HERD headquarters and the baby elephant orphanage are located on the grounds of the Jabulani safari lodge in the Kapama Private Game Reserve in South Africa. The orphanage has been purposely built near to the close-knit Jabulani herd’s homestead for us to easily assess and integrate each baby elephant according to their individual emotional needs.
If you’d like to see the elephants during their day in the wilderness, you can do so either at Jabulani Safari, or our Elephant Moments morning experience.
Jabulani Safari was built in 2004 to help support the rescued herd and continues to be a marriage of conservation and hospitality through a soulful safari experience in a protected Big 5 wilderness.
We do not accept visitors at the HERD orphanage to limit foot traffic and reduce the effect of outsiders on the very sensitive calves and orphans. Similarly, visitors cannot visit the herd in the homestead or out in the bush unless they travel to and stay at Jabulani lodge, where guided rangers accompany guests throughout the experience to ensure the safety of all.
If you are interested in volunteering at HERD, look here for more information, or contact us at info@herd.org.za.
Have you ever wondered what goes into caring for elephant orphans? Join us for an in-depth and exciting initiative at HERD. We invite you to participate in critical operations on the ground and become a HERD Custodian by volunteering your time to make a difference for elephants. Our HERD Custodians Programme runs over seven nights and eight days and gives insight into the elephants and the surrounding environment. We welcome you to play a role in ensuring the survival of the elephants and their natural surroundings. Although volunteers cannot interact directly with the elephants, they will participate in daily tasks around the homestead and in the bush to support the herd. These include cleaning the homestead, combating erosion, cutting branches, cleaning water troughs, and repairing roads.
If you would like to meet the herd, you can be inspired, enlightened, educated and enthused by a memorable and respectful opportunity to meet and learn more about some of the Jabulani herd elephant bulls and their passionate carers. Arrive at sunrise to meet a few members of an extraordinary family, the Jabulani Herd. Delve deeper into the biology and physiology of these gentle giants while learning about each elephant’s unique personalities and remarkable stories.
The respectful 90-minute experience occurs at the HERD Homestead, which borders the HERD Orphanage. The Jabulani herd elephants that you will meet represent the rest of the herd, which they join a little later to continue foraging in the wild. There will be between two to three elephants introduced who remain behind a low partition, creating a respectful distance between the elephants and the visitors. Visitors can provide snacks to each elephant and take a snapshot of the memorable experience with the guidance of the carers.
Complimentary coffee and tea with biscuits will be provided. Following your experience, you can purchase a souvenir in our gift shop, with proceeds going towards HERD Trust.
We rely on incredible people like you to keep us going. Every cent counts, and no contribution is too small. HERD relies on public funding to cover the operational costs to care for and support elephant orphans and the rescued herd, so we really appreciate your support.
Want to hear the latest and greatest stories about what the elephants are up to? No two days are the same, and they always amaze us with their distinctive personalities and acceptance of one another. Follow us this way for all the latest stories of what’s happening at HERD.
Contact pr@herd.org.za for watch party assistance
Streaming: August 12, 2025
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