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5.0
#1 of 3 campsites in Addo Elephant National Park
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The incomparable thrill of quietly observing a passing herd of elephant while being served tea on the veranda of a stately Colonial manor house is the stuff of dreams and legends. This exclusive safari lodge recaptures the romantic mystique of authentic safari of centuries past - the awesome natural world of Africa merged with colonial nostalgia and modern sophistication to deliver an unforgettably unique 5 star adventure. Gorah is a member of Relais & Chateaux.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TGCSA - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.
This was one of the best places we have ever stayed in. From the moment we arrived until we left we had the most fantastic and amazing time. The people who work here are very friendly and efficient, they could not have been any more helpful. Our guide Werner was first class, he really made our stay. He is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic and we learnt so much and saw so many animals and birds. The watering hole in front of the main residence is a highlight and you can sit here for hours watching the ever changing animal scenery. Every meal we had was delicious, thanks to the chef. The “tents” are very spacious and comfortable with a lovely outdoor seating area for more animal spotting. Nothing is too much trouble for those who work here and we are already thinking about a return visit. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Thank you very much to everyone at Gorah.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Cheryl Norvall, General Manager at Gorah Elephant Camp
Responded 26 Feb 2024
Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a lovely review! We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay! The waterhole definitely provides around the clock entertainment. We hope to welcome you back soon! Warm regards, Cheryl & The Gorah Family
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I booked Gorah as part of our tour of the Western Cape and it was the place I was most looking forward to staying at. It did not disappoint and although I had very high expectations after reading all the reviews, our stay here surpassed everything I was expecting.
Travis showed us to the drawing room of the lodge and gave us a drink.
Our Tent We had arrived too late for the evening safari drive but were taken to our tent, unpacked and enjoyed a drink on the veranda until dinner. I loved our tent, every comfort is there for you but the tents are very 'Our of Africa' with comfortable armchairs, sumptuous beds, lots of little luxuries, antiques, plenty of wardrobe space and well equipped provisions that you would find in any luxury hotel. What I loved though was the really personal touches like the notes left at night wishing us sweet dreams, and candles lit with rosepetals and chocolates. If it is dark you do have to call reception and ask for someone to come and escort you back to the main lodge for safety but to listen to the sounds of the animals outside while you are in your tent is wonderful, Food
Dinner was good, I had picked up a stomach virus in Cape Town so was limited to what I could eat but the dining room is enchanting and I loved eating by candlelight. The service was sometimes a little slow, especially if you wanted coffee, but the staff are lovely and the slow pace was very welcome. Special mention must go to Cia, who gives exemplary service and is extremely attentive at all times. Breakfasts are very good. You have this after your morning safari drive and there is an excellent selection on the buffet table and delicious cooked to order dishes and a selection of teas. Afternoon tea is served before the evening drive, Cook made some wonderful looking cakes, I didn't eat any as I wasn't eating much but they looked delicious. There were also two types of sandwiches each day, and my only issue was I would have liked a vegetarian option also. Safari Drives JJ was our guide and he was absolutely superb. On our first drive it was just my husband and I and JJ found a herd of elephants and some lions. The rest of our three night stay we were with two other couples and we had some marvelous sightings and getting up close to these wonderful animals was just incredible.
There is a beautifully kept garden with swimming pool which is lovely to relax in between safari drives.
After we left Gorah we moved onto Shamwari staying at Sindile camp, their newest camp which is meant to be their most luxurious. It was no where near as good as Gorah. Shamwari is a much larger reserve and they do have all of the big 5 there as well as the Born Free foundation. However Sindile camp was a huge disappointment compared to Gorah. The tents are badly designed, the food was poor with very limited choice and the service lacking. If you want a true 'Tented' safari experience that is filled with magic and utter romance then Gorah has to be the No1 choice. I would not hesitate to recommend Gorah and definately hope to return one day.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:All the tents are good, 6-9 do not look over the watering hole though
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I and our two daughters decided to go on a family safari at Gorah Elephant Camp in the Addo Elephant National Park in celebration of our daughters’ birthdays. We booked two luxury tents which were extremely spacious, clean and comfortable, with a king size bed in one tent and two twin beds in the other tent. Each of the tents had an en-suite bathroom with shower, relaxing lounge area, as well as a private deck with magnificent views of the bushveld plains. The fans, bathrobes and slippers, and fully stocked minibar in the tents were also very convenient. The main lodge is a fascinating and historic manor house with lovely dining rooms, lounges and a large veranda overlooking a water hole where many elephants and other animals come to drink. There is also an impressive swimming pool area. All the staff were extremely attentive, efficient and friendly, and went out of their way to ensure that at all times we were well looked after. The food and in particularly the deserts, including the apricot panna cotta, was superb, and our specific dietary needs were well catered for. The candle and paraffin lamp lighting added to the pleasant dining ambiance. A real treat and surprise was that for our daughters’ birthdays, they received a bottle of sparkling wine, and a cake was also presented to them at dinner, whereby the staff sang a local version of happy birthday which was beautiful and greatly appreciated. Our ranger Justin was professional and knowledgeable. During our stay we had the exclusive use of our own game vehicle which was a real bonus. We had fantastic sightings and saw plenty of game, including large herds of elephant with plenty of babies, buffalo, baboon, warthog, jackal, mongoose, scrub hares, eagle spotted owls. We also saw lots of antelope, including eland, kudu, red hartebeest, reed buck and duiker. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and had an excellent family safari at Gorah and definitely hope to be back.
