I have always been a city girl, most comfortable running around the streets of a crowded metropolis. When in Thailand though, I felt the desire to wander into less certain territory, to explore the less urban Asia and venture into a more exotic environment. London’s most exciting animal sighting is the occasional cheeky fox rustling in the rubbish, whereas Thailand’s wild rainforest is home to snakes, monkeys, bears and the biggest animal of all, the Asian elephant.
It is easy to get mixed up in cruel circus rides and elephant focused tourist traps in Thailand; Elephant Hills is not like that, they offer nature tours and luxury camping experiences with elephants who are nurtured in conditions similar to their natural habitat. Various packages are available, we enjoyed a magical and memorable 3 days and 2 nights, sleeping in the rainforest and on a lake, meeting incredible wildlife whilst appreciating a staggeringly beautiful backdrop of natural landscape. In short, I couldn’t be further away from my busy, cramped London life.
Picked up from our hotel early on Day 1, we had little idea of what to expect. The ‘essentials packing list’ indicated a basic itinerary… mosquito interaction and substantial walking seemed inevitable. Food, towels and water are all provided when you reach the camp. After a sleepy two hour drive we arrived at our destination: the deepest, darkest depths of Khao Sok National Park. The camp surpassed all my expectations, a clean and charming shelter where food is served and activities enjoyed, free wifi is accessible and a bar serves wine and beer. Boards display the array of species that you might be lucky enough to sight. There is a swimming pool for cooling off in free time. Our tent was spacious and breezy, despite the suffocating humidity outside. There was a toilet and a private shower with running water and even a set of complimentary toiletries to use. After a wholesome lunch of noodles, vegetables, curry and fruit, we were off to meet the elephants.
I have only glimpsed elephants from afar at the zoo when I was a child, they seemed smaller and less playful then. At Elephant Hills the great animals are paired with a mahouk each, a trained man who virtually lives with their animal, and speaks a special language to communicate with the creature. Seeing the elephants for the first time I was taken aback by their size, their huge legs and a long squirming trunk. I cowered as the rest of the group timidly greeted these new friends.
Elephants are considered holy animals in Thailand, worshipped throughout the country. At Elephant Hills the animals are respected and adored, visitors help with their daily routine rather than exploiting them. We washed and scrubbed a grubby elephant, much to its delight, then learnt to slice and dice the sugarcane, bananas and pineapples to offer to the greedy trunks. It was soon possible to identify what food each elephant favoured, as they would either guzzle or reject the item immediately… mine was particularly fussy! Meeting baby Haha and mother was a particular highlight, especially watching the interactions between the two elephants. Haha climbed up the fence eager to say hello and sniff out the new visitors.
That evening, after a brief Pad Thai cooking demonstration and a big meal, the camp groups sat down together to watch local school kids in a performance of traditional Thai dance. It was incredibly moving watching these five little girls in brightly coloured dresses and sashes dancing so beautifully, smiling excitedly throughout. Next morning we were off to Cheow Larn Lake, a mesmerising landscape. Here ten luxury tents with en-suite bathrooms are situated in the very centre of the lake, an intimate base for guests to use whilst exploring the tropical rainforest. Powered by both solar and wind energy and using unique waste management systems, Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp is designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. A three hour trek was a memorable experience, especially the dark and treacherous cave where we encountered spiders, bats and snakes!
The next morning we woke to the sound of monkey calls and bird conversations, it was unlike anything else I have ever known. The sun rose over the lush green canopy. For our final morning we went out in canoes to spot apes. After some frustrating, partial sightings the previous day, I was desperate to see properly these clever animals in their natural habitat. Our guides soon sourced the sounds of a known family of gibbons and within a few minutes we had spotted the rustling leaves and the long elastic limbs swinging from branch to branch. I could have watched for hours. On the way back home I fell asleep in the boat, exhausted and overwhelmed from the trip.
This company is extremely well organised, with friendly and well informed guides, great facilties and wholesome food. The activities ensure every guest has an extraordinary experience. It is lovely to enjoy the beaches and buddhas of Thailand but if you are interested in something spectacular and special, book an adventure with Elephant Hills, I promise it will be the highlight of your trip.
More information and book a trip to Elephant Hills here: www.elephant-hills.com/rainforest_camp.php
