Mahawangchang Elephant Camp, located in the serene Saiyok region of Thailand, is a sanctuary dedicated to the welfare of elephants. Visitors can engage in unforgettable experiences, including elephant feeding, bathing sessions, and guided jungle walks, all set against the stunning backdrop of nature.
Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Saiyok, Mahawangchang Elephant Camp serves as a unique destination for animal lovers and tourists alike. This camp is committed to the ethical treatment and care of elephants, providing a safe haven for these majestic creatures. Guests can immerse themselves in unforgettable interactions, as they learn about the importance of conservation and the gentle giants that inhabit the area. The camp features enriching activities such as feeding and bathing the elephants, allowing visitors to build a special bond with them. Guided tours through the lush surroundings reveal the natural beauty of the region, enhancing your overall experience. With knowledgeable staff on hand to share insights about the elephants’ history and habits, Mahawangchang Elephant Camp provides an educational adventure for all ages. The camp is a true testament to compassionate tourism, focusing on the welfare of elephants while offering a memorable experience for each visitor. Plan your visit to Mahawangchang Elephant Camp in the heart of Thailand and witness the enchanting world of elephants up close.
มหาวังช้าง กาญจนุบรี (เมืองกาญจนบุรี, ไทย) - รีวิว - ThailandAgoda.com
Mahawangchang Elephant Camp is perched on a picturesque hilltop overlooking 198 Moo 6 Wangkajea Saiyok, 71150, Thailand
by sharing this holiday my wife bmiley we had a great expectation of seeing wildlife close up. I was a bit pessimistic at first but enjoyed it immensely. the local food looked adventurous but I stuck with different rice dishes. I bought a statue to warn away bad spirits as a memento. we are going to go back in a few years to see whats changed.
The mistreatment of elephants that are not fed, so that stupid tourists buy food and milk for animals from here. They scoff at elephants with the help of creepy wands.
We were brought here by a company called Yellow Star 88. They have an office in Bangkok with offices off Sukhumvit road. We were looking for ethical elephant sanctuaries and had made it clear that we did not want to ride elephants. The company was offering two options, one was to ride the elephants and one was to bath them. Well, I don’t know why we thought these would be at two different places! It was exactly the same place and same elephants. What made it worse was that we were expected to ride the elephants to the river to bath them. Well, I say bath but this involved the rider and guest remaining on the elephant. On arrival, the elephants would take turns to submerge themselves countless times in response to commands and nudges from the riders. I am sure this is unethical as the elephants are expected to do this several times during the day. We noted that the riders were using small axes and metal hooks for control. It would seem that these were used on the elephants’ heads. A few of them had head scabs and their eyes looked lifeless and sad. The elephants were just going round and round in circles waiting to either dip in the water or be ridden around. This was a distressing experience and really sad to see. We did not see any elephants tied though. The company who arranged this are such a well organised company, I just wish they could use an ethical sanctuary instead of this camp. Please think twice before visiting these elephants.
We had such an incredible day. Truly a once in a lifetime experience. We rode the elephants bareback and then went in the river with them. I’ve gone through the reviews for this place (after the fact as we came here via tour group) and it seems that the facility has been responsive to feedback to a degree. We did not notice any wounds on the animals and they did seems to be somewhat happy. We were not asked to buy food to feed them as they seemed able and happy to eat as we walked (actually very fun to have them eat while we rode)! We were happy they seemed properly fed. There were bamboo sticks with hooks (which we did not like) BUT I only saw them use the soft end of the bamboo stick to encourage the elephant to move. I wasn’t watching the whole time but I did not ever see them use the hook end. Our guide also took lots of video and in the video the sharp end wasn’t used. My recommendation would be to eliminate the hook all together as most tourist feel uneasy about that. The elephants not being ridden were chained which made me sad but they at least had an umbrella. I didn’t feel a concern until we were in the water and we had to stand on the elephant’s head. They seemed distressed about it and my husband and I asked to stop a bit early because we didn’t like the commands and tricks they were making the elephants do.Overall it was an incredible experience. I think this place has come a LONG way with wonderful improvements since some of the earlier reviews. I hope they continue to accept feedback to improve the quality of care for these creatures. OTHER: the shower facilities were nice and clean and everyone was kind and friendly and helpful. We did not stay to watch the elephant show as we did not want to support that in any way.
Did the elephant swimming today and was so much fun. The elephants we had were super playful and seemed to have a good bond with their trainers. They take you right down to the river to swim with your elephants and the elephants go right under the water with you on their backs. They really loved it and seemed very playful. I would highly recommend doing the elephant bath as it’s a lot of fun. Book from your hotel and they will give you Thai price of 500b so you don’t pay the tourist price when you get there. Also don’t forget to give your elephant trainer a tip as they said the elephants eat 20 kg each of food per day.
Unfortunately they abuse the animals here. They use bamboo sticks with hooks on the end to stab the elephant to perform tricks while you’re in the water, like dunk you or blow water out of their trunks. I could hear the poking from the sharp tool they use behind me while I was on the elephant and asked the trainer to please stop, he doesn’t have to do those tricks for me to have a good time. They also separate the mamas and the babies, and chain them up. There was a baby clearly distressed in a small pen and they charged money for you to feed it milk. It should be with its mom. I really regret giving my money to this place. I’m a huge animal lover and it’s important to me that the animals are treated well. If you feel the same way, please avoid this place.
We did not book to go to an elephant camp/ sanctuary but whilst on an arranged tour for a waterfall and death railway we were taken to this elephant camp as the waterfall had no water and we were on a “joint trip” with other tours who had booked “elephant activities”.Please do not go here. The elephants are not treated well and I saw multiple chained with metal chains tight to their ankles with about one meter to move. The elephants were very distressed. I did not ride or take part in any activities but the elephants I saw with seats on their backs going to be ridden looked very sad and not well looked after. This was an awful experience.
The elephants are kept on short chains with very little shade and no access to greenery. We saw a baby elephant alone in a pen in the sun on a chain less than a metre long. It was trying to move away but couldn’t. Someone I was with rode an elephant and said they felt very uncomfortable and disgusted by the experience.
This is abuse against the animals….all of them are kept on chains and not allowed to move freely. It’s all about the money from tourists for a short ride. It is a sad experiance.
This was horrible! Was promised we’d go to an ethical sanctuary on our tour, the elephants were treated so badly. It made me cry. Everyone in our group refused to go and get off the bus. Please do not go here!