Please note elephant back safaris are no longer offered, however you can enjoy a respectful elephant interaction experience.
It has been a dream of mine for many years to experience an Elephant encounter. Elephants are without a doubt my favourite animals. Their magnificent, powerful, hefty size. Their long eye lashes. Their deeply carved wrinkles and their incredible grace mean that they hold a fascination for me - a fascination that was seeded many years ago when I first went on safari with my family as a child.
We are greeted by huge smiles from the staff members and are offered a much appreciated cold drink.
We start to get excited as we chat to the other visitors around us and the anticipation starts to mount. Luckily we aren't kept waiting for too long as we soon hear and then see a line of Elephants walking towards us through the bushes.Accompanied by their handlers, the Elephants saunter over to us and the handlers dismount. Walking down to where the Elephants are I am struck by just how big these giants of the African bush really are. Towering above me their tucks jut out and their inquisitive trunks wander through the air - taking in the new smells. They are checking me out as much as I am checking them out!
The guides ask the Elephants to kneel and bow and we are allowed to get closer and greet the Elephants. Their skin is hard and course. We get to feel their paper thin ears and wet, sensitive trunks. While we are getting acquainted the guides teach us all about the Elephants; how they cool themselves down, what they eat and how they sleep. It is a truly amazing feeling to be so close to these beautiful animals.
Once the walk is over it is time to reward the Elephants for their time and we are allowed to feed them some of their favourite treats as a way of saying thank you. It is then time for us to say goodbye and to go and enjoy a meal. Then we wave goodbye, feeling as if we are saying goodbye to a friend.
The feeling of being so close to nature is highly rewarding and one that is definitely worth experiencing, at least once in your lifetime.
By Katie Edge
For excellent Elephant Interaction Safaris in Addo stay at Barefoot Addo Elephant Lodge or enquire about day tours.
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