Addo Elephant Park gets a R136.5m makeover
New family units, a spa, a solar plant and a community lodge are part of SANParks' upgrade of one of South Africa's best-loved parks.
Addo — Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape is in the middle of its biggest refresh in years. SANParks has invested R136.5 million in new accommodation and basic infrastructure, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said after Minister David Maynier visited on Monday.
Already done
- 8 new modern family accommodation units, now open to guests.
- Full upgrades to the park's bulk sewer and electrical systems.
- A new spa, already operating.
- A 705kW grid-tied solar plant, built and due to be commissioned in January 2027.
Coming next
- December 2026: more new units, refurbished existing units, and a refurbished guest house and swimming pool.
- January 2027: a new 10-unit Community Lodge opens.
- Road maintenance is under way, and SANParks will prioritise urgent work on ablutions and hiking trails.
Maynier said the guest experience must be central to revitalising South Africa's national parks, and that he was pleased with the scale of work under way.
Why it matters
Addo, famous for its elephants, draws visitors from home and abroad to the Eastern Cape. Better facilities keep tourism money flowing into the region, and the solar plant will cut the park's reliance on the grid.
Source: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, 21 October 2026.
