The park opened in 1994 and describes itself as the first facility in South Africa to house and care for orphaned African elephants. Its own account of where the animals come from is relocated animals, orphaned calves and elephants rescued from culls, and it publishes a named history for each of the elephants it profiles, with arrival dates and the circumstances that brought them in. There are two ways to see them. Meet our Herd runs through the day, needs no booking, and puts you in the field to feed the elephants and walk among them while they move where they like. The Elephant Experience goes out twice a day by reservation only, early and late, and covers about three kilometres at elephant pace. Elephant back rides were discontinued on 1 March 2018 and the Experience replaced them.
Highlights
- Open every day of the year, from 09:00 to 16:00
- Meet our Herd runs through the day and needs no booking
- The Elephant Experience goes out at 08:00 and 16:00 by reservation only, about three kilometres on foot
- Hand feeding and walking among a free-roaming herd
- Elephant back rides discontinued on 1 March 2018
- Named individual histories published for the elephants, with arrival dates
- A cafe, a lodge and a curio shop on site
Tips
Meet our Herd can be walked into on the day. The morning and afternoon Elephant Experiences must be booked ahead and places are limited.