After researching elephant sanctuaries we were not disappointed . The care and environment they... read more
After researching elephant sanctuaries we were not disappointed . The care and environment they... read more
Fantastic half day experience. Our guide, Rif, was so knowledgeable and friendly and spoke... read more
I spent one week volunteering at Samui Elephant Haven. It was an incredible and lifelong memorable experience.
First off communication was very good from the time I started planning my visit. I’d originally planned to split my time with another sanctuary near Sukhothai but those plans fell through last minute. I was scrambling to adjust and Samui Elephant Haven was wonderful with allowing me to adjust the dates of my stay and extend my time. It ended up being the best thing to happen as I loved having a whole week there getting to know the staff and the elephants better.
The local hotel I was put up during my stay was a large room, very clean, nice hot shower, Wi-Fi and air conditioning and a small refrigerator. It was about a 5 min ride to the sanctuary, I was picked up and dropped off each day.
They offer single day volunteers as well. Most people I saw do the half day tours, which are also a good experience. Several of the staff speak very good English, including the tour guides.
There are 14 elephants being cared for by them. Two are 2-3 year old babies who were born to mothers who were already pregnant when they were rescued. I especially loved the two babies and the old grandmas but all the elephants are interesting.
I spent the days assisting the staff preparing food for the elephants, helping make elephant cakes, I helped with various other tasks. I got to help feed the grandma elephants their supplemental feedings every day.
Maew the founder and his staff genuinely care for the well being of the elephants at the sanctuary. This is an ethical sanctuary which does not allow elephant rides or bathing with elephants or force them to perform tricks. It’s wonderful seeing many previously abused elephants coming from such areas now living happy lives.
I highly recommend visiting even if you are only able to just do a half day tour but if you want a truly special experience I’d very much recommend the volunteer program. I was sad to leave and I hope I can return some time in the future again to volunteer again!
Please go there !!!!!!
One of the best experiences of our trip.
These people use their money to buy elephants from captivity and give them a good life.
The best spent money of the holiday.
We will 100% come back again.
Thank you so much for the work you are doing.
We read about the various elephant sanctuaries on Koh Samui but chose Elephant Haven because they had the most elephants to interact with.... (14 at the current time including 2 new babies). They have morning or afternoon tours and we chose morning. Their private shuttle picked us up at our hotel and when we arrived, it was just my wife and two other toursists on the tour. We had a knowledgable guide who spent the morning with us teaching us all about the sanctuary and its purpose, the elephants, their behaviors, eating habits, etc. We made the elephants morning meal and fed elephants throughout the morning, as well as walking with them around the sanctuary. Our time with them was the highlight of our trip to Koh Samui. These elephant sanctuaries are doing very important work of saving elephants from servitude and abuse. The money they collect from the tours goes to feeding and caring for these incredible animals. When in Thailand, please don't ride elephants or go to elephant shows. Those animals are poorly treated and suffer greatly over time in those circumstances suffering trauma and physical and emotional abuse.
Thank you so much for visiting us, and for taking the time to write this wonderful review. We’re glad you had such a great time and hope to see you again!
Without doubt this is the best ethical rescue on Koh Samui. The owner Maew has a heart of gold & truly cares for his elephants in the best way possible. From the point of arrival you are lad through how the rescue was started & which elephants have long lasting damage from the cruelty they have endured. You then get to feed the elephants bananas & pumpkin, make some rice balls to feed to the elderly elephants that no longer have teeth although all the elephants enjoy them. The walk through the rescue is amazing, you can get so close to most of the elephants although there are restrictions, young & mature males have to be kept away from the public, they are very strong & unpredictable but you can still feed the youngest male, Haven but he will try to grab your legs with his trunk! The most amazing thing is the stand beside Sudarat, she is the calmest elephant & appreciates the bananas given to her. Finally you get a light snack & you can buy some goodies to take home. 10/10
Thank you so much for visiting us, and for taking the time to write this wonderful review. We’re glad you had such a great time and hope to see you again!
Feed the elefants! Specially Luna.
Great job keeping the elefants safe and healthy. The experience was very pleasant.
Amazing experience!! They take such good care of the animals. Was so fun to feed them and walk among them! Definitely would recommend this experience