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The Victoria Falls elephant back safari is no longer available on the Zimbabwe side of the falls. The sanctuary that once carried guests on saddled elephants withdrew the rides and replaced them with a walking "elephant encounter." You still get close to the elephants, but you walk beside them and nobody sits on their backs.
An elephant back safari was a guided bush trip in which two guests sat in a saddle on a trained elephant, led by a driver called an induna. At its peak, more than 30 captive elephants worked in these rides on both sides of the falls. Some older websites and listings still advertise the ride, so it is easy to book something that no longer exists.
This article explains what happened to the ride, how the replacement works on the day, what it costs, and whether it is ethical and worth your money. At Maximum Adventure Trails, we book elephant experiences from our base in Victoria Falls, so we can tell you what to expect before you pay.
Why you can’t ride an elephant at Victoria Falls anymore
The ride ended because attitudes toward human and animal interaction changed, and the elephants’ custodians chose to withdraw it. Knowing this matters because outdated listings can sell you a trip that will not happen.
What changed
The elephants were rescued or resident animals at the Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary, a private wilderness of about 4,500 acres near the falls. Once the rides stopped, the sanctuary needed another way to pay for animals that can live around 60 years or more in captivity. The walking encounter became that income, along with a presentation on the orphanage and the threats elephants face in the region.
If a website still lists a ride, treat it as out of date. Confirm directly before you pay a deposit. Some operators on the Zambian side, in Livingstone’s Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, have also dropped rides and now sell interaction and education tours instead.
The ride was retired on purpose, and the walking encounter is its replacement, not a downgrade in name only.
What the ride used to be like
Past guests describe climbing a high wooden platform onto the elephant, sitting in a saddle with stirrups, and feeling "a very long way down." The trip lasted about two hours, ended with breakfast, and had a minimum age of 4. Guests said the elephants moved almost silently and stopped to eat from trees while the group sat on top.
That sense of being "part of the herd" is what people miss. The encounter trades the height for something else, which the next section covers.
How the elephant encounter works
An elephant encounter is a roughly three-hour guided session in which you learn about the herd, then walk alongside the elephants. You can book it as a morning, late morning, or afternoon trip, with hotel pickup included.
What happens on the day
The session starts with a presentation on how the orphanage began. You then talk with the keepers who care for the elephants every day. They explain how the herd interacts, share facts about elephants, and describe the threats to African elephants in the region.
After the talks, you walk beside the elephants. You can watch individual behavior up close, see how the elephants treat each other, and notice their relationship with their keepers. The session ends with refreshments while you cool down and look out over the Masuwe River.
You trade the view from the saddle for eye contact, and most guests find that the better deal.
Times, age limits and what to bring
The sanctuary runs three standard departures, and the child age limit is 5 years minimum, up from 4 on the old ride.
| Trip | Pickup | Drop-off | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | 6:30am | 9:30am | Tea, coffee, soft drinks, breakfast |
| Late morning | 9:00am | 12:00pm | Drinks, snacks |
| Afternoon | 3:30pm | 6:30pm | Drinks, canapés |
Anyone 18 or younger needs a legal guardian to sign an indemnity form. Pack a wide-brimmed hat, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars and a camera. Bring your booking voucher and cash or card for the conservation fee if it is not already included in your price.
What the elephant encounter costs
For two adults on a common elephant encounter, expect to pay about $386 in total. Our current prices are $169 per person for the Elephant Encounter, plus a $24 conservation fee, which brings the cost to $193 per adult.
Price comparison
| Experience | Price per adult | Extra fee |
|---|---|---|
| Elephant Encounter | $169 | $24 conservation fee |
| Through the Eyes of an Elephant | $148 | None listed |
| Horse Back Safari, Zambezi National Park, 2.5 to 3 hours | $148 | $30 park fee |
| Horse Back Safari, Zambezi National Park, long ride | $224 | $30 park fee |
Horse back safaris appear here because they are the closest remaining way to see the bush from a saddle. Ask what each price includes before you compare totals.
A worked example
Two adults booking the Elephant Encounter pay 2 × ($169 + $24) = $386. Two adults booking Through the Eyes of an Elephant pay 2 × $148 = $296, before any fee that applies to your chosen departure.
The old ride had no published price in any current source, so you cannot compare it like for like. Be wary of any quote for a "ride." It signals an out-of-date listing at best.
Budget $193 per adult for the encounter, because the conservation fee is separate from the headline price.
Is it ethical, and is it worth it?
The encounter is a far more defensible choice than the ride, but it still involves captive elephants. Whether it is worth it depends on how much you value learning and closeness over the thrill of height.
The ethics
Elephant welfare groups have long argued that an elephant’s spine is not built to carry a saddle and passengers, and that training animals to accept riders often involves harsh methods. Those concerns are why the rides were withdrawn, and why some travel companies stopped selling them. Elephants do not choose to be ridden. They are trained to tolerate it.
The encounter changes that. The animals are not carrying weight, and part of what you pay supports their care. Captivity remains a real trade-off, though. These elephants cannot be released, and caring for animals with a 60-year lifespan is costly. Before booking any elephant experience, check that there is no riding, no performing tricks, and no pressure on the animals to interact.
What reviews say and the verdict
Past guests of the ride praised the sheer closeness: touching, smelling and hearing the elephants, and watching them feed. Reviewers of the walking version make the same point about eye contact and about learning the elephants’ stories. The common caveat is that it lacks the adrenaline of the ride.
My take: yes, it is worth it if you care about elephants and want to understand the sanctuary’s work. If you want a big-herd wildlife spectacle instead, a game drive in Chobe National Park is the better pick. If you want the saddle, book a horse back safari.
Choosing your elephant experience
The elephant back safari at Victoria Falls is gone, and the elephant encounter took its place. You get a presentation, a guided walk beside the elephants, refreshments and hotel transfers, for about $193 per adult including the conservation fee. The ride’s ethical problems are why it ended, and the encounter is the more responsible option, though you should still check how any operator treats its animals.
If you want help picking a departure, combining the encounter with other Victoria Falls activities, or arranging transfers, you can book your elephant encounter with Maximum Adventure Trails.
