HERD Trust

HERD (Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development) TRUST was established in 2021 following a 24-year journey in caring for elephants displaced or orphaned due to human-elephant conflict.

HERD Orphanage was built in 2019 in response to a growing number of young orphaned elephant calves that need a place of rehabilitation and more importantly, an existing herd that will accept them unconditionally. The Jabulani herd is now a family of 16 elephants, of which 11 are orphans and five were born to the herd over 10 years ago. In 2004 the lodge, Jabulani, was built to sustain the herd, with proceeds from tourism assisting with the care and management of the rescued herd. In 2021 a decision was made to move the Jabulani herd and HERD Homestead operations, together with HERD Orphanage, under the umbrella of HERD Trust, a registered PBO. This allows for public funding to ensure the well-being of all the elephants.

Kaycee caught up with Kyle Malyon who is on a mission to raise awareness and funds for HERD Trust and is about to complete a charity drive called, The Mammoth Ride. As a motorcycle enthusiast, Kyle has travelled approximately 7 000 km through all nine provinces to raise funds for the HERD Trust - his journey comes to an end in a couple of days.

With a large tattoo of four elephants on his right arm, Malyon has always liked elephants, but it was only after reading An Elephant in My Kitchen, by South African authors and conservationists Françoise Malby-Anthony and Katja Willemsen, that he decided to find an NPO that works with elephants to contribute to their work.

What started as a crazy idea, to circumnavigate South Africa solo on a motorcycle is about to become a reality for Kyle, he will arrive home in Johannesburg on April 6.

Pictured below : Kyle Malyon