The Elephant and Monkey Sanctuary.

Walking beside an elephant is the heart of this outing. You can feed these huge animals, brush their rough skin, and walk close enough for memorable photographs. I especially like the hands-on elephant session and the chance to add a playful monkey visit, where the animals may sit on your shoulders or rub your neck. The main catch is cost: the advertised $68 covers transport and a guide, but sanctuary entry is extra.

I also like the easy hotel pickup from much of Johannesburg, Pretoria, and the airport area, plus the drive through the Magaliesburg mountains and past Hartbeespoort Dam. Keep your bag zipped and your loose belongings secured, though. Monkeys can be funny little thieves, and this is not a suitable outing for wheelchair users.

Key points to know before you book

• Elephant contact is the main event: Feed, brush, walk with, and pose beside the animals under handler instructions.
• The monkey visit is lively and close: Monkeys may climb onto your shoulders, touch your neck, or try to open an unsecured bag.
• The drive adds South African scenery: Depending on your pickup point, you pass affluent Johannesburg neighborhoods, townships, Magaliesburg, and Hartbeespoort Dam.
• Entry costs extra: Transport is listed at $68 per person, while both sanctuary activities cost R1,795 per person at the site.
• Airport and hotel pickups are useful: Pickup and drop-off cover many Sandton, Rosebank, Johannesburg airport, Kempton Park, and Pretoria locations.
• Pack for sun and walking: Closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, a hat, water, comfortable clothing, and a charged phone all make sense.

Starting from Johannesburg and heading toward Hartbeespoort

This is a five-hour outing, or 330 minutes, with transport from a wide selection of pickup points. That makes it useful if you are staying around Sandton, Rosebank, Melrose Arch, Houghton Estate, Kempton Park, or O.R. Tambo International Airport. Pretoria is also listed among the pickup and drop-off areas.

Your guide meets you with a badge and name tag, introduces the day, and explains what to expect. The guide speaks English. On one recent departure, Thabelo Thathani accompanied the group from the hotel and was praised for being polite and helpful, including with the overall coordination of the day.

The exact drive depends on where you start. From central Johannesburg, you may see the contrast between affluent districts and townships along the way. That contrast gives the transfer more interest than a simple highway ride, though the experience is still primarily a sanctuary visit rather than a full city tour.

As you leave the city, watch for the rolling Magaliesburg mountain ranges. The route also passes Hartbeespoort Dam, a well-known recreational area northwest of Johannesburg. A coffee stop may be offered along the way, but it is an option rather than a guaranteed scheduled attraction, so do not count on it as a full meal break.

One bottle of water is included for each person. Food, snacks, and additional drinks are not included. If you need regular medication or prefer a particular snack, bring it with you.

Meeting the elephants at close range

The elephant session gives you much more contact than viewing animals from a vehicle. You can feed the elephants, brush them, and walk in front of one of these large animals while handlers guide the interaction.

Brushing is a particularly memorable part of the visit. An elephant’s skin does not feel smooth like a horse’s coat. You will notice its rough, textured surface as you use the brush, which makes the encounter feel direct and physical. Feeding also helps you appreciate the animal’s size and calm movements from only a short distance away.

The walking portion is designed for close photographs. You may pose beside the elephants, and the guide or handlers can help capture pictures and videos. This is worth keeping in mind if you are traveling alone or if everyone in your group wants a photograph together. Bring a camera or a charged smartphone, but do not let picture-taking distract you from the handler’s instructions.

The activity is promoted as an opportunity to walk with a Big Five animal. That phrase refers to the African elephant, one of the continent’s best-known large mammals. Still, this is a managed animal interaction, not a wild safari encounter. You are visiting a sanctuary setting and following a controlled session with handlers, so expect close contact rather than a search for animals in open bush.

That distinction matters when deciding what you want. If your main goal is to see animals in natural surroundings from a distance, a game drive may suit you better. If your priority is touching, brushing, feeding, and standing close to elephants, this outing offers a more direct experience.

Follow every instruction from the guide and elephant handlers. Their directions are not optional decoration. They help keep you and the animals safe during feeding, brushing, walking, and photographs.

Meeting monkeys that may climb onto you

The monkey visit has a different mood. Instead of the slow, deliberate presence of the elephants, you get active animals moving around you at close range. The monkeys may sit on your shoulders, rub your neck, and pose briefly for photographs.

You should also expect mischief. Keep sunglasses, wallets, hats, and other loose items safe. Handbags and backpacks must be zipped, and the experience provider specifically warns that monkeys may try to open bags and remove objects. The safest approach is to carry as little as possible into the interaction and secure what you do bring.

This can be a terrific photo opportunity, but monkeys do not pose on command. A monkey may climb onto you for a few seconds and then move away. Your best pictures may come from staying calm and letting the animal set the pace instead of reaching after it.

The monkey activity is optional in terms of cost. Entry for the monkey session alone is R550 per person, or you can purchase the elephant session alone for R1,595. Entry to both is R1,795 per person. These fees are paid directly at the sanctuary, and card payment is accepted.

The close contact makes this part best for people who are comfortable around quick-moving animals. If you dislike having animals near your face or belongings, you may prefer to choose the elephant activity only.

