One of the best days I’ve ever had on my travels was when I got to spend the day with elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Being able to interact with these beautiful creatures in their natural environment, while learning about their daily habits seemed like a bucket list item not to be left unchecked. So when the meeting presented itself in Chiang Mai, I had to jump at the opportunity.
I had heard to be careful when choosing an elephant farm in Thailand because some of them mistreat their animals, so I did my research and wanted to make sure that I chose a reputable farm. Patara Elephant Farm was highly recommended as they focus on the conservation and well being of the elephants. They also educate their visitors on all aspects of the elephant’s life, including their safety and survival. Patara offers an “Elephant Caregiver for a Day” program which is truly an amazing experience that I highly recommend. During the day, you’ll learn how to interact with the elephants while learning about their temperament, how to feed and check their health, how to bath and clean them, how to communicate through spoken commands, and even how to safely ride on their neck. The program is so well put together and the purpose is to create a trusting relationship between you and your elephant.
The day starts with a pickup from your hotel. After about a 40 minute van ride, you’ll arrive at Patara. Deep in the Thai jungle, it’s the perfect place for elephants to live and play. After a quick introduction, you’ll be paired with an elephant to get to know. Addressing him or her by name, your trainer will teach you basic commands to communicate with the animal. You’ll learn words like “Ma” which calls your elephant to you and “Bon” which tells them to lift their trunk so you can feed them.
Your first interaction with the elephants will be feeding them and learning about their feelings. The best way to know when an elephant is happy is when they flap their ears. Bananas and sugar cane are something that they really love and you’ll see just how much once those ears start flapping. Feeding them is a great way to bond with the animal and get them comfortable with you.
Next, you will learn all about their health and how to clean them. Elephants will often grab dirt or mud with their trunk and then throw it on their head and back. They do this because it provides a natural form of protection from the sun. Once you brush off the dirt, they will be ready to ride.
Despite what is often said, riding elephants does not hurt the animal. If you think about it, these animals are much stronger than horses and just like horses, they have been ridden by people for hundreds of years. At Patara, you ride on the elephants neck bareback, which is much better for the animal than with a wooden circus-style seat. Once mounted, you’ll enjoy a leisurely ride through the jungle on one of earth’s largest land animals.
The ride finishes at a small lake with a waterfall. This is where you will learn to bathe the elephant and scrub them clean. Definitely one of the highlights of the day, the elephants love the water and will even spray you which adds to the fun.
I definitely recommend Patara Elephant Farm to anyone traveling in the Chiang Mai area. It really teaches you a lot about the elephants and the importance of their conservation. A bucket list item that will surely never be forgotten!
Many thanks to Patara Elephant Farm for this amazing experience. It was an unforgettable day and so much fun! All opinions, as always, are my own.
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