Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa's Eastern Cape has confirmed foot-and-mouth disease in its kudu population, though visitors can still go on safari there. South African National Parks (SANParks) announced that a second round of diagnostic testing on samples from affected kudu came back positive for the virus, which is highly contagious among cloven-hoofed animals.
The discovery started with wildlife health surveillance: rangers noticed more kudu limping inside the park. Early tests were negative, but follow-up investigations confirmed the disease. So far, no other wildlife species in the park are showing signs consistent with foot-and-mouth, and SANParks stresses the disease poses no risk to human health.
How the kudu got infected remains unknown. SANParks points out that the positive results confirm the virus's presence but say nothing about the source or whether it connects to other outbreaks in the Eastern Cape — that's now with veterinary authorities to investigate. Movement of cloven-hoofed animals into or out of the park is banned unless authorised after a risk assessment, and SANParks is coordinating with neighbouring landowners and livestock farmers.
Practically, the main change travellers will notice is at the gates: vehicles are being disinfected before leaving designated game-viewing areas. Further precautions could follow if veterinary authorities require them under animal-disease legislation. SANParks asks visitors to comply with all access, movement and biosecurity instructions, and says updates will follow once verified information is available.
For anyone with a trip booked, the takeaway is straightforward: Addo remains fully operational, game drives and accommodation included. The disease affects cattle and certain wildlife — it doesn't affect people, so a self-drive safari past the park's famous elephants carries no health concern. Just be prepared for a possible spray-down of your rental car on the way out, and don't be surprised if access rules shift while surveillance continues. If you're combining Addo with nearby farms or reserves in the Eastern Cape, check ahead in case movement controls affect your route.
