Our first elephant release plan is approved!

We are thrilled to share a historic milestone for Elephant Havens. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) has officially approved our proposal to begin releasing our elephants back into the wild.

Our first group of 10 elephants will begin their journey to freedom in 2027, with their new home set in the pristine wilderness of the Selinda Reserve (NG16).

Preparations are already underway to facilitate this release, including the complex logistics needed to safely move the elephants. While they will be returning to the wild, these elephants will always remain part of the Elephant Havens family. To ensure their safety and well being, we will track and monitor them for 5 to 10 years after release. A dedicated monitoring site will be established within the Selinda Reserve, where our field team will continue to follow and support their progress.

From our early days, when orphans like MmaMotse and her companions were rescued, nursed back to health, and cared for until they were strong enough for our soft-release area, we have dreamed of the day when Elephant Havens elephants would once again roam freely. Now, that dream is becoming a reality.

This milestone is not only a step forward for us, but also for Botswana’s conservation legacy, a powerful example of collaboration and commitment to safeguarding our wildlife heritage.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the DWNP and to our generous donors for walking alongside us in this journey. Most especially, we thank Great Plains Conservation Botswana for their continued support and for graciously allowing us to release these elephants within their Selinda concession. Their commitment and partnership make this release possible.

We will continue to share updates as we move forward and warmly invite you to celebrate this moment with us.

We invite you to experience (or revisit) both of the graduation treks to the soft release below.

The release of MmaMotse, Tsholofelo, Bonolo, and Lerumo in 2023

The release of Sandy, Tshepiso, Seloko, and Mofa in 2024