FeetDoTravel
  • The Blog
    • Guest Posts
  • About Us
    • Feet Biography
    • Where have we been?
    • Bucket List
  • Travel Booking
    • Hotels
    • Flight Search
  • Travel Shop
  • Work with us
  • Contact The Feet

Feet Do Blogging

When Harry met Sally – an elephant’s tale

17/7/2016

26 Comments

 
Picture
On a misty December morning whilst in South Africa, I chose to visit Knysna Elephant Park in nearby Plettenberg Bay .

This unique park was founded in 1994 by husband and wife team Ian and Lisette Withers. They had heard of two young elephant calves that had been rescued from a cull in Kruger National Park and were in need of a safe home. 

​They decided to name the elephants Harry and Sally after the famous 1990’s movie of the same name. This was the start of their adventure and 20 years later, they have homed and helped more than 40 elephants so it is no longer a small shack, but a thriving world-class elephant home.  They have a strong emphasis on making elephant welfare their priority and are continually researching and improving how they run this sanctuary in order to give the elephants a better quality of life.
​
​Although you can have close-up and personal encounters with these gentle giants in Asia, there are very few (if any) places like this in Africa (this was actually the first!) so this place is a real treat!  In Asia, the horror stories of elephants in the tourist industry are well publicised, so to find a sanctuary such as Knysna Elephant Park, restores your faith that elephants and humans can work together in a sustainable and healthy way.

My visit was way back in 1999 when there were only three elephants; it was still relatively new and they were in the process of finding their feet. It’s been lovely following their progress over the years and watching how they have grown.

My encounter with Sally and Duma

Upon entering the park, I boarded a small open top bus which had margarine tubs for speakers – like I said, back then it was basic!  We were told some history of the elephants in this park and that there used to be 500 free running elephants, but at the time I visited, there was just the one living in Knysna Forest who was around 55-60 years old.

As the elephants in this park are free to roam wherever they choose, we had to go and find them.  I liked this!  When they were found, we stopped at an open clearing and stepped out of the truck.  Standing in front of us was Sally, a single-tusked 10 year-old who was on the right and Duma, 7 year old and standing on the left… the handler informed us that Harry, their third elephant was away on a trip.
Picture
We were given food pellets and as I held out my hand for Sally, she would suck and grab the pellets, twisting her trunk slightly upward which took my fingers along with it.  It was a strange feeling, but gentle.

​I had my photo taken next to them and stood back to watch as they fed on grass and trees around them.  They would play with each other, gently sparring with their trunks and, on one occasion, Duma put his front legs onto Sally’s back (probably practicing for later on in life!) to reach higher branches on the trees.
Picture
Sally giving Duma a helping hand to reach the good leaves
Elephant facts

We stayed for around an hour and were given elephant facts by Mac and Jeffrey, the two very informative handlers.  These elephants are fed a kilo of exotic trees for supper and are kept in a barn overnight so they don’t cause too much damage to the forest. Their dung is used for many things – paper and paintings, boiled up for asthma sufferers and if you have a headache and you smoke it – you will never have one again! I actually bought some elephant dung which was in a plastic container from their shop – why??  I have no idea but I’m sure my friends loved the elephant dung Christmas card I sent them!
Picture
They only have molar teeth and have 6 sets in their lifetime, once they lose their last set they die of starvation.  Duma is on his second set and Sally is on her third. 

Elephants have poor eyesight and can only see 40m (120ft) so rely on their hearing and smell.

Their trunks are the most important part of their body and is controlled by 60,000 muscles.  It is used to drink from, it’s a weapon, it’s also like a hand which we witnessed when feeding and when they need to make a noise, the sound actually comes from the trunk and not its mouth. 

An elephant’s gestation period is between 22 months and 3 years!  I wouldn’t want to be an elephant.  Adult bulls grow to a maximum of 4m (12ft) and sleep deeply for only 20 minutes whilst standing up because if they led down, due to their weight, they would squash their internal organs.  Baby elephants sleep on their side and adult cows grow to a maximum of 3m (9ft).

An interesting fact about elephants is that they have four inches of fat around their feet and,  if they get stuck in mud, they pump more blood into their feet to swell the fat, this spreads the feet out like wide tyres on a 4x4 vehicle allowing them to walk free!  How cool is that!!

Mac talked to us a little about their training because although they are obedient, they still retain their wild side and sometimes need to be told three times before they do something i.e to stand behind the logs they are in front of when tourists are feeding them. The handlers and elephants have a deep mutual appreciation which is clearly evident in their behaviour and the way Mac would talk about them. It takes about four months to tame an elephant before they can start to be trained and they learn similar to humans i.e they are first shown what to do then are helped to do it, this is so they later react to voice command eg lifting their foot.  It really is amazing to watch how well they respond to voice command and how they react to it relatively well although, naturally, there is sometimes an element of rebellion.  

Most of the time we were with them, they stood with their legs crossed which is a sign that they are relaxed, just as humans do in fact they have a lot of characteristics in common with humans! Body temperature is an example, when we are cold, they are cold and when we become hot and we splash cool water on us, they use mud to cool down.  The way they pee, though, is quite different to humans - it comes out like a hose on full power!  I don't actually know why I shared that with you!

