Majestic Elephant Interactions
Kwa Madwala is extremely privileged to have two domesticated elephants that live within the Reserve and provide emotional and moving elephant experiences from interaction experiences.
The elephants, Tswale and Modjadji are based in the 70 ha non-Big 5 area of the reserve about 10 minutes’ drive from Kwa Madwala’s entrance gate & also about a 10 minutes’ drive from Manyatta Rock Camp. An onsite transfer service is available for guests at Manyatta Rock Camp on the reserve to and from the Adventure Centre and is included in the cost of any of the elephant activities.
Our guests start all elephant experiences with a brief introduction to Tswali and Modjadji and a safety talk. The elephant experiences end with guests being offered the opportunity to feed the elephants with their favourite game pellets.
Elephant Interaction Experiences (no age restriction)
A 15 minute elephant interaction – (minimum of 4 people)
A brief introduction which includes touching, feeling and feeding the elephants.
A 30 minute elephant interaction
Again an introduction to the elephants which includes a brief talk on their history as well as an explanation on the training concepts that are used and a game that is played to demonstrate their good sense of smell. The elephants are asked to lie down and guests can then have the opportunity to touch and feel them from head to toe.
A one hour elephant interaction
A longer interaction experience which also includes a game to demonstrate their good memory and which covers a deeper knowledge shared by the elephant stable master and his specialised team.
A one hour elephant walk
A walk through the bush in the 70 ha non-Big 5 area where guests can interact with the elephants and the natural environment simultaneously. A great way to combine a walking safari with a close encounter and lifetime experience with African elephants.
More info:
Morning elephant experiences are conducted between 07h00-10h00 am in summer and winter.
Afternoon elephant experiences are conducted between 15h00-18h00 in the summer months and 14h30-17h30 in the winter months.
Winter months : 1st May to 30th September
Kwa Madwala’s Elephants
Tswale and Modjadji, our two tamed Elephants were trained by Rory Hensman. Rory has worked extensively with elephants and is known as the ‘elephant whisperer’.
Rory passed away about three years ago and his son, Sean Hensman is currently running Adventure With Elephants in Bela Bela in the Limpopo Province. Rory’s training techniques are based on the principles of trust, ask and reward which is the total opposite to the methods used in India where the actual spirit of the elephant is broken.
The experiences are highly recommended to anyone who would like to experience a close and personal encounter combined with the best possible education of the African Elephant, the most intelligent giants of the African bush.
Our stable master, Amos Jivendava has been working with Rory, Tswale and Modjadji since the beginning, Edmore, one of our grooms was also trained by Rory, Dani, Charlie and James have been trained by Amos.
