HERD Orphanage was built in 2019 in response to a growing number of young orphaned elephant calves that need a place of rehabilitation and more importantly, an existing herd that will accept them unconditionally. The Jabulani herd is now a family of 16 elephants, of which 11 are orphans and five that were born to the herd over 10 years ago.
The Jabulani elephant herd are a unique and close-knit family that started with Jabulani, an orphaned elephant who was rescued in 1997, and a herd of elephants that were rescued from Zimbabwe in 2002 – whose fates crossed to form the Jabulani Herd as we know it today.
Over the years, the herd continued to accept wild elephant calves that needed a new family, who had lost theirs as a result of human-elephant conflict.
Together, the elephants spend their days happily roaming and foraging in the wilderness with their loyal carers, many of whom have travelled from Zimbabwe with the herd. At night the elephants return to the HERD Homestead which lies adjacent to the HERD Orphanage, allowing for close contact with orphans that are still in need of humanitarian assistance during their rehabilitation. Khanyisa, an orphaned albino elephant calf was rescued in January 2020, having somehow survived days on her own trapped in a snare. She is fully rehabilitated physically, and is currently integrating with the Jabulani herd.
If you would like to meet the herd, you can book the Elephant Moments tour. The respectful 90-minute experience takes place at the HERD Homestead, which borders the HERD Orphanage. You can book the tour here.