Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeesport Dam

Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeesport Dam

Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeesport Dam
4.5
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
About
The Elephant Sanctuary offers an interactive elephant experience. Our dedicated staff is committed to the use of positive reinforcement elephant training methods and as a result we have relaxed elephants who enjoy interacting with our guests. You will be guided on foot through The Elephant Sanctuary. Guides will provide in-depth information and insight into African Elephants. You will be introduced to our elephants in a natural area where you will be able to touch and interact with them. You will see the special relationship that the elephant handlers share with their elephants and become a part of it. Walk trunk-in-hand with the elephants,Learn about elephant anatomy, feed them,see the Elephant night shelters where they sleep. Remember to wear flat walking shoes, sun hats and bring your camera. The 08h00 Elephant Experience includes brushing the elephants down.Open 7 days a week, at 08h00; 10h00 and 14h00. We have overnight accommodation available.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Does not meet animal welfare guidelines
Tripadvisor does not provide bookings for this experience because it does not meet our animal welfare guidelines.
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See what travellers are saying
  • Passport28531180554
    1 contribution
    Disappointed
    I was at elephant sanctuary in 2019 for the first time and was amazing . Took my grandson n hubby in March 2023 and sadly to say was very disappointed .. Didn’t do nowhere near what we did on my first visit and they say due to covid things changed !! The prices didn’t change and we did far less this visit . Please May I say covid like the flu will be around for ever and just feel like they are using it as excuse
    Visited March 2023
    Written 26 March 2023
  • L G
    Johannesburg, South Africa8 contributions
    Harsh
    Experience was good apart from huge-sized groups (too big). But sadly they punish guests for honest booking mistakes. Contacted them one month in advance of arrival, and literally within minutes of making an online booking mistake (paid for 1 too many because under 4’s are supposed to go free). Tickets are not cheap for a single parent on a tight budget. But they refused to refund anything at all; even worse the lady “in charge” was not pleasant about it. Please just beware of extremely harsh and unforgiving booking policies :(
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 5 April 2023
  • Louise S
    London, United Kingdom1 contribution
    Fantastic Visit but please pay attention to group sizes
    We visited on 04/04 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our only criticism was that the groups were too large (there were easily 30 people in the 8am experience) and our elephant experience was impacted by a very rude / big family who did not follow the guide’s instructions and they were disruptive throughout and acted entitled when they did not get their picture perfect poses. When we realised they were going to be on the monkey experience with us too, we asked the guide if there were different time slots we could attend, and he very kindly split the group into two groups.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 8 April 2023
  • Chuck S
    Winnipeg, Canada113 contributions
    Entertainment and education
    After a visit to a game reserve, we wanted to get up close to these marvelous animals. The park visit is everything we expected. It was clean. The staff were brilliant. We were given a tour by a man named Bond. Of course, he played on his name. He spoke very well and in an entertaining and educational manner. We learned more about the elephant. And then we were able to feed them and get up close. These are not circus animals but certainly trained. Well worth the couple of hours.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 11 June 2023
  • Articbrush R
    2 contributions
    Average
    James was an excellent speaker with fantastic presentation skills. Expected much more for the price paid. Paid an extra R250 for a very disappointing video, they advertise it like this: "Get a video with you and your family walking with the elephants through the forrest." What we actually got was a video with a large crowd of about 40 other people together with the elephants and not next to the elephant, incl in the video you paid for was everyone feeding and touching the elephant and a 4 second clip with yourself touching or feeding the elephants. Could have made a much better video myself. The place was clean, but I won't call it a sanctuary.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 19 June 2023
  • Monica S
    2 contributions
    Ones in a lifetime experience with these gentle giants.
    We had a great experience with these gentle giants and their caregivers. We fed the beautiful elephants with pellets and fruit that the caregivers provided. We had our time ( too little time in my opinion) to walk with them and to touch them all over the body. To feel their skin was amazing. And to get close eye contact with the amazing creature was ones in a lifetime experience. The elephants looks well taken care of and have a lot of space. Our guide TK was funny and educated us in a easy understandable way. The biggest downfall was that the groups are too big.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 15 July 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Excellent
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JP K
Canberra, Australia2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
The sanctuary was just as amazing as everyone says. Beautifully maintained and you can see all animals and monkeys are cared for well.

Be weary though - I feel we were scammed. Ourselves and friends paid for a "Video" package. A couple of days after we were informed the video got corrupted and we could not be supplied with it. We then asked for our money to be reimbursed at which point was told money cannot be refunded to international bank accounts or the card that was used for payment. By this stage we had moved on from the area and could not return in person. We then asked what our options were, at which point we were fully ignored and have yet to receive any further correspondence to our follow up requests.

