Elephant Rescue Park || Chiang Mai, Thailand
My trip to and time at Elephant Rescue Park outside of Chiang Mai experiencing a day in the life of these magical elephants!
Elephant Rescue Park & Background Information
Since I was a child, I had wanted to see elephants up close and in person. I absolutely love elephants and think they are one of the most magical and special animals on Earth. My trip to Elephant Rescue Park outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand was truly an epic experience and a must for anyone who loves elephants and makes a trip to Chiang Mai. I could write a book on this experience but will focus on the highlights. Thai elephants are incredible and very magical!
First and foremost, you must understand how to best choose where to see elephants around Chiang Mai. Elephant Rescue Park is a wonderful park and preserve. It is absolutely nothing like many of the commercialized zoos or other “parks” in this area that mistreat these animals and even poach on Elephant Rescue Park’s good name for profit. Make no mistake, there are MANY bad actors in this area who position themselves as caring for the animals, but they in fact do not. Be advised and AVOID the bad actors at all cost.
Elephant Rescue Park is the best place to visit and see Thai elephants — here is why:
- Elephant Rescue Park is devoted to and dedicated to saving and caring for their elephants.
- They do not allow rides. DO NOT RIDE elephants. I learned elephants don’t like this and it can actually be bad for them.
- Elephant Rescue Park was set up by a man focused on rescuing elephants from terrible circumstances. He receives some money from the Thailand government, but also receives funds from private investors and sustains this preserve based on customers and other outside donations.
- This organization rescues elephants from the worst conditions, environments and mistreatments around Thailand, brings them to the preserve, cares for them and nurses them back to health.
Elephant Rescue Park Photo Gallery
If you would like to see a full gallery of photos that I took from my trip (i.e., full frame images with more detail), please visit this gallery on my website:
My Journey Elephant Rescue Park
I learned about Elephant Rescue Park from the hotel concierge at The Lanatree Boutique hotel in Chiang Mai. The concierge explained the differences between the various parks, their offers, how to avoid the bad actors and to choose Elephant Rescue Park instead. I immediately made my reservation with Elephant Rescue Park.
The trip cost a mere 2,200 Baht (i.e., roughly USD$66) which included transportation and an incredible lunch. I gave Elephant Rescue Park an extra 200 Baht at the end of the day. The team appreciated my gift which was very deserving. I would have given them far more and would have donated hundreds of dollars or more, but sadly I did not have the money at the time to donate due to my full year abroad and limited travel budget.
On the day of the trip, their minivan arrived to pick me up at 8:30 AM sharp at my hotel. There were 8 others in the group. I was the last pick up. I did not take notes on everyone’s name, but we really had a great group of people and all had a great time together I believe! I hope you are all well and find this post one day.
The drive from Chiang Mai to the park took 1.5 hours. The main guide spoke during the drive explaining background information, history of the park and many other topics. He had just learned English and did a great job nevertheless communicating these details and making the ride enjoyable.
Arrival at Elephant Rescue Park
Upon arrival, we received information about the park, its team and more instruction about how to feed the elephants, how to touch, pat and rub them, how to show affection, how to be aware and alert, and generally how to act around them. Elephant Rescue Park gave us clothing, boots, a hat, water and assistance all day — they were incredible hosts, conservationists and caretakers. We adorned our uniforms and walked over to meet the elephants.
We arrived and they were in a line behind a wooden fence waiting excitedly to be fed.
We met 7 elephants: 4 girls and 3 boys. Two were young babies. Their ages varied but I believe the oldest was in her late 40s. While I knew this already, elephants are AMAZINGLY smart, empathetic, social, haptic, loving, caring, emotional and just plain incredible. They do remember — nearly everything. And those memories play out in their behaviors. They are very much like humans and very high ordered thinkers.
The guide asked me to stand in with the oldest female to get a picture, to meet her up close, say hello and generally build a relationship. She was shy and at first moved slightly away. It was like a first date! She knows me now and remembered me the whole trip. My mahout (an elephant trainer and keeper) explained she was in fact being “shy” at first hahah. I love her!