Meeting Harry for the first time

Just as we were about to leave Sally made an a-typical elephant trumpet noise and we asked Mac why she did this.  He said she was communicating with Harry which confused us – Harry wasn’t anywhere near us!

Harry appeared about five minutes later, when Sally was communicating with him he had just entered the park, this was an excellent example how acute their senses are. 
Picture
Harry meets Sally - they are very happy to see each other!
Harry came running towards Sally who practically ran through us (when they came towards you – you move, because they won’t run around you!). They trumpeted at one another as if to say “hello” and linked their trunks in an affectionate way, it was so beautiful to watch and I felt an absolute pleasure to be able to witness this. It certainly was a memorable experience and gave me an insight into the life of an elephant that you wouldn’t necessarily get anywhere else.
Picture
The affection between these beautiful animals is very apparent
​If you are in South Africa and you want a guilt-free, close up encounter with an elephant and you want to support this amazing company, I would highly recommend you go to Knysna Elephant Park – you won’t regret it and you will come away with amazing memories that will last you a lifetime.  Mine have!
Picture

​If you like this post ... Pin it!
Read what happened when Harry the elephant met Sally ...yes they are named after the movie!
This post is part of a link-up in Weekend Wanderlust and The Weekly Postcard. Feel free to click on the pictures below to read other fabulous travel blogs for more inspiration!
Picture
Two Traveling Texans
26 Comments
Aleksandra link
22/7/2016 08:15:18 am

That is by far the cutest story I have read all week!

Reply
FeetDoTravel
22/7/2016 09:10:13 am

Awww thanks Aleksandra, I thought it was cute as well, how elephants interact with one another is adorable :-)

Reply
LISA STANTON link
22/7/2016 11:29:57 am

Hi Angie...I love this post! Elephants are amazing creatures I could watch them for hours. Getting up close and personal is special. What a treat for you!

Reply
FeetDoTravel
22/7/2016 05:41:43 pm

Hi Lisa, so glad you liked it :-) Yes elephants are amazing creatures and I love their interaction! I intend to get up close and personal again some day but obviously without riding them :-)

Reply
Travel Lexx link
22/7/2016 12:15:46 pm

That is so awesome! Great story and so many interesting facts that are completely new to me. They are in incredible elephants and I really want to do some work with them when I get the chance! Great stuff

Reply
FeetDoTravel
22/7/2016 05:36:14 pm

Thanks Travel Lexx, elephants are awesome aren't they and I hope you get a chance to work with them at some point! I love hearing all the animal facts, nature is just amazing isn't it :-)

Reply
Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler) link
22/7/2016 07:01:06 pm

Wow what an amazing story about Harry and Sally at the Knysna Elephant Park in South Africa. This sounds like a must see place and one to put on the bucket list of places to visit. Thanks for sharing this amazing story :-)

Reply
FeetDoTravel
24/7/2016 03:26:02 pm

I definitely think Knysna should be visited, it's just a different elephant experience whilst you are in Africa! I hope you get a chance to visit one day and I would love to hear your story!

Reply
David link
23/7/2016 09:24:06 am

Great stuff as usual Angie! It's always good to hear about genuine, ethical sanctuaries such as this one. So often the label "sanctuary" is misused but Knysna Elephant Park seems to be the real deal. Lots of fun facts here, plus the usual great photos.

Reply
FeetDoTravel
24/7/2016 03:27:23 pm

It's a shame that the genuine, ethical sanctuaries are few and far between but yes, when you find one, it's good to support them. I like the facts as well, glad you appreciate them :-)

Reply
Theresa link
23/7/2016 01:21:46 pm

What a beautiful place! I love those elephant photos.

Reply
FeetDoTravel
24/7/2016 03:30:14 pm

Thanks Theresa and yes, it's a beautiful place! As for the photos, I think Harry, Sally & Duma have to take credit for them :-)

Reply
Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net) link
23/7/2016 10:03:20 pm

What a great story! Elephants have always seemed so intelligent and empathetic to me. It's nice to see someone working on their behalf, yet still allowing us to get to know these amiable giants.

Reply
FeetDoTravel
24/7/2016 03:31:51 pm

Thanks guys! They are so intelligent aren't they, I love that they are mischievous sometimes. I fully support organisations that work on their behalf and hope to have more encounters with them elsewhere in the world :-)

Reply
Garth link
24/7/2016 05:12:06 pm

Great story of your time with the elephants Angie! Love the fact you bought some dung! I had no idea it was used for all those different things. Great that you saw them helping each other reach the branches, elephants are just amazing. We've starting to gather some ideas together for a South Africa trip, so have already added Knysna Elephant Park to my notes, as I think I would really love it.

Reply
FeetDoTravel
26/7/2016 09:29:09 am

Lol yes trust me to buy some dung of all the things to buy! If you need any more advice on SA, I was there for 3 weeks, hired a car and drove around - the Garden Route is a must and I think it will be amazing if you make it to Knysna!! If you do, please share your story with us :-)

Reply
Vyjay link
26/7/2016 08:18:52 am

Lovely post, Harry and Sally are so cute and adorable. Learnt a lot about elephants from your post. I was fascinated to read about the 6 sets of teeth that the elephants have in their lifetime.

