Addo Dung Beetle !

Geography:

GPRS Coordinates

• S 33º 26' 374 " South
• 25º 41' 291 " East
• Altitude - 160 m above sea level

Directions: Take the R335 from Port Elizabeth and drive thru to Addo Elephant National Park. 1.4km before the park take the Turn-off to the left(gravel road) that says Zuurberg Mountain Inn/ Addo Dung Beetle.

Addo Dung Beetle Guest Farm is nestled on a mountain-top in the heart of the Sundays River Valley overlooking the beautiful Zuurberg Mountains. The five luxury chalets are found on a working citrus farm only 4 km away from the main gate of the Addo Elephant National Park. The climate is hot in summer and winter is mild, with occasional snow on high lying areas. We experience summer rainfall and dry winters, but are a Malaria free area.

Back Ground History of the Area:

In the 1700s, the area already had a reputation for a wide variety of wild life, and ivory hunters would come to hunt elephants. In 1893, this area was known as Swanepoelskraal, and measured 1799 ha. Records show that Khoisan clans who hunted and kept cattle used to live in this area. The clans died out because of the smallpox epidemic. They were followed by the Xhosa tribes who lived close to the Sunday River Mouth, extending to the Wit River.

As years passed, elephants became endangered and in 1931 the Addo Elephant National Park was opened. An historical waterhole that was used from the very beginning by the elephants from Addo Elephant National Park remains on our premises. The park started off with 2000 ha and the last 11 elephants that were left after ivory hunting had taken its toll. 75 years later, the park has grown to

145 000 ha, hosting 400 elephant and the Big Seven (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Great White Shark and the Southern Right Whale).