Visitor Policy

Visiting Pangea

Pangea is first and foremost a sanctuary, not a visitor attraction. A place where elephants can experience a sense of calm, safety, and companionship. To protect that environment, the site is not open to the general public. We know how meaningful it is to feel connected to what we are building and would love to welcome everyone who cares about our elephants. However, their wellbeing depends on a space that is quiet and free from unnecessary human disturbance.

With the elephants’ needs at the centre, visits are limited to small, carefully managed groups on select days throughout the year, in accordance with the conditions of our operating licence. By keeping things this way, we’re able to give them the time and space to reconnect with their natural rhythms and simply be elephants.

Below you will find a selection of visitation programmes, currently in development and planned to begin in late 2026 and 2027.

For Supporters

Starting in late 2026, every year we will open the sanctuary for a small group of supporters. Anyone who has donated €50 or more in the previous twelve months is automatically entered into a draw, and those selected are invited to attend. If a selected supporter is unable to make it, their place passes to the next person on the list.

If you would like to be in with a chance of joining us, the simplest thing to do is donate — and make sure you are signed up to hear from us so that we can be in touch if your name is drawn.

For Schools

Our outreach programme for schools is planned to launch in September 2026, with priority in the first year going to schools in Vila Viçosa and Alandroal. This will bring Pangea into the classroom, we will come to you.

We will also be holding an annual open day for a selected group of young people aged 10 to 16. Places for our first school open day in November 2026 will be awarded through an art competition. The theme is Elephants in the Alentejo. Entries will be accepted between September and October 2026 — full details to follow.

For Local Residents

We are committed to the communities of Alandroal and Vila Viçosa, and local residents will have their own dedicated open day each year beginning in 2027. Places are allocated by lottery. If you live in Alandroal or Vila Viçosa and would like to register your interest, please use the form below and we will be in touch with details when the next date is confirmed.

For Volunteers & Researchers

We are planning to introduce our volunteer and research programmes in late 2026. If you are interested in being part of either, we would love to hear from you. Register your interest using the form below and we will add you to our mailing list.