Reply
FeetDoTravel
26/7/2016 09:31:50 am

I'm so glad you feel the same way as me about these elephants :-) Animal facts are always fascinating aren't they - nature is just fascinating :-)

Reply
Emily link
23/9/2016 10:15:14 am

What a heartwarming story! They are such gorgeous, intelligent animals and it's good to know that there are places where they have been treated properly. I also loved your elephant facts - especially the one about their feet - I never knew that! You've also posted some great pictures showing elephant interaction - very sweet.

Reply
FeetDoTravel
23/9/2016 02:02:25 pm

Awww thanks Emily and yes, they are such amazing animals and so intelligent :-) I was also fascinated by the elephant facts and enjoy sharing these with people - but it's all thanks to the rangers here who educated us and know so much about them.

Reply
Anisa link
24/9/2016 07:46:32 pm

It is so nice to hear about places like this that take good care of the animals. Elephants are amazing creatures. This reminded my of a Jodi Piccoult book that I read about a family that had an elephant sanctuary. I forget the title though. Anyways, thanks again for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.

Reply
FeetDoTravel
26/9/2016 11:50:33 am

Elephants truly are amazing creatures aren't they, true gentle giants and yes, hearing of places that respect and take care of their elephants is a wonderful refreshing change.

Reply
Debz link
25/9/2016 07:22:28 am

This is a great post, so many facts I didnt know about elephants. They are one of my favourite animals.

Reply
FeetDoTravel
26/9/2016 11:51:20 am

I'm so pleased you appreciated the facts Debz, there is so much I learnt about elephants when I was here, they really are amazing animals.

Reply
Agness of Fit Travelling link
26/6/2017 03:45:02 pm

Such a great read! Those elephants are so cute!

Reply
Tinky Wouterse
30/10/2023 06:01:01 pm

My first encounter was with Harry and Sally what feels like 100 years ago. We missed the last boat trip in plet and someone told us to go see the elephants. Arrived while the owner was having lunch. 5 mins laterhe took us to a sandpit with a little platform and got nartjies. Harry and Sally loved them! Preferably 2 or 3 at a time! Then magic happened. The owner said we can walk as he is taking Harry and Sally to the other side where there is a dam. Him and Harry and Sally and us walked over a grass area like he was taking his dogs for a walk! No other way to describe that. This was the most amazing experience. On the other side they disappeared a bit in the bushes and came out while we were at the dam. Sally came close next to me and the owner told me to just take a few steps aside as Sally was ready to go roll in the sand….where i was staning. Funny enough, i wasnt scared or anything. I will never ever ever foget that walk over the grass as the owner allowed us to take his elephants for a walk to the dam! I am now 60 and still remember the feeling back then. Think i was in my Twenties maybe. Went back once years later when Duma was added. But my Harry and Sally walk on the grass was still one of my most memorable moments of my life! Thank you for that walk!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.



    Feet Do Travel Support Moalboal Eco Lodge
    ​

    sustainable, affordable accommodation in Cebu, Philippines. Click here to book your stay with them TODAY!
    Picture
    BOOK YOUR STAY!


    Blog Categories:

    All
    Africa
    Asia
    Australia
    Beach
    Blogging + Website Advice
    Borneo + Brunei
    Cambodia
    Camping + RV
    Canada + North America
    Caribbean + Cruising
    China And Hong Kong
    England + UK
    Europe
    Green And Ethical Travel
    Hiking And Trekking
    India
    Indonesia
    Malaysia
    New Zealand
    North America
    Oceana
    Philippines
    Practical Advice
    Road Trip
    Save Money Tips
    Scuba Diving
    Singapore
    South America
    Street Art
    Thailand
    Usa
    Vietnam
    Wildlife


    We ALWAYS use Booking.Com for our hotel bookings. Click here to search now!
    Picture


    Picture

    Featured in Lonely Planet's Top 5 Posts for August 2018
    Lonely Planet Pathfinders badge image

    Picture


    Visiting Cebu, Philippines?

    Moalboal Eco Lodge has gorgeous native bamboo huts nestled amongst palm trees. With partial outdoor rain shower and private terrace, it's the ideal place to welcome you to the Philippines.
    Picture
    BOOK YOUR STAY!


    Privacy Policy
    Our Privacy Policy
    Our Cookie Policy

    Affiliate Links Disclosure:

    Feet Do Travel are affiliated with respected brands which we use and endorse, including  Booking.Com, World Nomads Insurance and Amazon.
    ​The Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn commission by linking to amazon.co.uk. When you click on a link to purchase, the price remains the same for you, however the small amount of compensation we receive helps to keep the Feet Do Travel website running. ​​

Home

About us

Services

Menu

Contact

  • The Blog
    • Guest Posts
  • About Us
    • Feet Biography
    • Where have we been?
    • Bucket List
  • Travel Booking
    • Hotels
    • Flight Search
  • Travel Shop
  • Work with us
  • Contact The Feet