The Elephant Sanctuary hosts a unique and fully guided educational program that sets itself apart from anything else that South Africa has on offer in terms of elephant interaction and touching elephants. Guest numbers are limited to ensure personal attention and maximum elephant interaction for each guest, making this a truly memorable and enriching experience.

Visitors can learn more about elephant habits, behaviour, different personalities and anatomy through up-close and personal interaction. You get an opportunity to touch, feed and even walk trunk-in-hand with these magnificent animals.

The Elephant Sanctuary’s elephant walk is unique because you don’t just walk with or alongside the animals – you actually walk trunk-in-hand with them. Now imagine walking hand-in-hand with a child or loved one, then remind yourself that in this case the other hand is a trunk!

One-hour trunk-in-hand elephant educational program An experienced guide introduces you to the elephants, sharing with you their backgrounds, behaviours, personalities and more. You can touch, feed, interact and walk trunk-in-hand with the elephants. Suitable for all ages.

Elephant-back ride This includes the full trunk-in-hand educational program followed up by a ride of approximately 10 to 15 minutes – a privilege historically reserved for kings! The Elephant Sanctuary conducts their elephant back riding program in a controlled environment to make it a safe yet exciting experience. Elephant rides are done bare back to enhance your contact with the animal. Long pants and closed shoes are recommended.

Early morning elephant brush downs During this very special interactive program you take part in the morning or afternoon grooming and brush down of the elephants. Afterwards you join the training- and stimulation program the handlers do with the elephants every day. This is followed by the educational trunk-in-hand program.

Afternoon sundowner elephant experience This program includes all the other programs for the full elephant experience: the trunk-in-hand educational program, and the elephant back ride followed by the elephant brush down program.