Call on 10 gentle giants

Advertorial

SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - Founded in 1994, and the first of its kind in South Africa, the Knysna Elephant Park provides a home for orphaned and unwanted elephants.

Visit the resident herd for an experience that will stay with you forever. Through responsible interaction, guests leave with new-found appreciation for these awe-inspiring animals.

The present herd numbers ten - the largest domesticated matriarchal herd in the country. Guests have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the elephants, on elephant terms, giving the elephants the space and freedom to choose where they want to move, what they want to eat and who they want to interact with.

There are no fences to spoil the encounter and our environment encourages elephants to exhibit natural behaviour.

The park has been one of the Garden Route's premier tourist destinations for the past 25 years.

Facilities include an on-site research unit, volunteer programme, interpretation centre, restaurant, playground and curio shop. It is open 365 days a year, from 09:00 to 15:00.

Daily Tours begin every half-hour; Breakfast Elephant Walks daily at 07:30; Afternoon Elephant Walks daily at 15:30 and 16:30; and sundowners and snacks and an exclusive elephant interaction at the lapa venue for groups of 15 or more. Booking essential except for Daily Tours.

Built within the elephant sleeping quarters, the Elephant Lodge offers guests the opportunity to spend the night with the herd. Enjoy your sleepover in accommodation overlooking the boma, or spend the evening relaxing in the communal lounge, watching the elephants browse, feed and snooze.

Visitors leave with a better understanding of the African elephant and its plight across the continent. Most importantly, by visiting the park and experiencing the herd, guests make a contribution to elephant husbandry and enable the park to give their elephants the best possible facilities, nutrition and care. They also allow the park to meet its primary mission: to offer elephants in need the chance of a better life.

The gentle giants.