What is Elephant Havens?
Elephant Havens is a non-profit organization working on the ground in Botswana to protect and preserve the African elephant. We are building an orphanage so that we can rescue and hand-rear orphaned and abandoned baby elephants, with the goal of eventually releasing them back into the wild alongside other elephants. We are also working with local communities to reduce conflict between villagers and elephants. Through education we hope to instill an understanding of the importance of conservation and habitat protection in future generations.
Where is Elephant Havens?
Elephant Havens is a short 35-minute drive from the village of Maun in Botswana, which is in southern Africa. The orphanage itself is nestled alongside a river that is a perfect habitat for young elephants. Wild elephant herds already live in the area, making it an ideal place to reintroduce orphans into the wild when they are ready.
Nearly all of the major safari and air-charter operators have headquarters in Maun, making it easy to take trips into the wildlife rich Okavango Delta. You can fly directly into the Maun International Airport.
Can I visit Elephant Havens?
Yes! We offer visiting hours from 9-10 a.m. and 4-5 p.m. seven days a week. During your visit you will interact with young elephants, learn about elephant behavior from our experienced handlers, and take pictures with baby elephants! A (US) $100 donation per person to visit the orphanage provides expert health care, special lactose-fee baby formula and 24-hour care for each elephant by devoted handlers. For more information or to arrange a private visit, email info@elephanthavens.com or call Boago Poloko at +267 73 809 428.
Can I stay at Elephant Havens?
We don’t have a visitor lodge at Elephant Havens, but there is one nearby. Email us at info@elephanthavens.com for more information about facilities near us.
How can I foster an orphaned elephant?
We would love for you to foster one of our babies! Caring people like you are making such a difference in the lives of orphaned elephants. Once we have elephants in the orphanage (expected by the end of 2018) you will be able to select an orphan and set up a recurring donation for its care. You’ll receive a foster certificate, a photograph of your orphan, and monthly updates from the elephant keepers.
How do I make a donation to Elephant Havens?
Thank you! There are two ways you can help. Once we have baby elephants at the orphanage, you can foster one by setting up a recurring donation here. To support all of the activities and community initiatives of Elephant Havens, you can donate online using a credit card, or send a check made out to “Elephant Havens” to our headquarters:
Elephant Havens Wildlife Foundation
4104 Calculus Drive
Dallas, TX 75244
Is my donation tax-deductible? Will I receive a receipt for my donation?
Yes and yes. Elephant Havens Wildlife Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the United States. Your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by law, and you will receive a receipt by email for tax purposes.
Where does my donation go?
More than 90% of donation funds go toward saving African elephants at Elephant Havens in Botswana. Fostering donations go toward purchasing milk, veterinary care and paying the keepers who stay with your foster elephant around the clock for the first 4 years of life. General donations fund our community outreach and habitat protection initiatives, as well as paying for capital expenses, such as orphanage construction, staff housing, fencing, solar panels, and photo/video equipment. Less than 10% of donated money is used for Elephant Havens Wildlife Foundation administration expenses, including fundraising and management costs. There are no salaried positions within the Foundation.
Can I change my recurring donation amount or provide a new credit card number online?
Absolutely! Your payment information is securely transacted through stripe.com and is not stored on our servers or accessible by us. This lets you control your giving information. To make changes, simply log into your account and look at My Donation Subscriptions. Here you can see your donation history and payment information. Click “Cancel” on the far right to end this recurring payment. Now you can set up a new recurring donation with updated information. Email us at info@elephanthavens.com if you have any questions.
What is AmazonSmile and how does it contribute to Elephant Havens?
Every time you shop on Amazon.com you can be making a donation to us! Simply go to smile.amazon.com and choose Elephant Havens as your charitable organization to support. For every order you place, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to us. You’re still shopping on Amazon, just make sure you access the site through smile.amazon.com each time you order. You can click on the AmazonSmile logo near the bottom of our home page to pop over there and set yourself up now. Those small percentages can add up fast, so thank you for supporting us this way!
I think my employer has a Matching Gift Program. How does that work?
More than 1,000 companies offer matching gift programs that will double or even triple your donation’s impact. See your Human Resources department for a matching gift form or other instructions from them. Typically there is a form for you to fill out and send to us to complete the process. Once you’ve filled out your portion, either mail us the form or submit it via email to donations@elephanthavens.com. Thank you for taking the extra step to increase the impact of your gift.
Elephant Havens Wildlife Foundation
Employer Matching Gift
4104 Calculus Drive
Dallas, TX 75244
How do I change my email preferences?
You can email info@elephanthavens.com or call us at (+1) 972-620-2523 to update us with new contact information.
How do I contact Elephant Havens?
Email co-founder Debra Stevens at debra@elephanthavens.com or call her at (+1) 972.620.2523. She will happily answer any questions you have about the Foundation and about Elephant Havens in Botswana. Our mailing address is 4104 Calculus Drive, Dallas, TX 75244, United States.
What is the best way to stay updated on things happening at Elephant Havens?
We’d love to keep you in the loop. Sign up for our newsletter here. You can also like and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest pictures and news.
Can I organize a fundraiser for Elephant Havens?
Yes, please! Every donation counts and we’re touched that you would like to help the African elephants. Email debra@elephanthavens.com about your idea and for more information. Thank you!
Does Elephant Havens accept corporate partnerships or sponsors?
Yes. We are very thankful for business owners who share our passion for saving African elephants. Please email co-founder Debra Stevens at debra@elephanthavens.com or call her at (+1) 972-620-2523 to discuss partnership and sponsorship opportunities.
Can I volunteer at Elephant Havens?
Thank you for your interest, but we do not have a volunteer program for many reasons. One is that our babies need constant and consistent care from their handlers. The ele’s must believe we are their parents. Secondly, although kind and gentle, these are still big animals, and our team are trained and experienced elephant handlers. Even after all these years, our team will not let Debra (co-founder) be alone with the elephants. She has a “babysitter” with her at all times.
Double your impact.
If your company matches employee donations, your gift can go twice as far to help our young elephants. We can supply any needed documentation. See our FAQs page for details. Every donation helps us rescue and save more orphaned elephants.
DOUBLE YOUR GIFT NOW
Donate today to help protect Africa’s elephants.
