Was it worth it? If you had it to do over again, would you do it or would you spend the morning going on a game drive?

There is no question on this one - the reason you go to Stanley's Camp is to have the elephant interaction. It was the highlight of our first trip to Africa (and we saw the big 5 twice over in SA). The fellow who is the guardian of the elephants and his SA wife truly love them. He sleeps in his truck so they are allowed to roam in the night as they need, but he protects them from wild eles. His eles are adopted from people who had semi-trained them but now couldn't keep them. You will learn about them, get to touch behind their ears, walk with them with their trunks resting gently on your shoulder. It was an exhilerating 4-hour experience. There was only one other couple at Stanley's that time so it was just the four of us, ample time for everyone, but it would be great even with more. We had a team of maybe 4-5 support people to protect us as we walked so we never had to worry about anything.

They will stop and pose for some of the best holiday card photos you'll ever take. The kindness of the man who runs this cannot be overstated - his gentleness sets the tone for this wonderful day. At the end they take you to a lovely shaded spot and you have a delicious buffet lunch in the bush and the eles do too!

Please email me after you are back. We want to know how they all are doing. [email protected]

For the record, the Elephant Interaction is also available at Baines Camp (like Stanley's Camp, Baine's in a Sanctuary Lodge).

Baines Camp is a bit more intimate with only 5 tents, making it one of the smallest luxury tented camps in Botswana.

http://www.sanctuarylodges.com/bainescamp.htm

Is it possible to do this if not staying at Stanley's camp? In other words, if I'm staying at Chief's camp (another sanctuary lodge), can I ask (for a large fee, I assume) to go to Stanley's camp instead of on a morning excursion from Chief's camp?

We definitely want to do the elephant interaction, but we don't really want to stay at Stanley's camp.

mistadobalina,

It is $149 per person each way to fly from Chiefs to Stanley's. So, if you could even get Sanctuary to entertain the idea, it would be $298pp for the air transfers plus $345pp for the "Elephant Experience." $643 per person altogether but, even then, I doubt the flights would coordinate at the right time and the only way to do it would be through an air charter, perhaps the same one that will get you from Nsefu to Kigali in the same day!

Thanks. Maybe I should just become a pilot in the next year.

Hi Mistadobalina,

I did this with my parents and an 11 year niece in Sept 2001. Definitely worth it! Doug Groves who has the 3 ele, is amazing with the eles. It is wonderful to see as not at all circus like in their behaviour and doing silly things, but he has taught them a lot, but things he needs them to do. I am surprised to hear he is letting them roam at night now, cause at that time they were enclosed in a boma each night, and allowed to wander during the day. It really was a memorable day to meet Jabu, the male and the two females, Marula and Thembi.

Kind regards,
Kaye

Kaye, I did some checking and things have changed since we were there a few years ago. The eles do sleep in a paddock with two guardians nearby now. And Mistaodbalina, it may be possible to visit them without staying at Stanleys - check out their website that I just found - www.livingwithelephants.org (there's also a better explanation of the origins of these eles there).

Oh yes, do this. Doug and Sandi Groves, Walk with the Elephants and experience Thembi, Jabu and Marula. It will offer you a most special opportunity to get up close and personal. If you've never been close to an elephant, it is an amazing experience. I'm so glad I had the experience. Oh, and if it's still available, buy the video tap A HERD OF THEIR OWN. Make sure you get the American version. A heartwrenching story of their journey.

Kay