If I have to state my favorite South African National Park, without a doubt I have to say that it is Addo down in the Eastern Cape. Each New Year, we as a family, list the things we want to during the year and every year Addo keeps on coming out top of the list. It is probably being able to spend such quality time with what have to be the world’s most relaxed African elephants that initially draws us there, but there is so much more to Addo than just the elephants. Yes, the vegetation is indeed very dense through much of the Park, but this perhaps makes us view more carefully thus allowing us to see the most amazing sightings and interactions. It is usually the small often overlooked species that brings the most excitement such as watching a black-necked heron slowly stalk and catch a shrew or watching a black-backed jackal running around an open area leaping high in to the air to snatch at flying ants emerging with the first rains. Amongst our favorites are the spotted hyenas and we have always managed to find them in the early mornings either lazing around in the warming sun or sitting with bloated bellies at the remains of a carcass. Addo is indeed special and it will definitely be a place that we keep returning to!

1 of 12: An African Elephant bull pauses from feeding in the open grasslands of Addo Elephant National Park

2 of 12: Three Burchells Zebra stallions come together to greet one another briefly before again separating back to their own family herds

3 of 12: A Kudu cow wanders across the open, closely flowed by a bull that is keen to test her breeding state

4 of 12: An old mud covered Cape buffalo bull wanders through the dense thicket vegetation that is so characteristic of Addo

5 of 12: A young male lion yawns as light rain falls

6 of 12: A well-fed Spotted Hyena carries away the leg of a scavenged Kudu

7 of 12: Bush Karoo Rats may be seen sunning at he base of thick vegetation in the early morning light

8 of 12: An adult Pale Chanting Goshawk perches prominently and from where its can easily view the surroundings for possible prey

9 of 12: Bokmakierie

10 of 12: A male Greater-collared sunbird takes to flight after feeding on the flowers of a Schotia tree

11 of 12: A Black-Headed Heron stands motionless with its shrew prey that is hanging from its bill

12 of 12: An African Elephant mother and calf drink from a waterhole during the late afternoon