Knysna’s elephants

Two hundred years ago, great herds of elephants roamed the southern Cape. Today, thanks to ruthless hunting throughout the 18^th and 19^th centuries, there are only seven left, hidden in the secretive dark-green depths of the forests around Knysna. The persistent hunting has made the tiny herd wary of humankind with the result that it is extremely difficult to locate.

It is known that the heard- the world’s most southerly – has managed to adapt to forest conditions; although these beasts belong to the dam species as the savannah elephants, their habits and lifestyle are now thought to be more similar to the elephants found in the equatorial forests of Central Africa.

The herd’s future is by  no means assured; three young elephants from the Kruger National Park were introduced in 1994, but one died shortly afterwards. Although you have to be lucky indeed to catch a glimpse of these magnificent animals, Terblans Nature Walk through the Gouna Forest just north of Knysna is a good bet. Another popular trail is the six-hour Elephant Walk that starts from the Diepwalle Forestry Station, just over a kilometre (half a mile ) from the mighty King Edward Vll Tree - another giant of the forest; a 46-metre – high (150 ft.) yellowwood whose circumference measures a stupendous 9.5 metres (30 ft.).

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Elephant Coast, KwaZulu Natal

KwaZulu Natal’s Elephant Coast stretches from the world heritage site of Lake St Lucia in the south to Kosi Bay, virtually on the Mozambique border. It is an extraordinary, untamed area fast growing in popularity for its incredible variety of habitats and eco-systems that combine into an unforgettable blend of adventure, unspoilt scenery and unique experiences.

Called the Elephant Coast after the country’s largest herd of indigenous African elephants that have lived in sand forests in this region for centuries, the Elephant Coast extends inland across to the Lubombo Mountains in the west, and includes the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, the oldest game park in Africa - home to the big five. It is not hard to understand why the Elephant Coast is regarded as the ecotourism mecca of the Zulu Kingdom. Sand dunes blend with swamps, coastal forests, rocky shores, coral reefs, mangrove swamps, woodlands, savanna grassland, and the largest protected wetland in southern Africa, iSimangaliso Wetland Park (the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park).

Getaways to this coastline are rich in adventure, and if you’re not game viewing, birding, paddling, snorkelling, hiking, on a horse trail, or diving then you’re surely out on a boat to see dolphins and humpback whales, or watching turtles lay eggs on the beach.

Highlights of the Elephant Coast include Cape Vidal (wonderful beaches for deep-sea fishing and famous for whale watching); Sodwana Bay Nature Reserve (the mainstay of scuba diving); Kosi Bay (one of the most unspoilt regions with numerous lakes where you can watch local fishermen); and of course both the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve and the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park are highlights of the Elephant Coast, for obvious reasons. 

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