Lesedi Cultural Village and Elephant Walk from Johannesburg

Walk with elephants and photograph them while a guide captures the moment for you

This guided tour from Johannesburg combines three stops in a single day: an animal sanctuary where you walk alongside and feed elephants on a game drive, the Chameleon African Curio Market with roughly 180 stalls, and Lesedi Cultural Village for a traditional buffet lunch and dance performance. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with entrance fees and a professional guide who provides live narration throughout the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Elephant sanctuary and cultural visit

• Be collected from hotel at 7am
• Drive 1 hour to animal sanctuary
• Enjoy hot beverage and muffin on deck
• Walk alongside and feed elephants
• Guide takes photos of elephant interaction
• Return to lodge by game viewer
• Visit Chameleon African Curio Market
• Shop at 180 different stalls
• Attend traditional buffet lunch and dance show at Lesedi Cultural Village
• Return to Johannesburg

The experience

The day starts at 7am with pickup from your hotel and a one-hour drive to the animal sanctuary in the Magaliesberg. On arrival, you'll sit on a deck overlooking the landscape while having a hot beverage and homemade muffin. Then you walk alongside the elephants and get the chance to feed them. Your guide handles photography so you can be present in the moment without worrying about capturing it yourself. After time with the animals, you board a game viewer to return to the lodge.

From the sanctuary, the tour moves to the Chameleon African Curio Market, where roughly 180 stalls offer souvenirs and local crafts. The final stop is Lesedi Cultural Village, where a traditional buffet lunch and live dance show are included. Your guide provides commentary on the sights and cultural context as you travel between each location, and the round-trip transportation means you don't need to arrange a rental car or navigate the route yourself.

What’s included

• Professional guide providing live narration throughout the day.
• round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entrance fees to the animal sanctuary and Lesedi Cultural Village.
• traditional buffet lunch and dance show at Lesedi.
• guide photography service at the elephant encounter.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 12:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Senior (71 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 13

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Virgio Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and narrates live as you travel, so you'll understand the cultural and wildlife context at each stop without needing to read ahead or rely on headphones.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens when you walk with the elephants at the sanctuary?

You walk alongside the elephants and have the opportunity to feed them. A guide photographs the experience so you can focus on the moment rather than managing a camera.

How far is the animal sanctuary from Johannesburg?

The sanctuary is about an hour's drive from Johannesburg, located in the Magaliesberg area.

What's included in the lunch at Lesedi Cultural Village?

A traditional buffet lunch is served, followed by a live dance show performed by the village.

Do you need to arrange your own transport between the three stops?

No. Round-trip transportation from your hotel is included, along with all transfers between the animal sanctuary, Chameleon Market, and Lesedi Cultural Village.