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Date of stay: May 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leandi Pretorius, General Manager at Gorah Elephant Camp
Responded 02 May 2022
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your Gorah experience! We are truly delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us & hope to welcome you back to celebrate many special occasions. Warmest regards, Leandi & The Gorah Family
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Myself, my mum, sister and brother-in-law visited Gorah for 2 nights and we wish it could have been longer. Despite the early rises (6am in March) the staff made it easy with coffee, tea and light snacks to prepare you for your first game drive of the day. We couldn't believe we were spending up to 6 ours a day in a vehicle when the time flew by! The park is full of so much indigenous wildlife, which our guide Justin could tell us a lot about while we made use of our "safari bag" of binoculars, blankets, and wildlife guide books. Back at the lodge we appreciated stunning views, very helpful and friendly staff, a great chef and extremely comfortable beds in our tents (if you can even call them tents). After Gorah our trip took us to a 4 star lodge in a game reserve and whilst that was good you could really see why Gorah got its 5 stars and appreciate the uniqueness of being in a national park. Would highly recommend for anyone who wants a bit of luxury in the wilderness. The highlight of our trip was when Cia, who was taking our dinner order at our candlelit table, stopped and said "sorry to interrupt but there are two rhinos drinking from the waterhole outside"!
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our second stay at Gorah and it was just as memorable as the first.
What sets Gorah apart from the majority of safari lodges we've been lucky enough to visit is the quality of sightings between game drives !! The proximity of the water hole directly in front of the lodge pretty much guarantees sightings of elephant, zebra, warthog, red hartebeest, black rhino, buffalo, vervet monkeys etc throughout the day & night.
The game drives are terrific too. Gorah enjoys a strong team of guides, all with excellent knowledge of the Addo mammals, birds & plants which they share with enthusiasm and humour. The two drives per day explore both the Gorah concession and the broader Addo National Park in search of the best sightings. The modern vehicles are equipped with blankets, ponchos, hot water bottles etc as well as the obligatory camp table & portable bar for sundowners.
The tented suites are fantastic, equipped with everything you would expect in a 5 star luxury hotel (including a free mini bar). Each suite has a deck overlooking the beautiful savannah which is a helpful reminder that there are no fences between you & the animals you encounter on your game drives !! The Manor House is an elegant throwback to the filmset of Out of Africa. Breakfast, lunch, dinner & afternoon tea are all served in the Manor House and were excellent quality. It's worth noting that all drinks (other than a few premium brands) are included at Gorah which is not always the case, so it's good value compared to other safari options,
Gorah is lucky to have a fantastic team who go out of their way to make your stay a special experience. All of them were brilliant but for us Sia, Travis, Mavis, & Simoné were the absolute stars.
Finally, if you self-drive from Port Elizabeth, make sure you follow the directions along the N2 to the Mathyolweni Entrance of Addo Elephant National Park and DO NOT take the shorter R335 through Motherwell, it's not safe......
We look forward to our third stay.....
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Cheryl Norvall, General Manager at Gorah Elephant Camp
Responded 02 Jan 2024
Thank you for the lovely review! We are absolutely delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us. We hope to welcome you back soon! Warm regards, Cheryl & The Gorah Family
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I am not surprised at the reviews I see under this listing. My husband and I decided to treat ourselves for two nights after working at Kenton and it was absolutely perfect. It is not often you visit a place and leave saying there is nothing that needed to be different. From our arrival and welcome - thank you Leandi to our chat with the chef and our last evening meal it was wonderful. The tents are comfortable, spacious and warm. Facilities are beautiful. The all inclusive price which even included the mini-bar in the luxury tent was a treat. Ashleigh was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and professional. The streams of elephants to the water hole in front of the beautiful lodge, their proximity and rumbles were beyond priceless. The staff did everything they could to make sure we were comfortable and had everything we wanted. Being offered hot chocolate and a blanket so I could continue watching the elephants at the waterhole will be something I remember always. The food was excellent, service outstanding and the location out of this world. Night time sounds of hyena, jackal and lion were the perfect end to each day. We will do our utmost to repeat this experience and highly recommend it to anyone thinking about whether they should visit.
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:They are all good.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leandi Pretorius, General Manager at Gorah Elephant Camp
Responded 29 Jun 2022
Thank you so very much for this lovely review! The activity at the waterhole is indeed a treat & we are truly that you enjoyed your Gorah experience. We really hope to welcome you back soon! Warmest regards, Leandi & The Gorah Family
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We spent three nights in Gorah. Upon arrival we were greeted with lemonade and then served lunch on the veranda. From here there is a perfect view of the watering hole and the many zebra, elephants and wart hogs which come to drink.
