Curated by: Jenny’s Travel
Location: Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape
Style: 1900s safari lodge meets eco-luxury tented camp
Perfect for: Wildlife lovers, romantic safaris, honeymooners, cultural heritage travellers
The Backstory: When Time Slows and the Wild Takes Over
Some properties capture your imagination. Gorah captures your spirit. Tucked deep inside one of South Africa’s best-kept safari secrets — Addo Elephant National Park — Gorah isn’t just about seeing elephants. It’s about stepping back in time, to a slower, more refined kind of safari.
Jenny’s Travel first came across Gorah while planning a honeymoon for clients who wanted a “safari without the crowds” — but with all the polish. What we found was a property that felt like something out of a Hemingway novel, yet proudly South African. Under canvas, surrounded by the rumble of distant elephant herds and the whisper of lanterns in the breeze, we fell in love.
The Setting: Untamed and Unfiltered
Gorah Elephant Camp is the only private lodge situated inside the Addo Elephant National Park— South Africa’s third-largest national park and home to over 600 elephants, as well as lion, buffalo, leopard, rhino, hyena, and over 400 bird species.
The lodge blends into the landscape with a timeless grace. A colonial-style manor house overlooks a sweeping waterhole, and the twelve luxurious tented suites are spaced out for maximum privacy, each with its own wraparound deck and canvas flaps that let in the bush sounds at night.
The Accommodation: Colonial Comfort Meets Canvas Chic
The tented suites are what safari dreams are made of. Wooden floors, gauze-draped four-poster beds, period furniture, and no WiFi in sight (by design — it’s bliss). At night, paraffin lamps flicker on your bedside table as lions roar in the distance.
Included with your stay:
- Twice-daily game drives with expert rangers
- All meals, snacks, and drinks (yes, even sundowners!)
- High tea on the veranda
- Welcome drinks and personalised check-in
- Private decks and en-suite bathrooms with indoor showers
- Access to the private waterhole viewing area
The Experience: Classic Safari with a Story
Every morning begins with a gentle knock and a tray of coffee at your tent. Game drives depart just after sunrise, when the bush is buzzing with life. Elephants are the stars here, often appearing in herds of 20 or more, moving through the valley like a gentle parade.
Your guide knows where to find the quieter scenes too: kudu hidden under acacias, lionesses lounging in the midday heat, and jackals darting through the thickets. In between, you’ll return for lavish breakfasts, book-reading on your verandah, and a swim in the lodge’s secluded pool.
Afternoon tea is served under a fig tree, and sundowners happen wherever the view is best, often with elephants nearby. After dinner, it’s stories by the fire and stargazing under skies untouched by city light.
The Dining: Safari Feasts with Frontier Flair
Meals at Gorah are a celebration of heritage, local flavour, and style. The candlelit dining room channels the golden age of safari, where meals were affairs to remember — and they still are. From freshly baked breads to Karoo lamb, wild mushroom risottos, and Amarula crème brûlée, the dishes are seasonal and often locally sourced.
Jenny’s Tip: Don’t skip the afternoon tea. The spread includes melt-in-your-mouth scones, tartlets, and savoury treats, served with silver teapots and linen napkins. It’s transportive and indulgent in the best way.
The Extras: For Curious Travellers
- Malaria-free zone: Perfect for families or first-time safari-goers
- Cultural excursions: Ask us about nearby Addo village visits and citrus farm tours
- Romantic extras: Private bush dinners and turndown surprises can be arranged
- Conservation impact: Staying here directly supports SANParks and conservation efforts
Why Book with Jenny’s Travel?
Because we understand that safari isn’t one-size-fits-all. We’ll pair Gorah with the perfect pre- or post-stay — maybe a few nights on the Garden Route, a coastal escape in St. Francis Bay, or a trip to the vineyards near Port Elizabeth.
We also handle the logistics:
- Private transfers or self-drive options
- Pre-safari accommodation in Gqeberha
- Romantic packages or family-friendly setups
- Customised itineraries that balance bush, beach, and city
Final Word
Gorah Elephant Camp is a place where wildness meets elegance. Where game drives end with champagne, and elephants roam where your WiFi signal used to be. Whether it’s your first safari or your tenth, Gorah will leave its mark — in the thrill of lion tracks on a dirt road and the warmth of a fire-lit evening deep in the bush.
Interested in visiting the Gorah Elephant Camp ? Contact Jenny’s Travel today!
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