Elephant Sanctuary
Your meetings and business are over, and you’d like to relax, get out into the countryside and do something different and worthwhile. Whether you’ve a few hours to fill, or are looking for an easy and accessible overnight stay, then there’s a perfect choice for you – visit the Elephant Sanctuary in the Magaliesberg mountains near Hartbeespoort Dam, just over an hour’s pleasant drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria.
What is the Elephant Sanctuary? Firstly, it is not a zoo, nor does it resemble anything like a zoo. It’s a place of refuge and safety where five elephants live in harmony together and are trained to interact safely with visitors. The sanctuary acts as a halfway house on the animals’ eventual route to a permanent wilderness home.
Trained and managed by some of South Africa’s top guides and animal behaviourists, Amarula (the oldest bull), Khumba (the matriarch), second-in-command Masadi (known for her “singing”), Mvusu, the teenage boy, and Temba, the baby of the herd (who loves children herself) will delight you, educate you, move you and give you an unforgettable wildlife experience.
Choose the programme that most suits your time and needs. The shortest experience is the 8am early morning one, which lasts just one-and-a-half hours. You’ll brush and groom the elephants, walk trunk-in-hand with them to the forest area and, as you bond with “your” elephant, the expert guides will talk you through their own experiences and teach you about these gentle giants.
If you’ve a little more time, then opt for the two-hour morning educational programme, which you can follow up with a leisurely lunch.
Crown your experience and feel like a rajah or royalty and opt for the elephant-back riding programme, which can be added on to any of the day programmes.
Something even more special is to stay overnight in one of the luxury lodges on site. You’ll arrive for 4pm (and miss the stressful Johannesburg and Pretoria traffic), have a sundowner, watch the elephants from the main deck, or cool down with a refreshing dip in the lodge pool.
Be there as the elephants are stabled for the night, and then enjoy a traditional four-course dinner in the open-air boma and gaze at the brilliant stars of the African night sky as you sit by a crackling log fire.
Next morning at 7am, you’ll see the brush down of the elephants, before walking
trunk-in-hand to the forest area where you’ll see the unique interaction between the trainers and animals, before having your own face-to-trunk memorable experience.
Then it’s breakfast, poring over those amazing photographs you have taken, and finally back to “civilisation” and the urban world.
Take time to read the guest book and add some thoughts of your own. Comments range from “a life-changing experience” to “humbling”, and from “I had tears in my eyes” to “a moving experience and something that I will hold in my heart forever”.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from and interact with one of nature’s most intelligent, endearing and powerful creatures. And remember your sun hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes.
Rates
Booking is essential.
08h00 programme: adults R425, children three to 14 years R215
10h00 and 14h00 programmes: adults R525, children three to 14 years R215
Lunch R135
Elephant rides (no children under eight) R425
Accommodation: Main Lodge approximately R2 250 p/p sharing
Bush Lodge approximately R3 000 p/p sharing
Children R1 125
Directions
From Johannesburg take the R512 past Lanseria Airport to the Hartbeespoort Dam. Cross dam, turn right at T-junction to 4-way stop at craft market. Turn left and travel 2.5km to Elephant Sanctuary on your left. A detailed map can be obtained from www.elephantsanctuary.co.za
Contact details
Tel: +27( 0)12 258 0423/9906
Email: elephantsanctuary@mweb.co.za
Physical address
Hartbeespoort Dam
In the neighbourhood
De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre
Email:cheetah@dewildt.co.za
Mount Grace spa
Tel: +27 (0)14 577 5600