Feeding Time
Elephants LOVE bananas and were going bananas when we arrived! They were so excited to see us and couldn’t wait to be fed. We lined up, grabbed a bunch of bananas and walked down the line feeding the elephants. We start with this ritual because the elephants not only get fed but they learn our smells and who we are which will serve us all day in our relationship. The technique is simple: offer a banana with an outstretched hand, allow the elephant to wrap around it and take from you — no force feeding! It was very special to feel the power of their trunks, their coarseness yet subtle skill and movements, and how incredibly fast they whisk away a banana and devour it whole. They can eat them all day.
Elephant Walk & Play
After feeding them for about 45 minutes, the mahouts rounded them up for their daily walk. We joined and walked with the elephants on the way to their bathing location.
While the mahouts led the elephants and shepherded them along the way, the elephants also displayed remarkable individualism and freedom at times wandering as they saw fit and to where they wanted. I enjoyed watching them frolic, play and feed on jungle vegetation and grass at every turn. You do have to keep a mindful eye while walking with the elephants because they are slightly unpredictable and move fast.
Elephants eat about 15% of their body weight every day, go to the bathroom every hour and walk 10 kilometers everyday — amazing as well. I loved watching them feed on the jungle vegetation and grasses.
Elephants Love & Demand Touch
The mahouts taught us that anytime an elephant passes by you, they want you to acknowledge with a hard double tap and rubbing. They LOVE to be touched and actually take it personally and are hurt if you do not. The first two taps are harder than you think, it does not hurt them and if not firm enough they won’t feel it and may think you do not love them very much. The mahouts explained further if you do not touch them, or touch them the wrong way, they may hold it against you. I thought this was a joke at first but it actually turns out to be a bit true HAHA :)
Touch is how they connect. I never would have thought this to be the case given what I had always thoughts was such tough, thick skin. It turns out they have unbelievable muscles and nerves in their skin and relate predominantly through touch. Their skin was amazing to finally touch and feel, so tough and gritty, but to them SO sensitive. It is special and unique.
Elephants feet are vital to their survival and critical to them feeling their environment and navigating within it. The mahouts spent a lot of time talking about and teaching about elephants feet and how an injury to their foot can without proper care lead to their early and sad death.
Elephants and Sunscreen
One of the most amazing things I learned about them from the mahouts was the elephant’s interest in mud. As the elephants each lumbered into mud pits wallowing in the mud and slinging it on their bodies, the mahouts explained they were adoring sunscreen to protect against the hot Thailand Summer sun! Amazing! I had no idea. See, they are so smart! Can you believe it!?
Elephant Bath
We escorted the elephants to their special bathing area. They love bathing because the ritual is also very haptic, soothing and of course gets them clean. I didn’t realize it, but the assistants were putting us in charge and yes, we went into the pool with the elephants and actually bathed them using a bucket, a brush (to scrub them) and a root that lathers and creates a natural herb soap for their skin. This was amazing!
Bathing and washing elephants was a unexpected surprise but a phenomenal experience. My only regret was I do not have any pictures of me bathing with the elephants (because of course I put my phone and camera in a safe, dry location and the mahouts failed to get pictures of me — bummer but its ok).
During the bathing, a very funny and special moment happened: I got set up by the lead guide with my girl . They made me come in close to her and say hello, they then gave a secret order/command and she began a hard dancing/thrashing and splashing me thoroughly! She even made noises which are like her laughing. This was truly amazing.
After bathing, we did a group photoshoot with the elephants and individual photos. I could not afford to buy the photos but I highly recommend paying the extra at the end of the day to receive them.
We ate lunch together, shared more stories about the elephants, their history and stories, and had an incredible time together around the table. I would do this journey again and recommend it to anyone who loves elephants and who makes the trip to Chiang Mai.
My New Girlfriend
It turns out the oldest lady elephant, the one I met at the very beginning who at first was very shy with me when I tried to first pat and rub her, liked me a lot! She picked me according to the mahouts and I took many photos with her, even hugging her and she hugged me with her trunk. She became my new girlfriend for sure! I took terrible notes on the names of the elephants and have forgotten them due to the passage of time. I apologize and look forward to anyone reminding me or providing their names!
I had the greatest time on this trip, at the park, learning about the elephants, interacting with the mahouts, meeting new friends and even coming away with a new love and girlfriend. As above, I recommend everyone make the journey to Chiang Mai as well as to Elephant Rescue Park!
Thailand: Travel Photography Book
If you are interested in more about my journeys in Thailand, and seeing more images from those trips, please check out my other blog posts here in Medium and my book at the following link:
