By now we all know that riding on an elephant is super unethical, but did you know that a lot of these places rebranded themselves as elephant sanctuaries? (This sucks… I know right..). When I visited Thailand I wanted to visit an elephant sanctuary, and I went to Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. Before I dive deeper into one of the most incredible experiences I had here, let me first guide you in how to choose an ethical sanctuary.
How to Choose an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand
- Are the elephants owned or rented? If they are rented, or if the ownership seems suspicious, this is a massive red flag.
- Educational-focused; ethical sanctuaries prioritise education and conservation.
- Research the Sanctuary’s background
- Size and freedom of enclosures
- No chains or restraints
- Check if they have accreditations or rwards
What sanctuary did I visit?
Elephant Nature Park is a rescue and rehabilitation center in northern Thailand. It’s located just outside of the city of Chiang Mai, in the beautiful countryside. The park was founded in the 1990s as a sanctuary for elephants. Today, the primary focus is still elephants, but ENP also has dogs, cats, water buffalo, and other rescued animals.
The park provides a natural environment and caring staff for the rescued elephants and serves as a place for them to safely live out the rest of their days. The park also has conservation and education programs in place. They work to reforest the surrounding areas by planting trees and educate locals in hopes of changing attitudes towards these incredible animals. It’s a wonderful organization and welcomes visitors through a variety of programs, including extended volunteer work.
The project I attended
I actually did not visit the elephant nature park, instead I went to the ‘Elephant Highlands’. This is set in the high northern mountains with some of the most stunning scenery in the country. It is a whole day. You get picked up from your hotel between 08:00-08:45 am and you will be back by 6:00 pm. At the time I paid 6.000 THB (around 160 euros). It is really worth it in my opinion as you get food included. I’d recommend booking a month in advance if you’re going during peak season. As the spots fill super quickly, and the activity is only once per day in a small group.
The experience
I had an amazing time at Elephant Nature Park. I chose to do a single day – Elephant highlands visit. On the morning of my tour, a shuttle picked me up from my hotel in Old City, Chiang Mai (transportation is included if staying within Old City walls) and we drove for 90 mins hrough the most beautiful, green countryside. Upon arrival at the park, our group prepared food and fed the elephants a snack of bananas and watermelon. In total it was the 8 of us (inclduing guides). We met met KhamPaeng, MaePon and Nongpop. The second they arrived it was magical. Their tales were moving and they were gentle giants!
We spent the rest of the morning taking photos and interacting with the elephants. A vegetarian lunch was then served and we were allowed some free time. Which i spend exploring the area. After lunch, we made food balls for the elephants (which they LOVED). Some elephants took a swim and we continues to observe their behaviour before returning to the shuttle in the late afternoon
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you ride the elephants?
No, it is strictly forbidden to ride the elephants in the Elephant Nature Park. It has never been allowed.
Is Elephant Nature Park ethical?
I would say that Elephant Nature Park is as ethical as it gets. In the best of all worlds, the elephants would of course have been allowed to roam freely in the jungle, but that is unfortunately no longer possible due to illegal logging, kidnappers, and poachers.
Since its foundation in the 90s, the park has come a long way in its work to give elephants a sanctuary where they can live as naturally as possible.
What organization is behind the sanctuary?
It was originally founded by Sangduen “Lek” Chailert, and it is now a part of the Save Elephant Foundation (SEF), which is a registered charity.
How to book your visit
There are different tours to choose from. You can either visit the park in the morning or in the afternoon. You can also do the highands walk and/or stay overnight, which gives you more time to see the elephants and follow some of the park’s daily routines or
Some of the tours include being accompanied by a guide and the elephants as they roam freely in the forest. A memorable experience that I can recommend if you have time for it during your trip. I however recommend the more expensive tours if you have the funds to do so.
@yearsabroad We spend a whole day jungle walking, feeding and getting to know rescued elephants. (I cannot believe how gentle and sweet they are) 🥹 An unforgettable day in the mountains of Northern Thailand🐘🌳 #saveelephantfoundation #elephantsanctuary #bucketlisttravel ♬ original sound – Speedy Songsz
