A SELF-DRIVE SAFARI w/ 600 Elephants! Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦

What is it like being face to face with elephants in the wild? We're about to find out! In this video, we take a detour from South Africa's most epic road trip (the Garden Route) and venture to Addo Elephant National Park. Addo is South Africa's 3rd largest National Park, and home to 600 elephants! We even stay overnight in a tent in Addo Elephant National Park to the sounds of hyenas right outside!
This is part 3/4 of our South Africa travel series, be sure to watch the entire series and thanks for subscribing!
BEFORE YOU GO
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From Cape Town: 5-Day Best of Garden Route and Addo Safari Cape Town, South Africa gyg.me/XJNxo9jv
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WE'RE TRAVELING ONE MILLION MILES (1,609,344 km)
Miles Traveled: 68,355
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OUR STORY
We're Meghan & Matt, two travelers from the United States on a journey to travel 1,000,000 miles! For 2 years, we lived in our self converted van and traveled all over North America! During this time, we caught the travel bug, HARD. So we set a goal to travel one million miles! Now, we’re hiking, biking, driving, flying and even training around the world to discover as much as possible! Recently, we sold our van and packed up our lives into bags and boarded a one way flight to Europe, leaving behind no house, no car and not even a house/car. From now on, we will be living our of suitcases and traveling full time. How long is this lifestyle going to last? I️ guess you’re going to have to subscribe and follow along to find out!
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#gardenroute #southafrica #roadtrips

[@Ben-vq2fp]

They hyenas were in fact jackals.Great video 😊

[@ccc4102]

That short piece of the night sky is spectacular. You don't see that in Johannesburg. ❤

[@PeterKentL]

So glad you enjoyed SA and the amazing wildlife!! 1:58 is a Red hartebeest not a Kudu :)

[@debbiemathieson2467]

Your enthusiasm is wonderful. I love enjoying your first animal encounters with you. ❤

[@MikeSmith-ic6xo]

The animals are cool. Love Meghan's reactions. Thanks.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Haha thanks Mike!!85 was a wild time

[@Octo316]

Awesome video! U made a mistake by saying Kudu at around 2:00 in! They are in fact Red hartebeest

[@to0muchlove]

I️ LOVE ELEPHANTS!!

[@Meghanandmatt]

Elephants love you

[@travelingwhilebutch]

Great video of the animals! When I went on safari in Kenya and Tanzania, our guide told us that Pumba is the name for warthogs by the locals. You make a strong case for having a guide. I am so glad we had one.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Thanks! Yes definitely having a guide is so worth it. A safari in Kenya and Tanzania looks amazing! For sure on our bucket list

[@thebuffalooverlander]

Seeing your excitement when seeing these animals for the first time, just reminded me how we shouldn’t take it for granted how us South Africans get to see them all so regularly. Thank you for that

[@aviv6499]

I am sooo stoked you're experiencing our wonderful country. I will always love it, warts and all.

[@Meghanandmatt]

It is such a beautiful country!

[@shannonlassiter4072]

The elephant dong! LOL OMG we laugh so hard! Looks like a lot of fun. Was it hot sleeping in the tent or is it cooler this time of year? Great video! Keep em coming and be safe!

[@Meghanandmatt]

It was MASSIVE!

[@Meghanandmatt]

It wasn’t, this is June and it’s winter there so it was quite cold

[@fatimawindvoel2253]

Great editing ...soo happy ya'll enjoyed our beautiful country❤❤

[@Meghanandmatt]

Thanks! We absolutely loved South Africa 🇿🇦

[@danieldesmond3422]

Lol when they called hartebeest kudu 😂. It’s okay we forgive you. Glad you enjoyed your time in our country

[@Meghanandmatt]

woops 😅 thank you!

[@mae7629]

Hey guys, so glad you enjoyed your time in South Africa 🇿🇦 Just to let you know, that sound you heard at night were jackals

[@hjvdb6829]

Nothing as good for the soul it calms me

[@joypitzer7846]

I have been to Addo and they certainly have guided safaris

[@squirlygeorge]

Love the videos, shew!! So awesome to see you guys having a blast! 🇿🇦

[@Meghanandmatt]

Thanks Squirrely George!

