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Elephant Back Safaris

Kwa Madwala is extremely privileged to have two tamed elephants that live within the Reserve and provide emotional and moving elephant experiences from safaris to interaction experiences.

The elephants, Tswale and Modjadji, are based at the purpose built stables in the reserve about 10 minutes drive from the Manyatta Rock Camp, or 5 minutes from the Gazebo Game Lodge. An on site transfer service is available to and from the stables and is included in the cost of any of the elephant activities.

Our guests start all elephant experiences with a brief introduction to Tswali and Mojaji and a safety talk in the bush. The elephant experiences end with guests being offered the opportunity to feed the elephants with their favourite pellets which can be purchased at the stables a cost of R20-00 per bucket.

Elephant Interaction Experiences include:

A one hour elephant walk – R700-00 per person

A walk through the bush where guests can interact with the elephants and the natural environment simultaneously. A great way to combine a walking safari with a close encounter and lifetime experience with African elephants.

A one hour elephant back safari – R800-00 per person

A game viewing experience through the bush which includes the opportunity to interact, ride and view game from the backs of two African elephant.

A two hour elephant back safari – R1400-00 per person

A longer game viewing experience which is often more rewarding in terms of animal sightings in comparison to the one hour option as a greater distance is covered and includes either morning coffee and rusks or afternoon sundowners. We often get sightings of impala, kudu, waterbuck, giraffe, warthog and sometimes even rhino and elephant. Occasionally we have passed lions too.

A three hour elephant back safari – R1950-00 per person

The ultimate elephant experience and the best option for seeing the most animal sightings. The experience again includes either morning coffee and rusks or afternoon sundowners.

Elephant back night safaris

Elephant backed night safaris will be coming soon. Should you be interested in participating in this experience please enquire at reservations or reception for the latest update on these.

Interaction Experiences for Guests Include:

A 15 minute elephant interaction – R300-00 per person

A brief introduction which includes touching, feeling and smelling the elephants

A 30 minute elephant interaction – R450-00 per person

Again an interaction introduction to the elephants which includes a brief talk on their history as well as an explanation on the training concepts that are used and some games that are played to demonstrate smell and memory. The elephants are asked to lie down and guests can then have the opportunity to touch and feel them from head to toe.

A one hour elephant interaction – R700-00 per person

A longer interaction experience which also covers a deeper knowledge shared by the elephant stable master and his specialised team.

More info:

Morning elephant experiences are conducted between 6.00-9.00am in the summer and between 7.00-10.00am in the winter.

Afternoon elephant experiences are conducted between 15.30-18.30 in the summer and 14.30-17.30 in the winter.

An additional time slot has been made available for elephant interaction experiences only, which are now conducted between 10.00am and 12.30pm throughout the year.

Summer months: 1st November to 30th March
Winter months: 1st April to 30th October

Kwa Madwala's Elephants

Our resident stable master, Shaun Phillips is available on site. It can be arranged by appointment, for guests staying in the reserve to meet with Shaun either over drinks in the evening or following breakfast for coffee in the morning giving the opportunity to ask questions and meet this extraordinary man whose special talent and empathy with African elephants goes way beyond what others consider possible.

Rory Hensman, Shaun’s brother-in-law, has worked closely with Shaun for many years going back to his Zimbabwean farming background. Rory has worked extensively with elephants and is known as the ‘elephant whisperer’ and is currently running an elephant training centre in the Limpopo province called EFAF – Elephants For Africa Forever. Rory’s training techniques are based on the principles of trust, ask and reward which is the total opposite to the methods used in India where the actual spirit of the elephant is broken.

The experiences are highly recommended to anyone who would like to experience a close and personal encounter combined with the best possible education of the African elephant, the most intelligent giants of the African bush.