World Elephant Day
Today is #worldelephantday. Are your social media time lines filled with Elephants?
It is a day dedicated to helping people learn about the world’s largest land mammals and raising awareness about the importance of protecting them in the wild. Today we are highlighting some of the areas in Africa to stay and see them in the wild.
Abu Camp - Botswana
The whole premise on which Abu Camp is based is that of elephant conservation. The Abu Herd members are eloquent ambassadors for elephant conservation, and several elephants have been reintroduced to the wild, where they continue to provide valuable data to local researchers and conservationists. All the calves born to Abu Herd elephants have been sired by wild bulls, which speaks volumes for the freedom of the herd members to have normal interactions and contact with wild elephant. Abu Camp is located in Botswana.
Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge - Botswana
In Savuti in Botswana early morning and afternoon game drives take you among Africa’s largest elephant population. You may also encounter lion, wild dogs, leopard, cheetah, hyenas, enjoy rare sightings of rock-climbing klipspringers and elegant roan and, depending on the season, catch the second largest migration of zebra in Africa. Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge has permanent water in front of the lodge. Especially during the dry season the ‘pan’ is a magnet for elephants day and night.
Gorah Elephant Camp
Addo National Park in South Africa’s Eastern Cape is home to the densest population of elephants on earth. Created in 1931 as a safe place for elephants to live,there were only 11 elephants in the area. Today their numbers are over 450. We feel we are stepping back in time when we safari at Gorah Elephant Camp . White billowy tents and gas lanterns, really help set the atmosphere. The watering hole are a perfect location to while away the day watching as the elephants come and go.
Mana Pools – Zimbabwe
The first National Park to be made a World Heritage Site in Zimbabwe. A really complex ecosystem to understand, it is easy to think that Mana Pools is just about the river frontage. However exploring off the beaten track you will discover riverine forests and thickets. Mana is famous for its population of bull elephants who have perfected the art of standing on their back legs to tear down the top branches of the Albida (winterthorn) trees. When this happens the younger bulls and cows and calves benefit too. This sight is a truly ‘Mana moment’.
Sheldricks Elephant Centre - Nairobi
This is a superb example of how animal interactions should be done. Don’t expect an all singing and dancing experience, the focus here is firmly on the welfare of these magnificent creatures. Ian has chosen to “adopt an elephant” on recent visits. We highly recommend this - not only for contributing to an internationally well-respected conservation cause, but you also get to escape the crowds visiting during the daytime. Adopters can spend a calmer hour at the end of the day in the orphanage, watching the keepers give their charges their bottles and put them to bed. A wonderful, uncontrived experience - we love the fact this doesn’t feel like a tourist show, and it is all the better for it.
Hwange - Zimbabwe
Hwange attracts huge herds of big Elephants. During dry winter months the watering holes and pans offer water for the elephants. They walk miles for water every day. These gentle giants were given Presidential decree in 1990 to protect and were known as the Presidential Elephants. Nowadays beautiful camps such as Linkwasha, Somalisa, and Acacia Somalisa are the perfect places to stay in order to see elephants in the wild.
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Contact Us
Give our knowledgeable team a call on 01904 866 033 or email: africa@knightonreeve.co.uk.