Addo Tourism is encouraging visitors to use the “scenic route” when visiting the towns of Addo and Kirkwood, and the Main Gate of Addo Elephant National Park. The recommended route will lead drivers along the N2 passed Coega and Colchester (Sundays River) before taking a Sho’t Left inland at Nanaga Farmstall and approaching Addo and Kirkwood via Paterson. The trip is just over 100km and takes a little over an hour.

The reason for the change in recommended route is that the Motherwell/Markman turnoff and thoroughfair to the town of Addo has become a hotspot for criminals and hijackings. Therefore, Addo Tourism made the difficult decision to recommend an alternative route. “We felt it would be better to inform visitors to Addo that the commonly used route had become unsafe than to pretend it wasn’t happening,” explains Addo Tourim’s general manager, Salome Clack. “We have a responsibility to ensure that our visitors have a safe experience en route to Addo and that they are informed of the risks of using the Motherwell/Markman route.” Clack went on to explain that the association is working closely with municipal, regional and provincial stakeholders to address the crime concerns on that route.

The new recommended route, especially leading to Sundays River and the nearby Camp Matyholweni Gate into the Addo Elephant National Park, have always been popular with those “in the know” as a wonderfully scenic route across the river and alongside the sand dunes. Visitors can enter at the southern gate (Camp Matyholweni) or continue on to Addo and the Main Gate.