We are proud to be situated so close to one of South Africa’s top wildlife conservation parks, the Addo Elephant National Park. This park is managed and operated by South African National Parks (SANParks) and government funds and visitor entrance fees help with the conservation of Addo endangered wildlife.
10 Most Endangered African Wildlife
Three out of the 10 most endangered African animals are protected in the Addo Elephant National Park. These are the lion, African elephant and African penguin. The other six endangered wildlife are the African wild dog, the pygmy hippo, the mountain gorilla, the Ethiopian wolf and the addax (a large antelope with a grey to white coat found in deserts of North Africa).
Conservation of Addo Endangered Wildlife
Here is some detail about the conservation of the three most endangered wildlife protected in the Addo Elephant National Park.
Lion: Six lions were reintroduced to the Addo Elephant National Park in 2003 and there are now around 26 wild lions. African lion are extinct in over 26 African countries and the population of wild lions has dwindled to approximately 20,000. Hunting, poisoning and loss of habitat are the main threats to this animal. It is one of our favourite past times to watch these majestic creatures sleep and play. Sometimes, if we are lucky, we also see them hunt.
African Elephant: Addo Elephant National Park is home to over 600 elephants with an average increase in the population of about 5% per year. African elephants are the largest land animals but are under severe threat from poaching. It is estimated that in the early part of the 20th century there may have been as many as 3.5 million African elephants. Now only around 415,000 elephants roam wild in Africa. Come and enjoy viewing these amazing animals with our guided tours on your next trip to Kudu Ridge Game Lodge.
African Penguin: One couldn’t imagine that this cute animal could be on the endangered list but sadly it’s true. In 2010 the African penguin shifted from vulnerable to endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The main reasons for the decline in their numbers are the increase in industrial fishing, competition for food, pollution, global warming and habitat disruption. Addo Elephant National Park extends to the coast and protects various islands in Algoa Bay which are home to significant colonies of African penguins.
Conservation Tours of Addo Endangered Wildlife
Allow us to bring you closer to these endangered wildlife, share stories as to why their conservation is so important and tell you how you can help conserve Addo’s wildlife. Our game drives into the Addo Elephant National Park are led by professional and passionate guides who have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Our Addo tours run from 9am to 2pm. We take a minimum of two people per game drive and the cost is R1400 per person, including a picnic lunch in Addo. Enquire about our Addo tours and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