We feel we have been scammed and just want to ensure others are aware of this practice. It is a shame that this will be our memory, and our story to others, as opposed to what an amazing experience it itself was.
Written 6 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bartleboy
24 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
We received a very educational experience. The four elephants in residence have been rescued from life-threatening situations in the wild. The staff emphasizes that they are still wild animals, and we were to follow very strict protocols while interacting with them. Our guide, James, was very engaging and informative. His presentation was highly interactive. As three retired adults, we were enriched by the experience.
Written 12 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

donkeyboy16
5 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
This was booked as a package in advance for 2 adults and 2 children. The elephant experience we had done as a couple 20 years before which was a beautiful intimate experience. Sadly this is not the case anymore. We were part of quite a large group of tourists perhaps 25 or so. Before we even started we were asked if we wanted a video recorded for R260 which we had to pay there and then. This would be important later. We listened to a long talk about the elephants which our children found rather long and boring! We then went to see 2 elephants for the feeding time. We saw a large male and a much smaller elephant both happy to see us behind a small fence. 20 years ago there was no fence. We were then told to form 2 groups one for those that paid for the video and the other for those who hadn't. Those who paid got to feed the large elephant and have pictures! Get what you pay for! Then we walked in a group with elephants some way behind us. In the past l seem to remember walking alongside the elephants. The interaction felt very staged for pictures, uncomfortably so. If you buy the video and watch it you know what l mean. The staff were very good though really informative and friendly. The kids were happy of course, they didn't care. Then we waited for the monkey experience. We sat patiently waiting and inquired near the time when it would start. We were told there would be 2 groups again but ours would be a late start. Why? No one to lead it. They didn't seem to plan for the large group size. We noticed all the others on the elephant experience were in one group while we were allocated with new people. The first group left on time with us about 5 mins later. We overheard the first group leader shout your group can feed the monkeys! Along with our kids we thought haven't we paid too? We were then told by the guide the package doesn't cover feeding the monkeys!? The kids were gutted! It spoiled the whole experience for us. I wondered why the others had the option all the way around. We had spent a fortune as we also paid for my elderly parents. At the end l complained to the lady on reception to be told the real reason. There was a limit on the group size for feeding. I was rather upset. I sent an email to the manager. He agreed it was poor service but offered no compensation. The monkeys are very friendly but if you have no food they aren't interested. As for the Lion Park. Very, very poor. They don't let you cuddle the cubs anymore since covid? I joked with the man on the gate if covid was still happening l wouldn't be in South Africa. I spoke to South African friends in Johannesburg and they couldn't believe it.
Written 12 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rebekah
Huddersfield, UK20 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
A day I will never forgot!! You get to feed the elephants, walk with them, touch them and learn great facts about these beautiful animals. Honestly the whole day was just magical
Written 12 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sandra
3 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
This is not to be missed amazing carers of the elephants these giants are just beautiful great interactions
Carers are very informative and so friendly great for small children
Monkey sanctuary also just as great on the same scale
Don’t miss we visited as a family in July 2023 just wonderful Thankyou
Written 24 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Monica S
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
We had a great experience with these gentle giants and their caregivers. We fed the beautiful elephants with pellets and fruit that the caregivers provided. We had our time ( too little time in my opinion) to walk with them and to touch them all over the body. To feel their skin was amazing. And to get close eye contact with the amazing creature was ones in a lifetime experience.
The elephants looks well taken care of and have a lot of space. Our guide TK was funny and educated us in a easy understandable way.
The biggest downfall was that the groups are too big.
Written 16 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

travelleruk
Derbyshire554 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
If I could give this zero I would.
There is no background given about any of the elephants. Where they’ve come from, what’s happened to them, etc etc.
Nothing on the website, nothing at the sanctuary and nothing when your talked at at the sanctuary itself.
I was with a group of people when we visited and I would not join in with the activities. These poor elephants are in small enclosures and are bribed to lift their legs, have people brush them etc for some pellets.
The fact that this sanctuary used to allow people to rid the elephants is disgusting.
Save your money and go to a wildlife reserve.
Written 13 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Freedom46655772542
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Family
This was a birthday gift for my husband, and can I just say wow! This was one of the best experiences I have had ❤ we both walked out happy and saying how much fun we had
Written 10 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Articbrush R
2 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
James was an excellent speaker with fantastic presentation skills. Expected much more for the price paid. Paid an extra R250 for a very disappointing video, they advertise it like this: "Get a video with you and your family walking with the elephants through the forrest." What we actually got was a video with a large crowd of about 40 other people together with the elephants and not next to the elephant, incl in the video you paid for was everyone feeding and touching the elephant and a 4 second clip with yourself touching or feeding the elephants. Could have made a much better video myself. The place was clean, but I won't call it a sanctuary.
Written 19 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

zeenat m
Pretoria, South Africa18 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
It was my birthday as per their Facebook page and website you get a free Elephant interaction and monkey interaction I got dropped off by my husband with my toddler as he had work to do in the area , might I add he arranged his meetings in the harties area to accommodate me . Anyway the promotion says if it's your birthday you get free entrance so I was excited to take my toddler with me his 3 when I get to reception they rudly tell me sorry the promotion is only valid if there is another paying adult , no where do they state that. And I had not other paying adult with me I was so disappointed might I add a year ago my brother went for the same promotion and they never said there has to be another paying adult , suddenly it changed . It left a sour taste in my mouth Firstly because they are not clear with their communication on their website and secondly because of their treatment of me I wouldn't have minded paying full price for myself to go , but this is a matter if being transparent with customers I don't think it's right .
Written 16 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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ELEPHANT SANCTUARY HARTBEESPORT DAM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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