Why You Should Visit the Elephant Nature Park

The Elephant Nature Park, right outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand, was one of the best places I have ever visited. Visitors are out in the middle of nature, surrounded by mountains, rivers, and of course: elephants!

A rescued elephant with a previously broken leg

The Animals at Elephant Nature Park

Elephant Nature Park is home to hundreds of rescued animals, including elephants, buffalo, horses, goats, dogs, and cats.

Snuggling with a sleepy cat at the Elephant Nature Park

The animals are free to roam among the hundreds of acres on the park premises. Each elephant is accompanied by a mahout, or native Thai trainer. The elephants aren’t “trained” like in the circus or in cheap tourism shows. Instead, the mahouts are there to keep the elephants and visitors safe. Each elephant is closely bonded with their mahout, and the mahouts and their families live in the neighboring towns.

Rescued dogs, cats, and water buffalo also roam throughout the park. The dogs are adoptable, and many of the park’s visitors spend time caring for the dogs as well as the elephants.

Volunteering and Visiting at the Elephant Nature Park

Visitors can stay at the park for a short day visit, overnight visits, or week-long visits. The length of time you stay typically determines which ways you can interact with the elephants. Guests can also choose to partake in a “saddle off” program, which takes place outside of the park but is up close and personal with many rescued elephants not residing in the park. Individuals within the veterinarian profession (technicians, assistants, veterinarians, students) may also participate in special medical programs to further help the elephants and other animals in the park.

Treating an injured elephant’s foot while she munches on watermelon

My favorite elephant that I worked with is named Lucky. She is one of the elderly elephants in the park, and has an enormous personality! She was rescued from a circus and was completely blinded by the lights and camera flashes that she was exposed to. Being blind does not slow her down in the slightest, however. She loves to find her favorite foods and puts them on top of her head with her trunk to save for later. The clever girl will never misplace her food!

Life Volunteering at Elephant Nature Park

All guests receive 3 meals a day, freshly made in the kitchens. All vegetarian and vegan food, and it is outstanding! I visited the park for a full week, as part of my Loop Abroad internship. Guests help feed, bathe, and prepare meals for the elephants, as well as visit with them in a positive way. Dogs and cats are walked and socialized. My favorite part of the park (other than the elephants) is getting to tube down the river! Elephants graze along the sides of the river as you relax in the cool water and pass through small villages in northern Thailand.

A grazing elephant near the river while tubing

There is little running water and electricity in the park. However, I felt that taking “bucket baths” and sleeping in the open-air dorms were part of the charm of the rustic park! The rooms have a gap near the ceiling in order to allow airflow, but it also lets in the cats of the park. I often woke up to a purring cat snuggled up with me in my bed on chilly mornings!

Elephant Nature Park Mission Statement

Being around free elephants was a life-changing experience

The park’s mission statement is one that I fully support. They rescue elephants abused by Thai tourism and illegal logging, as well as from abusive private owners. The park also has an education program in place to educate private elephant owners about elephant wellness and welfare. Rain forest restoration, cultural preservation, and visitor education are three huge accomplishments the park does incredibly well. Read more on the park’s mission statement here. There is absolutely NO riding of the elephants within the park. Elephant riding is a large part of tourism in Thailand and is just as detrimental to elephants as circus performances. Check out my article on why travelers should never ride elephants to learn more.

Home Away from Home

I truly felt at home at Elephant Nature Park. The open landscape and roaming elephants brought calm with them that I had never felt before. The rescued elephants were completely at ease, free, and extremely well cared for. It was incredible being surrounded by others as passionate about wildlife as I am!