The Elephant Sanctuary

Description

The Elephant Sanctuary that lies nestled within The Crags in Plettenberg Bay provides an exciting platform for visitors and elephants to interact like never before. Situated in Animal Alley, adjacent to Birds of Eden and Monkeyland, The Elephant Sanctuary invites visitors into the world of the African Elephant with a rare opportunity to touch, feed, and walk with these gentle giants.

The Crags Elephant Sanctuary is home to 5 African elephants, namely Maroela, Jabu, Thandi, Thaba, and Tumelo. The sanctuary sets itself apart from anything that the Garden Route has previously had to offer in terms of elephant interaction. All of the programs are guided and visitor groups are limited to ensure personal attention. The programs are visitor and elephant driven, ensuring the most important part of the tour is happy elephants and satisfied visitors.

The Elephant Sanctuary uses reward-based training which sets them apart from the crowd and completely disproves the idea that the only way to teach an elephant is with abuse. The elephants are trained using positive reinforcement for actions they would normally do in everyday life. Every time they blow their trunks or shake their heads, they are rewarded with food. The trainers teach the elephants naturally, without the use of punishment, whipping, or abuse.

Activities:

• Elephant Bareback Riding: 10 – 15 minute elephant ride
• Hand in Trunk Walk: elephant introduction, interaction, hand in trunk walking tour, feeding, and tour of the sanctuary and stables (1 hour)
• Full Elephant Experience: elephant introduction, interaction, walking hand in trunk, feeding, elephant back ride. Tours are offered from 08h00 – 15h50 (1 hour).
• Elephant Brush Down: elephant interaction, brushing the elephants, feeding, walking hand in trunk, and tour of the sanctuary and stables at 07h50 and 15h50 daily (1.5 hours)

The Elephant sanctuary also offers a curio shop and a pizza shack where wood fired pizzas can be enjoyed.