Where to See Elephants in Cambodia?
Seeing elephants in Cambodia requires choosing the right sanctuary. Between refuges, Bunong community projects, and guided excursions, Mondulkiri province offers the most credible options.
26 Oct. 2023 – Cambodia's elephants are becoming increasingly rare. To observe them, it's essential to visit a reputable elephant sanctuary or serious community project. Not sure which to choose? Follow us to Mondulkiri province! We'll tell you everything about the refuges – and why elephant rides should be avoided…
Where to See Elephants in Cambodia?
Sparsely populated, Mondulkiri province (in northeastern Cambodge) is home to most of the country's elephants. Once, numerous pachyderms roamed these lands, where they were used by the Bunong community in agricultural and forestry activities…
Over the decades, elephants became less essential and gradually disappeared from Mondulkiri. Nevertheless, this region still hosts the highest concentration today – particularly around the town of Sen Monorom.
| How many elephants are left in Cambodia? The elephant holds significant cultural importance in Khmer (Cambodian) culture. Yet, the country now has fewer than 400 wild specimens as of 2023… Choosing a sanctuary or refuge carefully is therefore essential if you wish to see elephants during your trip. |
|---|
What are the Mondulkiri sanctuaries where you can see elephants?
Elephant Valley Project Sanctuary
Elephant Valley Project (EVP) is Cambodia's first elephant sanctuary. Since 2006, it has undertaken numerous initiatives and helped shift attitudes toward elephant exploitation.
On its 1,500 hectares of land, the facility houses 11 elephants (as of 2023). The EVP offers jungle excursions to observe elephant herds without touching or feeding them – allowing them to behave naturally!
Mondulkiri Project Sanctuary
The Mondulkiri Project, according to its founder, is "a sanctuary that organizes elephant rides and jungle treks. It is also a registered Cambodian NGO" – Cambodia Elephant Rescue.
Their excursions allow you to feed and bathe elephants, or walk with them in nature. Revenue collected supports protecting forest areas for the sanctuary's elephants, as well as improving the local population's quality of life (job creation, medicine purchases, etc.).
Mondulkiri Eco Tour Community Project
As Mondulkiri province attracts increasing tourism and develops, the Mondulkiri Eco Tour circuit was created to stimulate the local economy by creating employment for the indigenous Bunong community.
Through its initiatives, this project works to preserve forests, allows observation of elephants in nature, and offers opportunities to feed them or bathe with them (to wash them)…
| Why shouldn't you ride on an elephant's back? While amusing and unusual, elephant rides are a local attraction… to be avoided! These mammals are wild animals not meant to carry dozens of people and hundreds of kilos daily. Some mahouts don't hesitate to work their animals relentlessly (even mistreating them to secure cooperation) to entertain tourists and maximize earnings. Thus, even if travelers don't directly participate in abuse, they contribute to it… This is why you shouldn't ride on elephants' backs! |
|---|
What's the difference between a sanctuary and a community elephant project?
Sanctuaries and community projects are two types of facilities working to protect and ensure elephant welfare. However, they have several key differences:
1. Refuge Management
The main distinction is that sanctuaries (state-validated) are managed by NGOs (non-governmental organizations), while most community projects are private structures where animals are owned by individuals or villagers.
2. Actions
Sanctuaries are primarily refuges where elephants (often rescued from abuse or exploitation situations) are cared for by professionals. Animals receive treatment and rehabilitation in their natural habitat. Elephant-dedicated excursions are highly respectful and supervised.
Community projects are structures where elephant protection is linked to local economic priorities. Excursions typically offer more animal contact than sanctuaries – such as supervised walks or bathing with elephants.
3. Price
Community projects are less expensive than Mondulkiri elephant sanctuaries and therefore more accessible if you're on a tight budget.
For a day of observation in a community project, expect around €40/person (versus €95 in a sanctuary).
Two-day excursions are also possible. In this case, sanctuaries are quite costly, around €140-150/person (including a bungalow night), compared to approximately €55 via a community project.
| Key Takeaway The most natural way to observe elephants is to choose an excursion with minimal animal interaction (though this is also the priciest option)! Facilities dedicated to elephant protection but offering interactive activities shouldn't be avoided: they're far removed from unscrupulous mahouts offering elephant rides at the foot of every tourist attraction… |
|---|
Audrey Denjean
Audrey DENJEANWeb SEO writer, Audrey Denjean puts her writing in service of English-speaking travelers. Through her blog articles, she explores what makes a country's soul – its iconic sites, cuisine, traditions, history… Her goal? To convey far more than tourist information, but to describe an atmosphere, share anecdotes that show why each destination is unique and inspire, after each read, a desire to explore the world.
