Plans lodged to expand Monarto’s Wild Africa Glamping accommodation as elephant arrival date revealed

Monarto Safari Park is set for a big year with the expansion of their Wild Africa Glamping accommodation and the arrival of one of their long-awaited Asian elephants.

The plans include the introduction of 20 new glamping tents. Picture: Supplied

A proposal has been lodged with the state’s planning body to expand Monarto Safari Park’s one-of-a-kind glamping experience, as a timeline is revealed for the arrival of one of three Asian elephants.

The plans detail the expansion of the Wild Africa Tourist accommodation to include 20 extra glamping tents and a single-storey lodge building only a short distance from the safari animals.

General manager visitor operations safari park and wild Africa Steve Callery said the glamping facilities would attract more visitors to the park.

“(This) in turn will help to fund the conservation work that Zoos SA carries out on the site,” he said.

“And, of course, we always want to engage more people that we can inspire action to save species from extinction.”

Auckland Zoo elephant Burma. Picture: Auckland Zoo.

Carole Stone donated money to Monarto Safari Park to help with getting elephants to the park. Picture: Supplied

This comes as Monarto Safari Park confirm the development of the Asian elephant habitat is expected to start in the next month before the arrival of the first elephant at the end of the year.

“We are hopeful that the first elephant will arrive at Monarto Safari Park at the end of 2024,” Mr Callery said.

“Detailed plans for the new Asian Elephant habitat are being drawn and we hope to break the ground on the infrastructure work in the next month.”

It was revealed in August that South Australian woman Carole Stone had donated a whopping $1.3 million to the park’s fundraising campaign to bring the Asian elephants to South Australia.

The fundraising goal of $2m was then achieved only 28 days after further donations from members of the public.

The new Wild Africa Glamping site will have “enviable views” of Monarto Safari Park. Picture: Supplied

The application for the new accommodation, lodged by Intro Architecture on behalf of Monarto Safari Park, details that guest plunge pools and restaurant will also be included in the building.

“The proposal is for the establishment of eco-tourism glamping accommodation with ancillary guest restaurant and plunge pools in association with Monarto Safari Park,” it says.

“Safari Park animals will continue to range across the western extend of the site and will have access to the waterhole all the way to the balustrades of the glamping tents enabling visitors to experience wildlife at dawn and dusk.”

Mr Callery said the accommodation will have “enviable views across waterholes and a landscape teaming with African species”.

“While the animals will be close, a moat will separate humans from the species without interrupting the view,” he said.

An additional 25 carparking spaces will also be provided for guests and a bus drop off and pick up zone for safari tours.