Our Elephants
Our elephants
Our story with elephants starts nearly 30 years ago in Zimbabwe when Rory Hensman was given “unmanageable” elephants to train. Since then, more than 30 elephants have been rescued and trained for educational purposes in the name of conservation. We have also loved and cared for countless other animals like warthogs, kudu and steenbok to name but a few. Today we care for 7 elephants, 3 females, 2 males and our two little babies Bela and Zambezi, at Adventures with Elephants.
Our training methods are a combination of verbal commands and praise, body language and aids, targeting, clickers and of course food rewards. All our training is carried out with the utmost respect for our charges. Just like a happy cow will produce more and better quality milk, a happy elephant will help us show him/her off to our guests.
Keeping our elephants healthy, happy and stimulated is an absolute priority for us at AWE and we work continuously on building and keeping trust and rapport between us and our charges. When not interacting with the public the elephants are left to be elephants on our 300ha game reserve where they can free range feed, play, or bathe. Besides making sure they exercise regularly, and are well fed and watered, we use daily training and props like balls to keep them mentally agile and used to small things around their feet.
We supplement their diets with Bana grass, oats and lucerne, game pellets, fruit and vegetables during the year and conduct daily health checks. They sleep in large stables where they are monitored, protected and fed throughout the night.
Besides elephants, a visit to AWE almost always includes a cuddle with our 7-year old resident meerkat, Trouble, who was given to us by the neighbouring reserve when the Alpha female of the group threatened to kill him.
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Our Story
Adventures with Elephants was opened in 2010. We have had the honour of educating over 15000 guests a year, in the marvels of the African elephant.
Our Mission
AWE works towards finding and communicating the value of having and conserving wildlife and promoting understanding that wildlife needs to have value in order for it to survive.
Our Elephants
All our elephant were considered ‘problem elephants’ and as such were going to be destroyed. We took them in and tamed them for educational hands-on interactions.
Our Team
Many of our staff have a long history with the Hensman family and crossed the border with us and our elephant when political pressure in Zimbabwe forced a move to South Africa.