Christmas has come early at the Garden Route Game Lodge with the arrival of 2 new ellies Selati & Kidibone.
The pair arrived at midday on the 2nd December and have since settled in nicely into there new environment.
Selati & Kidibone came from the Selati Game Reserve in Limpopo where the reserves elephant population had increased beyond sustaninability and a decision was made to reduce the numbers.
Usually this would be achived through a culling operation or by tendering to outfitters. It was at this point that well known elephant operator Rory Hensman contacted the reserves management and offerd to relocate 20 elephants to his operation in Tzaneen.
With the assistance of Lisette Withers of Knysna Elephant Park and Greg Vogt of the Elephant Tourism Association the two ellies were identified for suitable reintroduction at Garden Route Game Lodge.
Well known wildlife vet Douw Grobelaar and his game capture team were contacted and arrived with the cow and bull on 2nd December at around midday. All the neighbours from the nearby farms came to watch the spectacle and after a few minor hiccups the two ellies were safely offloaded from the truck.
They have since proved to be real characters and favourites among both the staff and guests visiting the game reserve. The enjoy swimming in the two dams and taking mud baths in the heat of the day.
