Spend A Day With An Elephant

Spend a day with an elephant and learn about the intelligent giants of Sri Lanka.

SLDT/1702/Ex02

Why should you book this trip?

This is an unforgettable experience with plenty of one-on-one time with what has to be one of the most incredible creatures to inhabit Sri Lanka’s shores.
We, as a responsible tour company, have completely stopped promoting elephant back rides. We do not even promote the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala.
This activity is designed to give an opportunity for an elephant enthusiast to get close to an already domesticated elephant and nurture it whilst learning about the elephant behavior in a domesticated setting.
There are close to 300 domesticated elephants in the country and there is strong lobbying from temples to get more from places like the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
Though capturing wild elephants to domesticate them is not happening in Sri Lanka right now, conservationists strongly believe that even orphan elephants should not be domesticated.
However, questions remain on how to cater to someone who loves elephants and wants to have an interaction with them in a responsible manner.
We at SLDT have designed this programme to fill this gap and what we have created is an “Elephant Spa”.
You will be working in the spa to give these elephants a few hours of pampering, whereas otherwise they will be working and taking tourists on their backs, logging or parading in a procession.

A WALK TO REMEMBER

Arrive at Habarana junction at 8.30 a.m. and meet the SLDT representative. After the welcome and safety briefing, you will be met with elephants and each of their mahouts/handlers.

You can take some time to interact with your own elephant and get to know its personality.

Then we take your friend to the “spa” – a river. Help your mahout scrub and clean your elephant in the river.

The mighty Asian elephant is a living link to Sri Lanka’s vivid history which includes a rich and diverse culture of colourful pageantry. Through the ages, the Sri Lankan elephant has been used in battle, as a working farm labourer and continues to be used in many of the island’s traditional ceremonies.

Smaller than the African elephant, the Asian elephant is the largest land-living animal in Asia. Despite weighing up to 5600kg and reaching up to 9 feet in height, you will feel their gentle strength, their sharp intelligence and personal character on first introduction.

Elephant Energy offers you the unique opportunity to spend time with your own personal elephant and its mahout/handler. You will get up close and personal with your elephant as he bathes happily in the river, and you get the chance to help the mahout in scrubbing and rubbing the elephant’s wrinkly skin and ever-curious trunk. Delight in feeding your new ‘gentle giant’ friend as he devours the fruits and their favorite leaves you offer. This is an unforgettable experience with plenty of one-on-one time with what has to be, one of the most incredible creatures to inhabit Sri Lanka’s shores.

After pampering the elephants, you will say goodbye to your new-found friends – your own personal elephant and mahout – and you will be directed to have your traditional Sri Lankan lunch in a village house.

Spend A Day With An Elephant