Family Visit: Day Visit to Elephant Nature Park
Picked up around 8am, we will pick you up directly at your hotel (indicated at the time of booking) Time to go around the hotels of the other customers plus others who arrived directly from the station and we left for the park around Mae Taeng, an hour north of Chiang Mai.
The first thing you see when you arrive is the food reserve, here enough to feed the elephants for 2 days.
Overview of part of the park.
The day starts after a briefing on an elephant feeding session.
Snack.
The park also serves as a shelter for dogs.
After the elephants it will be our turn to eat.
This one is in bad shape…
Let's eat
Lots of choice, this is a well-stocked plate.
Now it's time for a bath.
There's one who seems to be happy about it.
The park is clearly popular because there were a lot of people (which is a shame, I would have preferred it to be a little more "intimate" but so much the better for the park which obviously needs funds to maintain all these people)
It's a bit like the "Songkran" of elephants.
Hmm… bon appétit, we had indeed been told that dogs like fresh elephant poop (only).
After a while it's not just the elephants who get sprayed.
Myself in action.
A latecomer.
Now that's some posing!
These people will go into exile for a little while.
Calm has returned.
We return to the observation post.
Construction of “scrapers”.
Solo bath.
The continuation of this day at the Elephant Nature Park.
Another group of elephants is going to take a bath, considered more unpredictable they prefer to avoid us approaching them.
The little one is having fun.
For those who want it, a little session of “kissing” with the trunk.
Under the amused eye of the mahouts, mahouts who are people from ethnic minorities in the North of Thailand.
And here is the famous instigator and happy owner of this park, Lek. We feel a deep love for her elephants.
Hello?
The bond between her and her elephants is very strong.
My mother congratulating Lek for his dedication and work.
Dogs also have a great time here.
A male remains isolated at the bottom.
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Short break.
In a room we are then treated to a video of about 45 minutes which shows the begging elephants of Bangkok and then the way in which the elephants are trained in the villages, terrible images, I did not think that the training was of such violence, cruelty...
Lek also enjoys photography (most of the photos you can see in the center are taken by her).
Some more food.
Dog VS cat.
Now it's time to go home!
In the middle of April, the Christmas tree is still there...
At the Night Bazaar.
Ikko
Your photos are super beautiful.
I'm going to Thailand for 3 weeks at the end of November. I plan to spend 2 days at the Elephant Nature Park. Did you enjoy your experience there? Can you quickly describe the program for the 2 days?
Thank you very much.
Roman
Thank you very much! I actually liked the experience there, there were quite a few people but it's a lesser evil. I didn't do the 2 days, I only did one day but you can check out their program on their website (Elephant nature park)
Patrice
Hello Romain,
I don't know if you'll see my comment, it's January 2017 and I'm finalizing the preparations for our trip to Thailand that will take place next March. We're going as a family for 2 whole weeks and I wanted to tell you that your site inspired me a lot during the steps taken. Your comments, your tips, your photos... in short, everything is super practical. Thank you for this time spent making us dream, helping us in our preparations or even if it's just making us travel in our thoughts.
Patrice
-from Quebec-
Roman
Hello,
Of course I'll see your comment, and even reply to it! My blog is still very much active 😉 And I thank you for your message, which always pushes me to continue!
Eva
Hello Romain,
We wanted to know if you were there as a volunteer or if you were there as a visitor?
Thanks a lot for your answer,
Eva and Florent
Roman
Hello,
I was there as a visitor 😉 (sorry for the response time, normally much shorter…)