Elephant & Monkey Santuary with Lion Park Tour

The most unusual part of this long day is the mix of three very different wildlife stops. You get a two-hour game drive at Lion and Safari Park, then close contact with rescued elephants, followed by a quieter visit with monkeys that were once abandoned pets. That range gives you plenty to see without booking separate tours.

I like the simple door-to-door plan from Johannesburg, and I like the small-group limit of 15 people. The elephant and monkey visits are the strongest part for me, especially the chance to feed, walk with, and touch the elephants. The main caution is animal welfare at the lion park, along with confusion over lunch, which is described differently in the tour details and in one booking experience.

Key points to know

• Three wildlife stops in one day: You visit Lion and Safari Park, the Elephant Sanctuary, and the Monkey Sanctuary.
• Close elephant encounter: The two-hour elephant visit includes feeding, walking with, and touching the elephants.
• Monkey sanctuary with a clear rescue purpose: The monkeys were abandoned pets and are cared for in a large, wooded area.
• Long but efficient day from Johannesburg: Pickup begins around 8 a.m., with return around 5 p.m.
• Small English-speaking group: The group is limited to 15 participants, with a live guide.
• Research the lion park first: One part of the experience may raise ethical concerns about the animals’ available space and care.

Three wildlife stops packed into one Johannesburg day

This tour is built for you if you want a full day of animal encounters without arranging several separate outings. The route links Johannesburg with North West, South Africa, and includes transport, guiding, and three main activities.

The day starts with pickup in Johannesburg, followed by a drive of about an hour and a half to the first major stop. The activity details also describe Lion and Safari Park as roughly 40 minutes from Sandton hotels, so your exact drive may depend on your pickup point and the route used that morning.

The schedule is tight. After the safari, you stop for lunch, then continue to the sanctuaries near Hartbeespoort. The return drive takes about an hour and a half, bringing you back to Johannesburg around 5 p.m. You get a lot in one day, but this is not a slow, open-ended wildlife outing. Expect a full schedule with several hours in the vehicle.

The two-hour safari at Lion and Safari Park

The first major activity is a two-hour game drive at Lion and Safari Park. This gives you a chance to see wildlife in a managed park setting rather than on a long national park safari.

The safari is likely to be the most traditional part of the day in format. You remain with the vehicle and guide while looking for animals across the park. The two-hour length is useful because it gives the guide time to move through the park rather than making the stop feel like a quick photo break.

Still, I would set your expectations carefully. This is a scheduled park visit, not a guarantee of rare sightings or a full wilderness experience. Animal sightings can vary, and the supplied information does not identify the species you will see or explain how the drive operates in detail.

The bigger issue is ethics. One account found the lion park upsetting and questioned the amount of space available to the animals. That concern deserves attention before you book. A lion park can offer close views, but close views alone do not tell you enough about an animal’s welfare.

If animal care is central to your decision, research Lion and Safari Park separately before paying. Ask how the animals are housed, how encounters are managed, and what conservation role the park plays. This is especially important because the elephant and monkey facilities have a clear rescue focus, while the lion park may feel different in both setting and purpose.

Lunch is the least clear part of the day

After the safari, the group stops at a local restaurant for about 30 minutes. That is a short lunch break, so you should not expect a leisurely meal or much time to explore the area.

The tour information is inconsistent here. One part says lunch is included, while the included-items section says lunch and drinks are not included. A booking account also described not receiving lunch and asked for the lunch portion to be refunded.

That does not necessarily mean lunch will never be provided, but it does mean you should confirm the arrangement before departure. Ask if the meal is included in your specific booking, where it will be served, and whether drinks cost extra.

Bring money for food and drinks even if lunch is advertised as included. Alcoholic drinks are not included, and drinks in general are listed as extra. This small bit of planning can prevent an awkward pause in the middle of an otherwise busy day.

The Elephant Sanctuary near Hartbeespoort

The elephant visit is scheduled for about two hours, although the wider itinerary gives the sanctuary portion three hours. That extra time may include moving between activities and waiting for the guided presentation.

This is the most hands-on section of the tour. You can feed, walk with, and touch the elephants, all under a guided program. For many people, that direct contact will be the emotional center of the day.

I like that these elephants are described as rescues rather than animals simply placed in a display setting. The guided format also matters. You are not left to wander around or approach the animals on your own, which provides structure and helps the encounter run safely.

At the same time, you should understand what a sanctuary visit is and is not. Close contact can feel special, but it also raises questions about how the animals are trained and how much choice they have in human interaction. The supplied details do not explain the elephants’ backgrounds, daily routines, or welfare standards in depth.

One person expected a different kind of sanctuary and found the actual visit did not match that expectation. That is a useful warning. If you want a hands-off rescue center with animals viewed from a distance, this may feel more interactive than expected. If feeding and walking with elephants are exactly what you hope to do, this is likely the part you will remember most.

The monkey sanctuary offers a gentler kind of encounter

The monkey visit lasts about one hour and is included within the sanctuary program. These monkeys were abandoned pets, and the sanctuary cares for them in a large, wooded area.

That background gives this stop a clear purpose. The visit is not only about seeing monkeys; it also shows what can happen when people keep wild animals as pets and later give them up. The sanctuary provides a place for those animals to live after abandonment.

The wooded setting should make this feel different from the lion park. You are visiting a managed home for rescued monkeys rather than taking a vehicle-based game drive. The visit is shorter than the elephant program, but it received the warmest personal praise in the supplied feedback.

