Southern summer: November to March
This is Addo’s busy season and the time most visitors see it. Temperatures in the park can climb above 40 °C, and a full day in a vehicle is noticeably harder work in the heat.
- Choose the vehicle with the heat in mind. A closed, air-conditioned vehicle keeps you cool and out of the dust; an open vehicle gives better views but more sun. The safaris above use air-conditioned vehicles — one reviewer on a hot day found the air-conditioning in their car was not working properly, so pack for the heat regardless.
- Bring water, a hat and sunscreen. Reviewers mention both too little water on an “all-inclusive” day and the wish for water bottles on board.
- Expect a slower pace at midday. A reviewer of the nearby Schotia reserve safari noticed animals moving at a more leisurely pace in the midday heat.
Rain: February and March
February and March are among the wetter months in Addo. The rain has an upside: one reviewer described a “magnificiently blooming Addo” in March. Pack a light rain layer.
Crowds: the December–January school holidays
The South African school holidays over December and January are the park’s busiest weeks, with more cars on the roads and at the waterholes. If you travel then, book your safari early.
The cruise season
Gqeberha’s cruise season falls in the southern summer as well, so a port day usually means summer heat. For harbour pickups and the all-aboard buffer, see the shore excursion page.
Winter: May to September
Outside the summer peak the park is cooler and quieter, and the winter months are often described as a good time for game viewing. The product pages show the available dates for each safari.
The park fee and 1 November
SANParks adjusts its tariffs every 1 November. The current conservation fee and its validity date are on our home page. The full-day and two-day safaris on this site include the park fee; on the half-day safari it is paid on top, so a visit from November onwards falls under the new tariff.
All year: malaria-free
Addo lies in a malaria-free area, which makes it an easy choice for travellers who want to avoid malaria regions. If your wider trip includes other parts of southern Africa, check the current health advice for those regions separately.
