Elephant is a kind of lovely and rare animal in the world. For those people who like elephants, it will leave them an unforgettable memory if they can get close contact with elephants during their travels. In Thailand, you will have many choices to see elephants, but it will be much more amazing to see wild elephants on an Elephant Tour in Thailand. But actually, are there wild elephants in Thailand? Of course, yes! And now, we will tell you where to see wild elephants in Thailand.
1. Surin
Surin is located in the eastern part of Thailand, and it is a famous hometown of elephants and also the best place to see wild elephants in Thailand. There is the Surin Project. Here you can get in deep touch with elephants, feed them, and play games with them. After mahouts join the project, they have a fixed salary to maintain their lives, so they do not need to train elephants to participate in various activities, which will cause damage to elephants' health.
2. Kui Buri National Park
Kui Buri National Park was established in 1999. It is situated in the Tenasserim Hills in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. It is estimated that approximately 100 individuals and around 320 elephants reside in Kui Buri National Park. There are also many kinds of wild mammals, such as gaurs, golden jackals, leopards, deer, bantengs, and langurs.
3. Khao Yai National Park
Khao Yai National Park is the second largest national park in Thailand, located more than 200 kilometers from Bangkok. The National Park was built in 1962 and covers an area of 2168 square kilometers. The park has 67 species of mammals, including tigers, jackals, gibbons, cynomolgus macaques, Asian elephants, sambar, and muntjac etc.
4. Khao Sok
Khao Sok National Park may be the most famous national park in southern Thailand. And it is located in the mainland between Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak, and Koh Samui. It was declared to be a national park on 22nd December 1980. You will enjoy the elephant experience and elephant trekking here.
5. Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries
This wildlife sanctuary is located near the Thai and Burmese border in western Thailand, and it covers an area of 320000 hectares. It is the largest nature reserve in Thailand. It was built on April 24, 1974. And it was included in the world cultural heritage by UNESCO in 1991.
6. Kaeng Krachan National Park
Kaeng Krachan National Park is an important wildlife sanctuary in Thailand, with more than 400 species of birds and 57 species of mammals, which include Indian buffalo, elephant, sambar, Malay tapir, leaf monkey, and gibbon etc. It is closer to the important tourist city, Huaxin.
7. Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand
The aim of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) is to rescue, rehabilitate, and care for wildlife. And the elephant is its important rescued object. Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand can provide an ecological and caring living residence for the piteous elephant.
8. Elephant Valley Thailand
Elephant Valley Thailand was set up by Manager Jack, an English gentleman. Unlike most elephant parks in Thailand, we follow the guide's footsteps in the forest to observe the elephants at a distance. The guide will introduce us to the characteristics and names of each elephant in English.
9. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is far away, 60km from the city of Chiang Mai, which is located in Northern Thailand. And this sanctuary was founded in July 2014. It is not allowed for people to ride elephants, because riding elephants for a long time is bad for elephants' health.
10. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
The sanctuary is situated on the island of Phuket in Southern Thailand. The staff of Phuket Elephant Sanctuary are trying their best to rescue and take care of elephants. They treat elephants as their friends and family members.
Read more: Elephant Tours in Thailand