Addo Elephant Back Safaris and Lodge is situated within the Greater Addo Elephant National Park, an area which has a bittersweet history for the elephants.

In 1919 Major P.J. Pretorius, the last of the great legendary hunters, managed to kill 120 elephants before the survivors - only 11 elephants - were given refuge in the Park which was proclaimed in 1931. This remnant elephant population has thankfully since grown from the original 11 to in excess of 450.

The Park itself has also grown to encompass 5 of the 7 biomes in South Africa and, through the addition of a marine protected area with its abundant marine life, is the only reserve to host the Big 7. The intention is to expand the 164 000 hectare Addo National Elephant Park into a 360 000 hectare mega-park. In addition 120 000 hectare (296 500 acre) marine reserve that includes islands which are home to the world's largest breeding populations of Cape gannets as well as the second largest breeding population of African penguins, has been proclaimed.

With one of the highest densities of African elephant in the world, Addo Elephant National Park has gained worldwide recognition for its conservation success. Originally incepted to protect the African elephant, the focus of the Park has shifted to the preservation of more species, with the re-introduction of animals that once roamed the area - lions, black rhino and Cape buffalo to name a few. The Park is also home to the endemic flightless dung beetle, this hardworking little creature is acknowledged through having been awarded right of way on the Park's roads.

The history of our elephants is surprisingly similar to the original elephants of Addo as our bulls came from a culled herd in the Kruger National Park. Spared from the culling program they were to be sent to private game reserves for hunting purposes. Learning of the elephants’ plight Knysna Elephant Park intervened and brought the three bulls to their Knysna sanctuary, an elephant haven well-respected as a leading facility in the keeping and handling of rescued elephants.

Here our elephants had their faith in man restored through endless and ongoing care and training before they finally arrived at their new bush home in December 2003 to walk in the footsteps of the great herds which originally roamed this area!