Lowveld learners celebrate World Elephant Day
Lowveld Academy learners marked World Elephant Day with a visit to Herd sanctuary, meeting orphaned elephants and adopting them in support.
HOEDSPRUIT – As the first rays of sunlight broke through the morning mist on International World Elephant Day, a majestic sight greeted Lowveld Academy learners and teachers at the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development (Herd) sanctuary. From the tall grass emerged a glimmer of the elephant herd, moving with quiet grace towards the edge of the camp.
While most of the herd slowly drifted away, three bull elephants remained, offering a rare and intimate opportunity for merit learners and their teachers to connect with these gentle giants up close. Each bull had a story to tell, tales of loss, survival, and the remarkable journey that brought them to this unique orphan herd.
Herd, in partnership with Camp Jabulani, has become a refuge for orphaned elephants, where both human care and the natural bonds of the herd have helped these animals not only heal but thrive. In a heartwarming turn, some of these elephants have gone on to have offspring, creating a new generation and proving that they have formed a family of their own.
The learners and staff expressed their gratitude to the dedicated team at Herd, especially founder Adine Roode and Wilma Rachmann, for making the visit possible. “It was truly special and extremely memorable,” said Tilana Harding of Lowveld Academy.
“We could feel the elephants’ immense strength while feeding them, but also see the tenderness hidden behind their soft, intelligent eyes.”
One of the highlights of the day was when each learner adopted an elephant, a gesture that left lasting smiles and a sense of personal connection to the animals they had met.
For many, the experience was transformative. Standing alongside the world’s largest land mammals, the visitors were reminded of the delicate balance between strength and gentleness, and of the power of compassion in conservation efforts.
As the group departed, the memory of those towering figures in the morning mist lingered, a poignant reminder that in the union of nature and human dedication, even the most vulnerable creatures can find a family, a future, and a place to belong.