There are two game drives each day, one in the morning and another in the evening. We went out on a jeep with one or two other couples and our guide, JJ, who was impressively knowledgeable. He seemed to have a sixth sense for the wildlife and we had fantastic sightings of lions, elephants, buffalo, and even a rhino.
Our 'tent' was luxurious with a selection of amenities, including a hairdryer and complimentary alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. It was spacious and had both a proper shower and toilet.
Overall, an absolutely fantastic experience we will never forget - thank you to everyone at Gorah!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from LeandiP5, General Manager at Gorah Elephant Camp
Responded 06 Jan 2020
We are absolutely delighted that you had such a fantastic experience! Thank you for your lovely review! We hope to welcome you back to Gorah soon! Best wishes, Leandi & The Gorah Family
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This is the magical place I have ever visited. We spent two nights and the moment arrived we treated to shear luxury.
The people that run this venue are so attentive, so helpful and nothing is too much trouble. Our guide Justine was simply put, FANTASTIC! He took the time to show us everything we wanted to see, no question was to silly and his knowledge was impressive. With him as our guide we saw Black Rhino, Lions, Buffalo, Kudu, Water Hog, Zebra, Hearty-beast, Ostrich, Mongoose the list goes on and on…. You do two 3 hour drives one at 0630 the the other 1630, with time in in the day to relax.
The rooms as spectacular. The beds are comfortable, the layout and facilities are fantastic. It is glamping at is best and luxury is the word. There are no TVs, thank god, nor do you need when your views are as spatular as they are here. It also comes with a very stocked mini bar that is complimentary.
The food is superb and they are more than happy to cater to any dietary requirements. They even go so far to design, print and present you a personalised menu that bespoke to your dietary needs.
Yes this place is expansive and rarely do I say this, but this place is worth every single penny. The experiences we have had here are the things dreams are made of, I will treasure them for the rest my life.
I can not recommend this place highly enough.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leandi Pretorius, General Manager at Gorah Elephant Camp
Responded 31 Jan 2023
Thank you so much for this stunning review - we are truly delighted that you've had a memorable stay with us! We hope that you will return again soon so that you can have more memories to treasure! Warmest regards, Leandi & The Gorah Family
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There are so many good things to say about our stay at Gorah, from the moment we entered the gate to the very last minute before we left, we truly enjoyed every minute of our stay at this magical place! We stayed at Gorah as part of our honeymoon trip and we were treated like royalty by all the staff. The tent was so luxurious and they really put the glam in glamping! Even though our stay was during winter, the tent was still very cosy and warm with the special touch of warm water bottles every night. The food was amazing at every meal time, ate way too much and afternoon high tea overlooking elephants drinking at the waterhole was such a treat. The game drives were fantastic, very friendly and informative guides who made each game drive extra special. They really know how to go out of their way for the guests - thank you Ashley! Gorah truly deserves its 5 star rating and many hotels and lodges can learn a thing or two from this fine establishment. We can't wait to return to this special place that stole our hearts!
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Request a tent that overlooks the waterhole
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leandi Pretorius, General Manager at Gorah Elephant Camp
Responded 12 Jul 2021
Dear Monika, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your Gorah experience! We are absolutely delighted that you enjoyed your stay & we look forward to welcoming you back again soon! Warm regards, Leandi & The Gorah Family
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If you are wondering whether to stay in Gorah Elephant Camp please do not hesitate for a second. This was our first experience of safari and although we visited other (highly rated/5*) properties after our stay here they weren’t even in the same league. In fact, we have been lucky enough to have travelled round the world a bit and stayed in some really lovely places but this was the best place we have ever stayed in. Being in Addo Elephant Park, the location is of course incredible and feels so vast, yet so intimate and exclusive at the same time due to the size of Gorah. The amenities are superb, the food absolutely delicious and the service is on a whole different level - from the moment we drove through the outer gates of the Gorah concession to the moment we left, we felt utterly spoilt. In Gorah, the whole team couldn’t do enough for us, from the guides to the front of house staff and even the chefs - I was pregnant at the time of our stay and everyone was so lovely and accommodating. We would honestly return in a heartbeat.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leandi Pretorius, General Manager at Gorah Elephant Camp
Responded 06 Sept 2022
Thank you for sharing your Gorah experience and for recommending us so highly. We are truly delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us & that you felt so spoilt. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Warmest regards, Leandi & The Gorah Family
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Good day Matt,
All non-alcoholic drinks are inclusive and the drinks on game drives and the mini-bar in your tent is complimentary. The only extra charges would then be any alcoholic drinks served in the lodge.
We hope to see you soon!
Kind regards,
Leandi
Port Elizabeth, South Africa47 contributions9 helpful votes
They don’t have special requirements for dress - and I would recommend a comfortable pair of walking shoes but this also depends on the season you’re visiting in! Summers get extremely hot and winters nights and mornings can drop below 0! When do you intend visiting?
There are more places to choose from in the Addo Elephant National Park area.
PRICE RANGE
R 17,873 - R 25,736 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
gorah elephant camp hotel addo elephant national park
LOCATION
South AfricaEastern CapeGreater AddoAddo Elephant National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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