During our epic road trip from Cape Town to Durban we decided to spend a couple of weeks near the Wilderness, South Africa. We stayed in a romantic log-cabin in Sedgefield and while there we enjoyed sunrise hikes, ocean swims and lazy days cozied up by the fireplace.
But, the experience that stands out most for us was the morning we spent meeting the herd at the Knysna Elephant Park.
When we arrived at the Elephant Park we didn't know what to expect. We had heard positive things but had no idea what an awesome experience we were in for!
Upon arrival the receptionist took everyones temperature, hand sanitiser was provided and we filled in the relevant COVID-19 documentation. (They offer many different options but we chose to meet the herd.) We payed the entrance fee which is R360 per person over the age of 15 years. (There are Elephant Snack Buckets available at R45 which we highly recommend getting.) After a brief wait in the waiting area we were shown a short informative video before boarding a vehicle that took us to the elephant herd.
Our excitement grew tremendously as we approached the herd. Each family was met by a trained guide who accompanied us as we fed, walked and interacted with the elephant herd.
We started by feeding the elephants from the Elephant Snack Bucket which was filled with some fresh fruit and vegetables. It was amazing to see up close how the herd's hierarchy works when it comes to feeding time. The larger elephants demand all the food and push the younger elephants away. The guides told us to be respectful of this hierarchy and to only feed the bigger elephants as they all have plenty of food on the reserve. The younger elephants soon lose interest and move off to munch on the nearby trees and grass.
After feeding the herd we were allowed to approach the individual elephants with our guide. The guides were all full of informative facts and we could see that they genuinely understood and cared for the herd.
Interacting with the elephants was a once in a lifetime experience. Being up close with these magnificent gentle giants really made us both feel super humbled. We were allowed to walk and interact with the elephants for around 45 minutes before we had to bid farewell to make room for the next visitors.
The Knysna Elephant Park was the first facility in South Africa to house and care for orphaned elephants. We could see the tremendous work they are doing with these elephants and we loved hearing all the facts and information provided by the guides. We have provided a link down below if you want to check out their website. All in all we had an awesome experience and would 100% recommend this to anyone who has the chance to go.
We have added a link below which allows you to have a look at their website to read and learn about all the awesome things they have on offer at the Knysna Elephant Park.
There is an option to donate to their amazing fund if you are unable to physically visit. Donating allows them to continue their work rescuing and rehabilitating these amazing animals. https://knysnaelephantpark.co.za/donate/
We hope we have sparked an interest in you to visit this amazing place! If you would like to share an experience of your own or even ask us anymore questions, then please leave a comment below and we will get back to you asap.
We look forward hearing from you.
- LifeOf Betts