[@lindasteinbrenner8065]

Of course the elephant is the favorite!! I am totally with you guys for how exciting that adventure was! So many colorful birds… that was cool too. Thanks guys! ❤

[@Meghanandmatt]

It was such a great experience!! Thanks for watching 😁

[@nelenesmithSA]

I am enjoying your videos. I was just so surprised when the Rooihartebees was shown as a "kudu" 😅 we'll forgive you since you have such amazing personalities and it was your 1st ever safari trip. Much love from South Africa 🇿🇦

[@Meghanandmatt]

Ah yeah we have a lot to learn about safari animals! We had a great time in South Africa! Thank you 🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@stevenbeukman]

18:22 Correct, those are Ibis, and more specificall the Hadida Ibis, or as we call them simply Hadida

[@ebenolivier2762]

The birds at 8:20 are called hadedas. 😊

[@momentarylocals]

😂 omg I almost fell off my chair with Megan’s reaction “did you see that 🐘 dong?” over and over 😂 looks like a great time!

[@Meghanandmatt]

I️ ALMOST FELL OFF MY CHAIR WHEN I️ SAW IT!

[@DavidandSarah]

lol being that close with elephants when you're driving with your own car is so scary but it's such an awesome surreal experience! loved watching your experience at Addo.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Haha we didn’t know what to do! Just hoped it wouldn’t run us over 😂

[@cornievandermerwe4152]

I love that you guys did the self-drive safari. You did very well. I am deffinitely going to watch your Kruger safari. I grew up in the park (my parents worked there) and will always consider it my home

[@Meghanandmatt]

We loved both Addo and Kruger! Having a guide in Kruger definitely made us realize how wrong we were about many of the animals we thought we saw in Addo 😂

[@RyanDH]

The bird you hear at 16:18 is basically telling you that were too close to it's nest

[@lalesetsastudio1579]

Lol, the "hyenas" you were hearing in your tent were Black-backed Jackels. 😂😂😊

[@Meghanandmatt]

Oooooo well now we know! Thanks for sharing

[@juangeyserza]

@@Meghanandmatt Hyenas laugh. Its very distinct. Im sure you would have herd it at KNP. Looking forward to watching that video next :)

[@ShepherdLamrani]

The elephants in the fairs are usually Asian elephants, they’re quite different in appearance. Taming an African elephant would be harder.

[@supreme9801]

“Well you saw birds….” 😂😂😂😂😂

[@DawnykaH]

ELEPHANTS!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@oneadVANtureatatime]

Oh My Gosh! Bucketlist! I’d have to go without Dave…. I would spend so much time just staring at every animal! I can’t pick my favorite animal….. they are all incredible!

[@Meghanandmatt]

Ah! I️ know right?!? We would have watched the Elephants all day if we could

[@NoCaping]

Not gone cap i would love to do this this is super dope!

[@Meghanandmatt]

It was wild! Definitely worth going out there!

[@angelakyt]

Beautiful SA 🇿🇦 💛 💚

[@henningventer2917]

Just some info. A new born Elephant weighs about 100kg (200lb) and can walk with in minutes after birth. An elephant cow is pregnant for 22months.

[@Meghanandmatt]

That’s incredible! They’re so interesting

[@johannesweidemann2578]

At 2min those are not Kudu, they're Red Hartebeest

[@fzl4165]

That was a great video 👍

[@Meghanandmatt]

Thanks for watching! Glad you liked it

[@joleemeyer]

thank you, this brought me so much joy...I had tears

[@Meghanandmatt]

Aw this makes me so happy!

[@rohanadams5240]

Awesome team. Went to Addo in 2016 and didnt see lions either. Saw so many in Kruger however.

[@Meghanandmatt]

I thought it was really cool to see how many more smaller animals were in Addo compared to Kruger probably because there are so many more lions in Kruger

[@rohanadams5240]

@@Meghanandmatt very true. You really take note of the birdlife and smaller, simpler things when not distracted by lions and we also saw 12 rhinos in one day in Kruger!

[@PaulRussellDesigns]

If you live in South Africa, you would be 200% sure that that was indeed Ibis - Hadeda Ibis to be precise, more commonly known as Hadedas. They are nature's walking, flying Vuvuzelas (you may want to Google that word). They are EVERYWHERE in South Africa, and make one heck of a noise!

