Reserve D'Elefants Djamde

We were able to feed the 3 elephants. We fed sugar cane, banana and apples. They let us go right in the pen with them. 5000 franc per adult and 2500 per child, so it isn’t cheap.

We were told beforehand that the elefants only lived inside the reserve for theirs first few years in Togo (Apparently they were brought to Togo from Burkina Faso as babies) and have now been living free in nature for several years. Our guide Nazif told us, that the elefants come by to visit their old home regularly and that the rangers would attract them with food, so us tourist could see and feed them. But when we got to the reserve we found out, that this was a lie. The elefants are locked inside their enclosure. The fence is welded, so the animals can't be let out regularly. When we asked about that, they admitted, that the elefants have been locked in for a few months now, because of some problems with local farmers. They should be let our again in a few weeks. No way for us to know if that's true... So only two stars for lying about the living conditions of the elefants. The animals looked healthy though and the rangers seemed to treat them well.

This place has 3 semi domesticated elephants that roam in the wild at night and come to the enclosure for food in the days. They say the elephants are adolescents, born circa 2003. And they have adolecent behavior of only partly obeying their handlers. But If you are courageous you can go in the enclosure with them and feed them sugar cane or bring some peanuts. If you don't have a 4x4 to cross the Kara river then park at the Sara Hôtel and hitch a ride in the back of their pick-up. Visits are 5000 per adult and 2500 per child.

It is hard to get to. The elephants no longer roam free, but they are tame and you can pet them.

Too bad they had to put them behind fences... but it's only a temporary solution until they can secure a larger perimeter in the reserve..