Ethical Elephant Experiences

Riding an elephant is one of the most popular tourist activities in Asia. But World Animal Protection’s study in 2017 revealed that more than 75% of nearly 3,000 elephants used for tourist entertainment in Asia are kept in severely cruel conditions.

Where can you ethically visit elephants?

Here are 62 venues in 15 countries where you can enjoy an unforgettable, non-riding experience with well-cared-for elephants and feel good about it!

Country	Experience
CAMBODIA	Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary (Siem Reap) Kulen Elephant Forest (Siem Reap) Mondulkiri Project (Mondulkiri) Elephant Valley Project (Mondulkiri) Mondulkiri Elephant & Wildlife Sanctuary (Mondulkiri) Phnom Tamao Wildlife Center (Takeo)
INDIA	Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation & Care Center (Uttar Pradesh) Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre (Karnataka) Dera Amer Camp (Rajasthan)
INDONESIA	Barumun Nagari Wildlife Sanctuary (North Sumatra)
KENYA	David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (Nairobi) See wild elephants in Amboseli National Park
LAOS	MandaLao Elephant Conservation (Luang Prabang) Elephant Conservation Center (Sayaboury)
MALAYSIA	National Elephant Conservation Centre (Lanchang)
MYANMAR	Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp (Kalaw)
NAMIBIA	Elephant-Human Relations Aid (Erongo)
NEPAL	Tiger Tops Elephant Camp (Kawasoti)
SOUTH AFRICA	Tembe Elephant Park (KwaZulu-Natal) Camp Jabulani (Limpopo)
SRI LANKA	Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (Nugegoda) Elephant Transit Home (Udawalawe) Millennium Elephant Foundation (Kegalle) Elephant Freedom Project (Hiriwadunna) See wild elephants in these National Parks: Kaudulla, Minneriya, Wasgumua, Wilpattu, Somawathiya, and Yala
THAILAND	Elephant Nature Park (Chiang Mai) Save Elephant Foundation’s 19 other affiliated venues (Chiang Mai) Burm & Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary (Chiang Mai) Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary (Chiang Mai) Mahouts Elephant Foundation (Chiang Mai) GVI’s Volunteer With Elephants (Chiang Mai) Elephant Haven (Kanchanaburi) Elephants World (Kanchanaburi) Samui Elephant Sanctuary (Koh Samui) Samui Elephant Haven (Koh Samui) Krabi Elephant Sanctuary (Krabi) Friends of the Asian Elephant Hospital (Lampang) Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary (Pattaya) WFFT’s Thai Elephant Refuge (Petchaburi) Phuket Elephant Sanctuary (Phuket) Tree Tops Elephant Reserve (Phuket) Elephant Hills (Surat Thani) Surin Project (Surin)
UNITED STATES	Performing Animal Welfare Society’s Ark 2000 (California)
VIETNAM	Yok Don National Park (Dak Lak)
ZAMBIA	Game Rangers International’s Orphanage Project (Lusaka)
ZIMBABWE	Wild is Life Trust’s Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery (Harare)