[@Meghanandmatt]

lol i just looked up the Vuvuzleas and that is hilarious 🤣

[@PaulRussellDesigns]

😂😂😂 So glad you had a good experience! I would recommend avoiding the big brand hotels like Protea on your next visit, and go find the Airbnbs. Having watched all 4 your SA videos, I feel like you missed out on so much, especially in the cuisine department. South Africa has so many original and wonderful flavours to offer that you won't always find properly offered at the bigger establishments!

[@glenessgreenfield5053]

Hi i am enjoying following you in my aamazing country. I live your excitement Megan. Do come back . Xxx

[@Meghanandmatt]

We will! Thanks for watching ❤️

[@URDuncan]

The night sounds... Not hyenas but jackals 😂😂😂😂😂

[@heinrichventer]

Not Kudu, they were Hartebeest.

[@Octo316]

Tented camp sounds you heard at night were jackals

[@bethanydepalma6007]

😄❤️😍

[@francoisdutoit6206]

Brautiful cinimatography

[@Meghanandmatt]

Glad you liked the video!

[@kgaugelomakgakga9423]

I love how you guys say Pumbaa😂❤️

[@callmenovac]

@Meghanandmatt Glad to guy going along nicely, The Elephant and the Dasie are cousin

[@Meghanandmatt]

Didn’t know that!

[@schedulef8956]

Girl leaves guy for Elephant 19:48 24:00

[@firie007]

Did you enter through the main entrance or from the south entrance? Is it fine to drive with a small car on the gravel ?

[@Meghanandmatt]

Yeah the car was fine! I️ believe we entered from the south

[@Octo316]

Hadada Ibis, but we call them Hadida's here in South Africa

[@Meghanandmatt]

Thanks for letting us know!

[@basildavidson4597]

👍🏻

[@coerievantonder3491]

1.58 is not a Kudo but a Red hartebeest

[@philasandeleve2940]

Not Meghan falling asleep 😂😂😂

[@Meghanandmatt]

When she’s tired she’s TIRED 😅

[@lindamiller3792]

Elephants rule

[@Meghanandmatt]

They’re our favorite!

[@tristanjackson9791]

hadedas ibis

[@msnakase]

nice seeing your reactions to the wildlife. Next time please try and keep quiet when the bull elephants are close by you, any noise might set them off

[@ccc4102]

🙄

[@msnakase]

@@ccc4102😂

[@blissyogi8699]

Elephant skull not a buffalo

[@BAMBAMRSA]

They are Ibis but we call them Hadidas or bin chickens.. They make a horrible sound that wakes you up early in the morning. And not even other animals hunt them because they taste so awful.

[@michellemoreana1938]

I guess as south Africans we need to appreciate our country more because when I see a phumba we fear some of them might come near the road and you don't want to hit pumba 😂

[@georgematthee6111]

Not Kudus

[@yakeylee]

Omg Meghan you crack me up!! “Look at the elephants dong!!”😮

[@Meghanandmatt]

It really took me by surprise hahah

[@quentinfourie8323]

Not a Kudu😅

[@louisbotha8488]

Not kudus.

[@joypitzer7846]

😂 meerkat

[@OCD-Gamer]

Kudu 🤣

[@JOATMOFA]

Unless you're an elephantoholic, it's just a waste of time - Kruger is *FAR* better! Kruger offers a much larger variety of game with better roads and camps.

[@Meghanandmatt]

We went to both. I wouldn’t say Addo is a waste of time at all

[@JOATMOFA]

@@Meghanandmatt I have been to Addo about 8 times (because I live in Eastern Cape), and one can only see so many elephants, zebras and warthogs. In the Kruger (3 visits only) however, there is a complete collection viewable as soon as you drive through. Addo for example have lions, but they are seldom spotted; there are no giraffes and good luck on spotting rhinos or hippos.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Clearly it’s not a waste of time if you’ve gone 8 times lol

[@JOATMOFA]

@@Meghanandmatt Nope you don't understand - each time I hoped to be proven wrong, but alas, it never happened - samo samo! How many times have you gone to Addo?