Elephant Back Safaris and Interaction Programmes

Elephant safari guests take a drinks break

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There are currently six different elephant package options available which allow visitors the chance to get up close with our very special elephants.

Exciting elephant trekking routes have been planned through the Kwa Madwala conservancy and entwines through river beds, passes water holes, crosses rocky outcrops and through spectacular lowveld bush.

Guests are transported from Manyatta Rock Camp to the Elephant Enclosure and introduced to the rangers and grooms on duty. A safety briefing is held so that all guests feel comfortable when in close proximity to the elephants and understand the instructions issued by the grooms.

1. Energetic Elephant 06:00 - 09:00

Start your day off with coming to the elephants and seeing how they start off their day. First you will see them do their morning exercises, followed by a brief interaction and then straight after that you will be heading on a bush walk with a difference. The elephants go about their daily morning routine and do what they do best, eating and walking. This trip will take you through new pathways as we are always trying to find the best trees with which to feed the elephants. They might even push over a tree for you. This trip gives you fantastic photo opportunities while you experience the elephants in their natural environment. A reasonable level of fitness is required for this activity.

2. ½ Hour Interaction

This activity usually takes place within the elephant stables. This is a fantastic experience for those who don’t want to ride the elephant, but who want to find out more about the animals. You will also find that during the course of the experience you will start to distinguish the two separate personality traits of the different elephants. The stable manager will cover many aspects of the elephant’s anatomy as well as behaviour traits of elephant in the wild and captivity. You will get to feed the elephant as well as to touch them, feeling the difference in texture on different parts of the body. This is a purely interactive experience.

3. 1 Hour Interaction with short ride

Get the best of both worlds and take the opportunity to do the interaction as well as go on a short walk. Once you have finished the interaction (same as no.2) we will saddle up the elephants and go on a short walk. This will give you a taste of what it is like to be on the back of the heaviest of all land mammals. Hear how quietly they walk. Our grooms (mahouts as they are called in India) will be more than please to answer any questions you may have regarding the elephants. Trousers are required for this activity.

4. 1 ½ Hour Interaction with the Elephant Back Safari

Start off with the interaction experience and then go on "safari" through the bush to one of our dams. The chance of encountering game on this experience is good as you go deeper into the bush. While they walk they will feed on passing trees, grasses, roots etc, and you will have a good chance to observe them feeding themselves and traversing the bush with consummate ease.

5. Sundown Safari 16:00 18:00

This is are most poplar elephant back programme we offer. This is a one way safari that starts off with the interaction followed by a safari through the bush to a private waterhole. When you get to the waterhole they will be led to the water (you can take an elephant to water, but you can’t make it drink!). Here you will have a selection of cold drinks waiting as you watch the sunset behind the dam with the sounds of the bush in the background putting the finishing touches of an unforgettable African safari experience. Our game drive vehicles will be waiting to take you back to either Manyatta Rock Camp or your vehicle.

6. 3 Hour Interaction and Elephant Back Safari

This is the longest elephant activity we have on offer and gives one plenty of time to thoroughly enjoy and appreciate being in the company of these amazing creatures. After your introduction and familiarisation with the elephants you will saddle up and head off into the bush exploring the area across the veld in search of their favourite trees. Feel free during this ride to get off the elephant at any time and experience walking with them as well. This is an excellent way to get good photos of them feeding and watching the grooms interacting with the elephants. Long trousers and boots are essential for this experience.

View Elephant Back Safari Prices or send a booking enquiry

Timings

The elephant safari programmes generally operate in the mornings and afternoons subject to weather conditions. Interaction only programmes operate at other times.

Mornings 06h00 through to 09h00

Afternoons 15h00 through to 18h00

What’s Included

Mornings – include return transfers to / from Manyatta Rock Camp, teas/coffee and rusks.

Afternoons - include return transfers to / from Manyatta Rock Camp, sundowner drink and snacks

Minimum Age Limit

For liability and practical reasons we cannot allow children under the age of 10 to participate.

Numbers

Each elephant can carry up to 2 persons.

For the interaction programmes we limit numbers within the elephant compound to 10 maximum.

Safety

When within the elephant compound, all guests must obey the instructions of our rangers and elephant grooms at all times. Although domesticated and fully trained, elephants are unpredictable and must be treated with the utmost respect. Please DO NOT approach an elephant, unless accompanied by a member of the Kwa Madwala elephant team.

The elephants are housed in secure purpose built accommodation on the reserve, where they are safe and well looked after by our dedicated team of staff.