One of the highlights of our trip in Thailand was spending the day with elephants in the Baan Chang Elephant Park in Chiang Mai. Being so close to these huge animals was absolutely amazing!
In this post, you will find everything you need to know for a visit to the Baan Chang Elephant Park in Chiang Mai.
Baan Chang Elephant Park
Programs
Our experience
After a quick orientation to the park, and changing into our uniform for the day we were ready for the first activity; feeding the elephants. Elephants spend about 18 hours eating each day, so we were there to provide them with their daily dose of treats in the form of sugarcane, sticky rice balls, and bananas.
The elephants were waiting in an open space and some of them were separated from the rest, mostly because they are traumatized and are not very social in groups. They reached out their enormous trunks as we passed. Some elephants were pickier than others, preferring sugarcane over bananas or refusing to eat green bananas.
The real challenge was holding onto the food long enough to approach the elephants. It took some time to get used to the elephants snatching the food from our hands with their trunks.
Once we were more familiar and comfortable with these majestic creatures, it was time for lunch. There was plenty of rice, fried prawns, spring rolls, and chicken curry.
After lunch, it was time to spend more time with the elephants.
Bath time was our favorite part. The elephants were dirty, and so were we after a day spent feeding and walking with them. Everyone got a brush and a bucket to wash the elephants by the watering hole. It was amazing to see them rolling in the water, colling off from the day’s heat.
We had a great time at this elephant park. What’s most important is that the park treats the elephants respectfully. There were no chains, no riding and no hooks.
