Renata KowalskaThe trip up to the Elephant World in Kanchanaburi was an amazing experience. We were lucky enough to be able to see the elephants from a close proximity and also witness their daily routines. The Elephant World is home to elephants that have been retired from the circus or are no longer in demand for performing tricks at shows. They spend the remainder of their days at this sanctuary in Kanchanaburi. We booked our train tickets well in advance, just so we could make the most of our time visiting this particular destination. The trip actually took longer than expected and it was almost dark when we finally arrived there! To get there, you need to travel by train from Bangkok. We had planned on taking one of the taxis available instead but they ended up being much more expensive than getting our train tickets early on and then booking seats later on as well!
If you are wondering what vaccinations you should visit before traveling abroad, read about it on the Vaccines and Travel Medicine page.
What to see at the Elephant World in Kanchanaburi
The main highlight of our day in Kanchanaburi was seeing the elephants. We were lucky enough to be able to see them from a close proximity and also witness their daily routines. The Elephant World in Kanchanaburi is a smaller sanctuary but the elephants there were still very friendly and approachable. They were even curious about our presence and were wagging their trunks at us to see if we were trying to get some food. The elephants are very well looked after and are fed 3 times a day. They live in large well-furnished enclosures with a large pool and plenty of space to move around. The carers are very attentive to their needs and also ensure that every single individual is treated with the same amount of love and attention.
Learn about the Elephant Care and Training Program
The elephant care and training program is a long-term initiative started by the sanctuary. They aim to teach the elephants to associate human beings with good things. To reach this goal, the elephants are offered various delicacies such as jasmine flowers, apple and banana leaves. The elephants also learn to associate people with a certain sound like the whistle of the caretaker or the ringing of bells. The mahouts are very attached to the elephants and care a lot for them. They are taught various tricks to perform such as balancing on thin strings or being able to do somersaults. They also learn to do various dance moves while they are in the presence of their mahouts. The mahouts are allowed to teach the elephants whatever they are good at.
If you are wondering what vaccinations you should visit before traveling abroad, read about it on the Vaccines and Travel Medicine page.
Explore the Sanctuary
Before we went to the elephant sanctuary in Kanchanaburi, we had been told that the best thing to do there is to go for a hike and explore the surrounding environment. The sanctuary is right next to a river and this provides a great opportunity to go for a swim! The sanctuary also has a restaurant and a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs and also books and journals that provide information about the elephants and their care. We were very lucky that the monsoon had just ended and the weather was perfect. The river was not too high so we were able to walk along its banks and also swim in it. The elephant sanctuary was also extremely close by so we could walk to it whenever we wanted.
Before traveling, remember to vaccinate. You will perform them in the travel medicine clinic.
Just one more thing! If you are seriously thinking about travelling you should get your teeth done. Visit a dentist and make sure your teeth is healthy! This means that you won’t have to worry about it when you are enjoying your holiday.
Take a trip to see the mahout training center and meet the mahouts!
The mahout training center is situated just outside the elephant sanctuary in Kanchanaburi. It is a small facility where the elephants are trained to do various tricks that are then put on display at various occasions and occasions. The animals are usually trained from the age of six months to two years. We were unlucky to miss the training session while we were in the area but we were able to meet the mahouts who train the elephants. They were very welcoming and took us on a short tour of the facility. We were very lucky to be able to meet these amazing men and get to know a bit more about their lives. They are extremely dedicated to their work and love what they do. They told us that they do not receive any remuneration or any form of payment for what they do and they are also trained to do this by the sanctuary. They are very proud of the work they do and are happy to share their experiences with us.
Before traveling, remember to vaccinate. You will perform them in the travel medicine clinic.
