The Knysna Elephant Park along the Garden Route is one of the most premier facilities in Southern Africa. The park, established in 1994, was the first and only place to house and care for orphaned African elephants.
They spend their days relaxing in the mud baths and swimming pools, dusting and socialising. Here they are given the freedom they need to roam freely and graze in nature while coming back to their home base during the day to relax, socialise, or get medical care if needed.
The park’s main purpose is to provide a home for elephants that would have otherwise been killed due to overpopulation, human-animal conflict or injury. Additionally, the park aims to educate visitors about these animals and raise awareness of conservation issues.
The Experience
Experience the elephants. We take you on an early morning nature walk and challenge you to do social distancing for 1 hour with our herd of 10 elephants. You get the unique opportunity to experience these giants in their natural environment and grow your confidence in approaching them. You will experience immense growing feelings of respect and compassion towards these creatures which will be reflected in your appreciation of them as a species, which is priceless in itself.
The Nature Lodge
After taking a guided tour you’ll be able to spend the night in the lodge, right within the same enclosure as our elephants. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy their company not just for a few hours, but for a few days; spending your nights sleeping next to them. Our lodge is designed so that guests will be sharing the same sleeping quarters as our elephants.
Elephants on the Garden Route
The relationships between these larger-than-life animals can be fascinating to witness as they interact with one another. Sally leads the herd through the Park each day. A great way to learn more about elephant behaviour is to participate in this walk with your family and friends – a truly unique experience! The elephants that are part of this specific group have formed a very special bond with each other throughout their time together at KEP. We even have a mother- to mother relationships.
Weddings
The Knysna Elephant Park offers a picturesque, unique, and affordable venue for weddings, conferences and other functions. Weddings in the Knysna Elephant Park are unlike any other and will certainly be memorable for all who attend. The venue is set in an area of indigenous forest and mountains.
Functions
The Elephant Park is the ideal venue for a variety of occasions. Whether you are planning a corporate event, a team-building day, or a birthday celebration, they definitely have something for everyone. The venue has an open plan design and can accommodate up to 200 guests. Various catering options are also available for full-day packages.
Restaurant and curios
The Indlovu dam is the perfect spot to unwind after a day of exploring. The café serves meals freshly prepared from ingredients grown on the farm and offers you the chance to view an array of exquisite curios whilst you eat.
The elephant team
The team consists of experienced handlers, elephant managers, and guides. They live in the Park and look after the elephants around the clock. As a guest, you will also meet them in the field where they work and assist with daily tours. The team consists of around 65 individuals who work towards providing the best possible care for the elephants. They are responsible for ensuring that the animals are kept well-fed and cared for. The maintenance and Boma team work hard to keep the facility running smoothly. They make sure that everything is in working order and safe.
Conclusion
So if you’re on the Garden route and want to come close to nature by walking with it, then you have to try the Knysna Elephant Park. I really recommend it.
The elephant park is a great place to come and enjoy the flora and fauna of the Garden Route of South Africa. It’s one of my favourite places in Knysna, so you should try to come visit once while you’re here.