From January 1, Wild Horizons now ceases to offer elephant-back safaris and will instead offer an elephant conservation experience at the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary at Victoria Falls.

 “It is our intention to continue to work closely with the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust and numerous other conservation bodies to provide refuge to elephants in distress and further the rehabilitation and release work we have been doing to date. Our mission has always been to create a facility that would enable us to rehabilitate and ultimately release all elephants in our care, back into a wild free-ranging state,” Wild Horizons said in a press statement.

Its current goal is to provide an ‘Elephant Encounter’ that focuses on a conservation experience: offering visitors the opportunity to spend time walking through the bush with the elephants, observing them up close in the wild and getting to know their individual characters, and learn more about the importance of elephant conservation from the guides who have raised the elephants and gained unique insight along the way.

The statement continues: “At Wild Horizons we are very proud of the worldwide recognition we have received for our efforts with orphaned elephants and elephant conservation. The orphans in our care form the heart of the Elephant Encounter, where guests will meet, walk and become part of the elephant herd.

“We would like to remind travellers that they have the power to make a difference. Being a conscientious traveller can have a material impact in ensuring the ethical and humane treatment of elephants throughout Southern Africa.”

Agents who hold the few remaining bookings for elephant-back safaris will be contacted by Wild Horizons’ reservations department to either honour the booking or convert it to an Elephant Encounter.