Maha Wang Elephant Camp

Superb experience you should never miss in Thailand: bathing with an elephant in Kwai river. Just exhilarating and unforgettable communication and interaction with most gracious giant animals and great local guides!

DO NOT SUPPORT THIS PLACE – ANIMAL ABUSE ! I booked a tour from a man who had a stand outside of the hostel where I was staying. Throughout my stay, I saw several people buying from him, so I trusted he was legitimate. My friend and I told him clearly that we wanted to see and feed elephants not ride them, as we don’t support that kind of treatment. He assured us that the tour involved no riding just feeding, bathing, and observing the elephants in the water. The photos he showed made it seem like a peaceful and ethical experience, where you splash water on the elephants with buckets. Unfortunately, that was far from the reality. As soon as we arrived, we saw people riding elephants, which was exactly what we said we didn’t want. The staff there pressured us to get on the elephants, even though we said we were uncomfortable and didn’t support it. One elephant had visible wounds and scabs on its head, and the handlers were using sticks with sharp hooks to control them. It was heartbreaking. When we asked to get off, the guide got upset, started filming us, and told us we wouldn’t get a refund even if we didn’t participate. The entire experience felt exploitative and dishonest. The elephants at the camp were chained with short metal chains, unable to move freely. They looked exhausted and in pain. I regret supporting this tour at all. These animals are clearly being abused for the entertainment of tourists. Please don’t go here. Don’t support this kind of cruelty.

DONT GO TO THIS PLACE No one went on the any of the elephant, we could see they were clearly mistreated because of this they were trying to charge us for taking pictures. The baby elephant could only walk round in no more than a 2 meter circle, in fact less than that as it was tied to a fence so half that space. Behind the baby section there was a elephant stepping side to side (if it was not right in the head) tied up with the same amount of room as the baby elephant. The men on the back of the elephant hand sticks with metal picks at the end. I understand sticks maybe needed to guide them but I have never been anywhere, when they had metal at the end .