"Dean and Shane on the ride"

"Out on the ride game viewing"

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

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

You get on these enormous animals 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 sit 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 during the walk. All the time talking to his elephant and being aware of us, deflecting overhanging thorny branches etc.

Although I have done this before the sheer exhilaration of sitting on an enormous African Elephant, touching, hearing, smelling and seeing them this close is indescribable and I could never tire of it. I watched their movements in fascination as they are almost silent as they make their way along the game paths.

When we stopped to look at something they would start eating the trees around us, and you feel just like you are part of the herd as they go about their daily business. It's magical and I would do this again and again.

We 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 willingly "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 with such long eyelashes, 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.

What To Bring

• Cameras and videos

• Neutral colour clothes

• Comfortable shoes

• Hats

• Binoculars

• Booking voucher

• Money for videos