Pilanesberg National Park
Elephant Back Safaris
in Pilanesberg National Park
PILANESBERG ELEPHANTS HAVE RETIRED
Pilanesberg Elephant Back Safaris announces the closure of its commercial operations of Elephant Back Safaris & Elephant Interactions, based at Sun City Resort, Pilanesberg from the end of August 2014.
As part of a process started a long time ago, we are retiring our Elephants and will concentrate on rehabilitating them back into a wild environment after a working life of almost 20 years, the last 12 being at Sun City.
For those of us who have been privileged enough to have been part of the 'Pilanesberg Elephant Back Safari Experience', whether it be briefly meeting the individual members of this special herd at the 'Elephant Wallow', or spending endless hours with the herd being accepted as an integral part of their family as fostered mentors, one thing is for sure - we are all so much richer for this wonderful privilege.
Sapi, Mana, Michael, Sharu, Chikwenya, together with her siblings, Tidimalo & Ngwedi have been under our care and guidance for the past 20 years. Years of nurturing and dedication devoted to the 'Chikwenya herd' by their handling team have reaped the rewards resulting in a unique relationship based on trust and mutual respect between man and elephant.
From the end of August 2014 Pilanesberg Elephant Back Safaris, in line with the long term management vision for their fostered elephants have secured a new future for this special herd with plans to re-integrate them fully back into the wild where they will be supported in a venture to live out their lives as wild elephants. The first stage in the rehabilitation process will be to remove the elephants from any commercial interaction whilst they prepare for a life which will ultimately have minimal human interference. Their translocation to a new property will be fully supported and monitored by their long standing handlers who have spent the best part of 14 - 20 years with them to minimise stress associated with the translocation and to ensure a desired positive outcome for each member of the herd. We recognise and salute the contribution these elephants have made to our lives and the lives of countless others and look forward to watching these elephants living out the remainder of their lives as wild elephants over the years to come.
Yours sincerely
Brett Mitchell
Manager - Pilanesberg Elephant Back Safaris