Gorah Elephant Camp

The thrill of quietly watching a herd of elephants stroll by, while sipping tea on the veranda of a stately colonial manor house, is the unforgettable stuff of dreams. This exclusive safari lodge recaptures the romantic mystique of authentic safaris from centuries past. Experience the breathtaking natural world of Africa, merged with colonial nostalgia and modern sophistication to deliver an unforgettable, unique 5-star adventure. Gorah is the only private concession and Camp situated in the middle of the famous Addo Elephant National Park, home to the densest population of elephants on earth. The park is malaria-free and has the Big 5.

During the colonial era, the vast expanses of land, wild animals and fascinating encounters with rural tribes led to legendary tales of Africa that have shaped history and drawn more and more visitors to this magical and mystical place. Discover its captivating rhythm that calls for adventure and fills your soul with an intense passion for the ever-changing landscape, the majestic animals and the cultural diversity. The 1900s were a time when the elite indulged in the extravagance of crystal, polished silver, white linen and G&Ts in the afternoon. At Gorah, guests are transported back to this era through the day-to-day luxuries offered at the Camp.

11 stylish tented suites entice you to stay sheltered under thatched canopies with private decks. The magnificent en suite tents are spacious and luxurious, recalling the golden era of safari in the early 1900s. Each is enhanced with the fine comforts and excellence associated with Hunter Hotels. Comprehensive services and creature comforts for a luxurious stay to suit your needs, Gorah offer all the services you’d expect from a 5-star property and much more. We pride ourselves in ensuring all our guests have the perfect getaway. To ensure that guests never want for any comforts during their stay, the 11 tented suites are superbly equipped with all the modern necessities required for a 5-star experience. Hairdryer, personal in-room safe, bathrobes, slippers, bespoke body products, umbrellas, and complimentary sherry in the room. Please remember that Gorah does not run on electricity but solar, gas and generator power. The gracious Gorah Manor House, a National Monument, built in 1856, has been immaculately restored and period-furnished, recalling the opulence and romance of noble safari. Lazy colonial verandas spill out onto the African plains overlooking the now famous and extraordinarily busy Gorah waterhole. Life at the house is as easy going and carefree as it was over a century ago; animals come and go and time stands still whether guests are going out on game drives, soaking up the sun, shopping, reading, enjoying a glass of wine or sharing your adventures with your companions in the comfort and splendour of Gorah house. Gorah is undoubtedly a unique African safari experience of a bygone era, a place of intimate secrets and mystery.

About Addo Elephant National Park

Now South Africa's third-largest national reserve, Addo Elephant National Park lies in the malaria-free Sundays River valley in the Eastern Cape, just over an hour's drive from Port Elizabeth and 9 hours’ drive from Cape Town (817km).

The Park stretches from the semi-arid Karoo of the north, over the Zuurberg Mountains and down through the Sundays River valley to the coast, to between the mouths of the Sundays and Bushman's rivers.

Addo is home to one of the densest African Elephant populations on earth, roughly 550 of them. They once roamed the entire continent. By 1979 there were only 1.3 million African elephants left, and in 1989 they were added to the international list of the most endangered species, with only sixteen left in the Greater Addo area.

The Elephants play a key role in the environment - pulling down trees, breaking up bushes, and digging waterholes and trails. Their droppings are particularly important as baboons and birds pick them over for undigested seeds and nuts, and the dung beetle (the flightless dung beetle is only found in Addo) use them in which to reproduce.

More recently the Addo Elephant National Park has expanded to become the only park in the world to lay claim to Africa's 'Big 7' - elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, southern right whale, and great white shark. It has done this by expanding along the coast from the Sundays River mouth towards Alexandria, and by adding an offshore marine reserve that includes St Croix Island and Bird Island, both essential breeding grounds for penguins and gannets. St Croix has the largest African penguin colony in the world.