Once at the Sanctuary, visitors get the unique opportunity to prepare the natural dietary supplements that the elephants are fed. Tourists each get a bowl, where they get to mix a fixed proportion of banana, sugarcane, corn and cucumber. Once the messy paste is created, the baby elephants come and feed right off your hands.
The elephant feeding, although a bit daunting at first, can be one of the most exciting activities to do in Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Visitors opting for the Morning and Afternoon Visits get to not only prepare the food, but feed the mighty creatures right off their own hands. Apart from these, all visitors carry a share of sugarcane and sugar cubes to feed them as they go about meeting and interacting with them. The Afternoon Visits also has tourists prepare a special medicinal herb and soil preparation, which are then fed to the elephants. For those looking for a short visit rather than a full tour, the elephant sanctuary offers a special ‘Feed Me’ program as well.
Elephants are notorious for loving mud, and those in the Phuket sanctuary are no exception. Watching the elephants roll about in mud can be a joy to witness, but bathing with them can be twice as exciting. Taking place twice each day- once during the Morning Visit, and once in the Afternoon visit- the mud bath sessions allow visitors to join the grand creatures in their mud pools. If you’re down to get dirty, you can wade right in with the herd and help lather them up in a cosmetic mud treatment.
Showering with the elephants can be one of the most fun activities to do in Phuket Elephant Jungle Safari. Having done with the mud bath, the elephants then proceed to a clean pond by the Katha waterfalls. Visitors are allowed to plunge in with the elephants and help wash the mud off their bodies. What ensues is a lot of washing, splashing and fun! Like the mud baths, the shower sessions also take place once during the Morning Visit, and once during the Afternoon visit. There’s also an ‘outdoor shower’ facility where visitors can enjoy a literal shower with the majestic creatures.
As they popularly say: if there are no pictures, it didn’t happen! Of course, the sanctuary tour ends with a photo session, and is one of the most awaited experiences at Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. However, there’s obviously no restrictions on taking photos. Visitors are free to interact with and take pictures with the fantastic creatures as and when they go about meeting them, throughout the tour. Pose well, as you will be cherishing these memories throughout your lifetime!
What are the best activities to do at Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuary?
Visitors seem to take part in all of the activities to do in Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuary; however, the most popular one is the elephant mud baths. Although watching the elephants frolic about in the mud is exciting in itself, taking part in the bath makes it twice as enjoyable.
What should I wear to Elephant Sanctuary Phuket?
Ideally, visitors should wear their most comfortable clothing during the sanctuary visit. Loose, cotton clothes, with shorts or trousers, would be best suited for the visit. Also do make sure to wear your most comfortable pair of walking shoes, as the visits require a fair bit of walking. If you decide to take part in the bathing and showering sessions, make sure to wear your bathing suits, and also carry an extra set of clothes for change.
Do I need to participate in mud or water activities?
While the mud and water activities are included in all of the sanctuary tours, and is also one of the most sought after experiences at Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, those willing to refrain from it will be free to do so. However, do note that these activities will still be kept as a part of the tour, unless one specifically opts for the Feed Me Program.
Which is the most convenient way to reach Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuary?
Since the sanctuary is not collected by public transport, the only way to reach it is by a private or rented car. The Sanctuary is located about a half an hour’s drive northwest to the main Phuket town.
What are the precautions taken in Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuary?