"Dean and Shane on the ride"

"Out on the ride game viewing"

We went on an early morning elephant back safari with Shearwater Adventures.  We were taken to their Private Game Reserve about 25 minutes from the town centre. 

We arrived at a wonderful thatched building on a river bed and were given a welcomed cup of coffee and a very through safety talk, signed the indemnity form and we were off.

You embark from a high wooden platform that the elephants are trained to walk along side of - when you first get on you feel a bit unsettled and it certainly feels a very long way down.  You are sitting on a type of saddle with stirrups for your feet to rest in. Two people  per elephant and one "Induna" or driver. 

Our Induana was called Heritage and he was very knowledgeable about the elephants and some of the wildlife that we encountered on the walk. All the time talking to his elephant and aware of us with overhanging branches etc.

Although I have done this before the sheer experience of sitting on an African elephant and hearing and smelling them is indescribable. To walk behind and watch the movements and hearing very little as they walk and behave in their own environment is certainly something I would do again and again.

We were returned to the platform and were then given a chance to interact with the elephants - feeding them pellets and having photos taken whilst they very willing "sat down" for us. It was great and I know that it was my sons best part of the trip.  Looking into those big gentle eyes and wondering how much more they must know about life, than we ever will.     

At the end we were shown a short video of our elephant back safari which you can buy for  US$30 and they also have some cool footprints of each different elephant (Did you know that elephant footprints are as individual as our fingerprints?) We were served a wonderful cooked breakfast and returned to town - they whole safari having taken about two hours.   

"Getting on the elephant"

"Photo time"

"The platform to get on and off"

"It seems a long way down"

<<view more pictures>>

• Transportation from all major lodges and hotels to the Private Game Reserve, approximately 25 minutes/12km drive from Victoria Falls town centre.
• Experienced guides will accompany every safari.
• Safety talk, introductions to the Elephants and their "Induna's"
• The opportunity to observe and learn about game, bird life, flora and fauna.
• A breakfast is served on the morning safari.  Refreshments and snacks are served on the afternoon safari.
• Return transfer to town

Equipment

• Clients sit on a custom build saddle that has stirrups to rest your feet on and straps to hold on to.
• Clients will mount the Elephants from a ramp that is almost level   with the back of the Elephant.
• All guides are first aid qualified.
• All Trip Leaders carry a rifle, communications radio and first aid kit on the trip.

Age Restriction - 4 years min and all 18 years and below require a legal guardian to sign an indemnity form.

• Cameras
• Neutral colour clothes
• Comfortable shoes
• Hats
• Binoculars
• Booking voucher