South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced the temporary closure of the Bedrogfontein 4×4 trail in Addo Elephant National Park due to a section of the trail being washed away during recent rains. The closure is necessary for comprehensive repairs, and the duration of closure remains unspecified. SANParks has also suspended bookings for accommodations along the trail, including the Mvubu campsite and Kabouga Cottage, until further notice.
The Bedrogfontein 4×4 trail, positioned between the Kabouga and Darlington areas of Addo Elephant National Park, offers a unique journey through diverse vegetation types such as riverine thicket, afromontane forest, fynbos on the peaks, and the arid nama-karoo of the Darlington area. Suited for 4×4 vehicles with low-range facilities, the self-driven trail follows a one-way route, commencing from Kabouga and concluding at Darlington.
Kabouga, located approximately 40 km (about one hour’s drive) from the main entrance of Addo Elephant National Park near Kirkwood, serves as the starting point, while Darlington is situated around 150 km away (approximately two hours’ drive). Spanning 45 km with a grading of 2-3, the trail can be comfortably completed in about six hours. Accommodation options along the Kabouga side of the trail include the Mvubu campsite and Kabouga Cottage. The park management is actively addressing the repair needs, and updates on the reopening of the trail and accommodations will be provided in due course.
