Highlights and Purpose

1. A Family of Rescued Elephants: The heart of HERD is the close-knit family of rescued elephants, led by a gentle and well-known matriarch, Jabulani. This herd, with each member having its unique story, accepts orphaned elephants into their family and helps them adapt and thrive. It’s a rare chance to witness natural elephant behavior, especially the bonding that occurs when older elephants mentor and care for orphans.

2. The Orphaned Elephants: HERD focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating young elephants who have been orphaned for various reasons, including poaching and human-wildlife conflict. Here, these young elephants receive round-the-clock care from experienced caregivers, along with guidance from the herd. Watching the orphans grow in confidence and social skills is a testament to the healing power of community and care.

3. Daily Routines and Enrichment Activities: HERD provides these elephants with enriching activities to help mimic the experiences they would have in the wild. This includes mud baths, grazing sessions, and skill-building exercises that promote their natural instincts. The caregivers closely monitor each elephant’s health and happiness, and visitors have the unique opportunity to learn about these animals’ individual personalities and behaviors.

4. Educational Focus and Sustainable Practices: Visitors to HERD get a profound insight into elephant conservation and the realities facing Africa's wildlife. Guided experiences allow you to observe the elephants’ daily routines while learning about the efforts to ensure their well-being, as well as the larger issues surrounding elephant conservation. HERD's work is carefully balanced with sustainability practices, making it a model for ethical wildlife tourism.

5. Guided Experiences: By visiting HERD, you can experience the magic of these elephants up close, either through guided tours or exclusive experiences, like an early morning walk with the herd. The guides at Camp Jabulani share captivating stories about each elephant and offer deep knowledge of elephant behaviour, conservation and the challenges these gentle giants face.