before. The best jackal moment happened when I was driving along Ghorah loop. A jackal dashed across the road at speed, only to come to an abrupt stop and go to the toilet. I had to laugh at at the way that he was looking at me.
Another creature that made a mad dash across the road was this Scrub hare. He came to a stop under a bush but allowed me to at least see his little face.
I saw some of the biggest as well as the smallest inhabitants of the Park. I saw a couple of lone buffalos. And one of the biggest Eland I had ever seen in my life. He was to far for a crisp photo, but just look at the size of that dewlap! And a little Angulate tortoise, the only one I saw in the Park during my short visit.
It was a good season for piglets. I also saw many Kudus and Red Hartebeest. 
Of course I did my obligatory night time walk.
I saw two of the biggest solifuges I have ever seen. When the first one popped out in front of me, I literally took a step back. Lucklily they moved away quickly and were very far from my tent, so I could sleep safely.
There were many Toktokkies and other little beetles. Wall Crab spiders were everywhere. This one had a little snack.
This little Tropical House Gecko looked a little pregnant.
I found loads of Wolf Spiders, and this Hairy Field Spider.
The Pioneer Caper White Butterflies were all over the place as well as this stunning Citrus Swallowtail.
But it was still all about the elephants. I stopped at Hapoor on my afternoon drive the day before I left, and there were more elephants.
They were enjoying the water – from the largest bulls to the smallest tinyfants. I laughed at one older female – she started of by gracefully splashing herself with water. but within minutes she was slipping into the dam and submerging her entire body under the water, just like the younger ones.
The shiny, muddy bodies were a feast for the eyes.
I spent more time with them. They are irresistible. 
I saw my last elephants of the trip on the way to the Zuurkop Lookout point. It was a small family, and they were as relaxed and lovely as all the elephants I had seen.
I did not see any elephants on the morning that I left the Park. I did not mind one bit. I was still reeling from all the elephants I did see.
It is really hard to describe the experience to someone that wasn’t there – it was too fabulous for words.
I love, love Addo, and this trip cemented that love even more.
Thank you Addo. Thank you.