An Unforgettable Elephant Encounter in Oudshoorn

Some might say, “Oudtshoorn again?” But this time, despite our many previous trips through this route with caves and ostriches, we had a new experience, truly unique.

A Birthday Celebration in the Little Karoo

The impulse for this short trip was the birthday of a good friend, who wanted to celebrate at a farm in the Little Karoo. After an (unintentional) breakdown in Barrydale – after all, the air conditioning doesn’t run forever with the engine off – we arrived at our destination in the early evening: the Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge.

The lodge is located about 20 kilometers northeast of Oudtshoorn, nestled in the famous red Enon Hills. It is a private retreat for the Varley family from Somerset West, who created this getaway in 2020. With a maximum of 12 guests in individual cottages, it remains a very personal place – and those booking with six or more people can reasonably hope to have the space exclusively.

Besides absolute tranquility and the delightful cuisine from host Hannelize, it’s mainly the animals that make this place so special. Every evening, a colorful troupe gathers in front of the terrace: a giraffe, zebras, kudus, springbok, and oryx antelopes. And no, hunting is not allowed here – sorry to those enthusiasts.

Close Encounters with Elephants

The real highlight awaited us the next morning at the Buffelsdrift Game Reserve: a long-held dream came true as we encountered the elephants Jabari, Bulelo, and Malaika.

These three were rescued as orphans from Kruger National Park after their parents were killed by poachers. In Buffelsdrift, they found a new home and were lovingly raised by hand.

Our tour began with a small walk, during which we followed the three elephants from a respectful distance. Malaika, the matriarch, set the pace. Apparently, she anticipated a sunny day, as she led us directly to the spa – where she first took her time applying sunblock. Her two gentlemen followed suit.

Of course, our small group of humans remained at a safe distance. But half an hour later, we got our proverbial "fat". The elephants embraced us in their way – rubbing their freshly applied sunblock on us. Then they lifted their trunks, allowing us deep insights into their mouths – any dentist would have loved such a thorough inspection.

For the three elephants, this was just another day. But for us, it was an incredible experience. Words can hardly describe how impressive and touching this intimate encounter was.

There are voices that criticize such elephant experiences. However, knowing that these animals would not have survived without human help, and being accustomed to contact since childhood, we certainly have no regrets. On the contrary: respect and understanding for elephants grow tremendously through such encounters.

As a side note: scientific studies of stress hormones have shown that these three elephants have significantly lower levels than their counterparts in the wild or in zoos.

When we asked one of the caretakers about his relationship with the animals, he simply stated: family. At night, the animals sleep outside the caretakers’ lodgings – only this way can they stay calm. When he has a day off, he calls every day to ask how they are doing. Family, indeed.

Return Journey with Hindrances

After another lovely evening filled with elephant dreams, we headed back – but not without one last thrill: the route took us over the spectacular Swartberg Pass to Prince Albert. More than once, we felt we were testing our sedan’s limits. But the breathtaking view from the mountain pass made up for everything.

What remains is not only the memory of the landscape but also a race of a special kind: European tourists brought to the mountain pass in a bus with a bike trailer, boldly (or recklessly) plunging into the valley. A lady – perfectly styled with fresh lipstick – nearly collided with us as she was busy trying not to fall off her bike during a curve. Managing to steer sensibly was evidently not an option… One wonders why people in retirement age overestimate their abilities. But hey, as long as it ended well.

After a final coffee in the charming Prince Albert, we flew back home – ready to devote ourselves again to our second passion on Monday: you, our customers, and, of course, the wine.

Perhaps we will see you in Oudtshoorn?

We hope our little adventure brought you joy – whether you have already met Malaika and her boys and are reminiscing or are now eager to meet them.