What the $68 price really covers

The advertised price is $68 per person for transport and a driver-guide. It includes hotel pickup, return transport, and one bottle of water. It does not include the sanctuary admission.

For both activities, add R1,795 per person at the sanctuary. The elephant-only price is R1,595, while the monkey-only price is R550. That means the headline price does not represent the full cost of a combined visit, so budget for the additional entry charge before booking.

The combined ticket makes more sense if you want a full animal-focused day and are already paying for the drive. The elephant-only option may be the better value if elephants are your clear priority. The monkey-only option costs less, but it removes the signature experience of feeding, brushing, and walking beside the elephants.

Transport adds real value here. Hiring a separate vehicle or arranging your own route would take more planning, especially if you are staying near the airport or in Pretoria. You also get a guide to manage the pickup, explain the day, and answer questions about South African history and culture during the return journey.

This is not an all-inclusive day out. Bring money or a card for the entry fees, and plan for your own food and extra drinks. The tour can be good value for a visitor who wants a guided animal experience without organizing transport, but the final price is much higher than $68 once both activities are added.

The return drive and South African context

After the animal sessions, you return to your chosen drop-off point. The list includes Rosebank, Sandton, Melrose Arch, Houghton Estate, Kempton Park, O.R. Tambo, several airport hotels, and Pretoria.

The ride back is used for more than transport. Your guide can provide information about South African history and culture and answer questions about the country. How much conversation you get will depend on your guide and the questions you bring, but this is a useful chance to connect the sanctuary visit with the wider destination.

If you have an evening flight, leave plenty of extra time. The experience is scheduled for five hours, but pickup routes and road conditions can affect the actual return time. The tour does not promise airport check-in assistance or a guaranteed arrival buffer, so I would not schedule a tight international departure immediately afterward.

Drop-off at a hotel or another agreed location is included. Confirm your exact pickup and return point when booking, especially if your accommodation is near, but not directly on, one of the listed areas.

Practical preparation for the animal sessions

Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. You will be walking and standing during the elephant and monkey activities, and open footwear offers less protection around large animals and active monkeys.

Sun protection is important. Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat, but keep those items secured during the monkey visit. A second hat is not a bad idea if you are especially attached to the first one.

Bring a passport or a copy, a credit card for sanctuary fees, a charged smartphone or camera, and personal medication. Hand sanitizer or tissues are also listed as useful items. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and alcoholic drinks cannot be carried in the vehicle.

Bags are restricted, so do not arrive expecting to carry a large loose backpack into the animal areas. Small personal items must be zipped and protected. The warning about wallets, sunglasses, and hats is practical, not merely formal. A curious monkey can reach them quickly.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. The supplied information does not describe accessibility arrangements, so anyone with mobility concerns should contact the provider before booking rather than assume the animal areas will be accessible.

Who will enjoy this experience most

I would recommend this outing to you if close animal contact is high on your South Africa wish list. Families with older children, couples, photographers, and first-time visitors who want an easy day trip from Johannesburg are likely to appreciate the format.

It also suits people who prefer a planned outing with hotel transport. You do not need to work out the route to Hartbeespoort or arrange a separate driver. The broad pickup list is a real advantage if you are based around Sandton, Rosebank, the airport, or Pretoria.

I would be more cautious if you want a traditional safari. You will not be tracking wild elephants across open country here. The value comes from guided contact, photographs, and learning about the animals at close range.

The same applies if you want a quiet, slow-paced day. The monkey portion can be active and unpredictable, with animals climbing onto people and testing bags. Choose the elephant-only session if that sounds more appealing, or skip the activity if you are uncomfortable with direct animal contact.

Should you book the Elephant and Monkey Sanctuary?

Book it if you want the rare chance to feed, brush, walk beside, and photograph elephants, and you like the idea of adding a lively monkey encounter. The strong points are clear: hotel transport, an English-speaking guide, mountain and dam views along the route, and close contact that a standard safari does not provide.

Before committing, add the sanctuary fees to the $68 transport price. For the full elephant and monkey experience, the extra R1,795 per person is the key budget detail. If that total works for you, the combined visit offers the fullest day. If not, the elephant-only ticket keeps the main attraction while avoiding the more mischievous monkey session.

FAQ

How long does the Elephant and Monkey Sanctuary experience last?

The activity lasts five hours, listed as 330 minutes. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability when booking.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is available from listed hotels and areas including Sandton, Rosebank, Melrose Arch, Houghton Estate, Kempton Park, O.R. Tambo, and Pretoria. The guide meets you wearing a badge and name tag.

Are sanctuary entry fees included in the $68 price?

No. Entry is paid directly at the sanctuary. Both elephant and monkey activities cost R1,795 per person, elephant-only costs R1,595, and monkey-only costs R550.

Can I pay the sanctuary entry fee by card?

Yes. Card payment is accepted at the sanctuary.

What happens during the elephant activity?

You can feed and brush the elephants, walk in front of one of them, and pose for photographs and videos under the direction of the guide and handlers.

Can monkeys climb onto me?

Yes. Monkeys may sit on your shoulders, rub your neck, and move close to you. Keep wallets, sunglasses, hats, and other belongings secure, and keep bags zipped.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The experience is listed as not suitable for wheelchair users.