You should not expect a hands-on monkey encounter like the elephant visit. The details do not promise feeding, touching, or handling the monkeys. That is a good thing from an animal welfare point of view, and it lets you focus on watching the animals in a more natural setting.

For families and first-time wildlife visitors, this may be the easiest stop to understand. You see the animals, hear about their background, and learn why keeping wild monkeys as pets creates problems. The hour should feel focused rather than rushed.

How the transport and timing affect the day

The full experience lasts about 10 hours, from roughly 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pickup and drop-off are included in Johannesburg, which makes the tour easier than arranging separate taxis or rental-car routes to each stop.

The tradeoff is time in the van. The stated itinerary includes about an hour and a half at the start and another hour and a half on the return, plus a 45-minute transfer between the restaurant and the Elephant Sanctuary. That is a sizeable part of the day.

I would choose this tour if you prefer someone else to handle the route. You can focus on the activities instead of navigating between Johannesburg, the safari park, and Hartbeespoort. The small group, limited to 15 participants, should also make the day more manageable than a large coach outing.

You should be comfortable with a busy schedule. The day includes a safari, lunch stop, elephant program, monkey visit, and several transfers. If you want long breaks or plenty of free time, book separate activities instead.

Is the $373 price good value?

At $373 per person, this is a costly day outing. Its value depends on how much you want the three-part combination and how much you would otherwise spend arranging transport and admissions separately.

The price includes Johannesburg pickup and drop-off, the two-hour lion park activity, the two-hour elephant tour, the one-hour monkey tour, and a live English-speaking guide. Those inclusions cover the main structure of the day.

Lunch is the problem. The overview says lunch is included, but the detailed inclusions say it is not, and one person did not receive it. Treat lunch as uncertain until the operator confirms it directly. Drinks are not included, and alcoholic drinks are excluded.

The price makes more sense for you if you value convenience and want several wildlife experiences in one booking. It is less appealing if you mainly want a safari, since a substantial part of the day is spent at the sanctuaries and in transit.

I would also place ethical value ahead of simple quantity. Three animal stops do not automatically make a better tour. Before booking, decide how comfortable you are with the lion park, then weigh that against the clearly positive rescue purpose described for the monkeys and elephants.

Who will enjoy this tour most

This outing suits you if you are staying in Johannesburg and want a single, structured day with lots of wildlife. It works well for people who enjoy guided activities, do not want to drive, and like the idea of combining a safari with close animal encounters.

It is also a strong match if elephants are your main goal. The chance to feed, walk with, and touch rescued elephants gives this day a personal element that a standard game drive does not provide.

The monkey sanctuary is a good reason to choose this over an elephant-only tour. The abandoned-pet story adds a useful lesson about wildlife ownership, and the wooded setting offers a calmer contrast to the safari.

I would be more cautious if you are pregnant, since the activity is listed as unsuitable for pregnant women. I would also think twice if your main concern is strict wildlife ethics, unless you research the lion park and feel comfortable with its approach.

Practical tips before you reserve

Confirm the lunch arrangement before the day begins. Ask specifically if a meal is included, since the tour information gives two different answers.

Bring money for drinks and any food not covered. Alcohol is not included, and drinks are listed separately.

Plan for a full day. Pickup is around 8 a.m., and you may not return until about 5 p.m. The vehicle transfers are a normal part of the experience, not a minor detail.

Wear clothing suitable for a guided outdoor animal program. The supplied information does not give a dress code, so choose practical clothes that you do not mind wearing for several stops.

Ask about the lion park’s animal care policies before booking. This is the key ethical question and the main point that could change your mind about the tour.

The live guide speaks English, and the group is limited to 15 people. If you need another language, no alternative is listed in the supplied details.

Should you book the Elephant and Monkey Sanctuary with Lion Park Tour?

Book it if you want the convenience of one Johannesburg pickup, a two-hour safari, a close elephant encounter, and a monkey sanctuary visit in one long day. The elephant and monkey stops are the strongest reasons to go, especially if you value rescue stories and guided contact with animals.

Pause before booking if you are uneasy about the lion park or expect a fully ethical sanctuary model at every stop. Confirm lunch, research the lion facility, and accept that the day includes several hours of driving.

At $373, this is not a bargain wildlife outing. It is a convenience package with a wide range of activities. For the right person, that variety is worth the cost. For someone seeking a focused safari or a quiet animal sanctuary, a shorter and more specialized tour may be the better choice.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin and end?

Pickup and drop-off take place in Johannesburg. The day starts at about 8 a.m. and ends around 5 p.m.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts about 10 hours.

What wildlife locations are included?

The tour includes Lion and Safari Park, the Elephant Sanctuary near Hartbeespoort, and the Monkey Sanctuary.

How long is the safari?

The Lion and Safari Park activity lasts two hours.

How long is the elephant visit?

The elephant tour is listed as two hours, while the wider itinerary allows three hours for the guided sanctuary visit.

How long is the monkey visit?

The monkey tour lasts one hour.

Can I feed and touch the elephants?

Yes. The elephant visit includes opportunities to feed, walk with, and touch the elephants.

Is lunch included?

The information is inconsistent. One description says lunch is included, but the detailed inclusions say it is not. Confirm this with the tour provider before departure.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included, and alcoholic drinks are also excluded.

What language is the tour guide?

The live guided tour is offered in English.

How large is the group?

The tour is described as a small-group experience limited to 15 participants.

Can pregnant women join?

No. The activity is listed as unsuitable for pregnant women.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Do I have to pay when I book?

The tour offers reserve now and pay later, so you can book without paying immediately.