Elephant Camp, Sumatra, Indonesia

5the_alphington_flash 5:00 PM Sep 23, 2014

A place in the heart
The ride from Bukit Lawang was one full of expectation and pot-holes. And what I thought would be a time of joy was really a moment of heart-break followed by a time of wonder and contemplation. I had not expected to have my heart broken on seeing this small herd of elephants enclosed in a small pen awaiting our pleasure. But here they were , here were their mahouts and here were around 20 tourists waiting to give these wonderful beasts a scrub in the river. And here I was lost for words and full of sadness that we have brought these monarchs of the jungle to this. Talking with the mahouts as we made our way to the river and then as the ritual washing took place it was clear to me how much they loved their charges and how important the relationship was. I was told that besides this parade for the tourists that the teams of rider and elephant do regular patrols of the jungle on the lookout for poachers and illegal felling. I was also told that to the best of their knowledge only seven elephants remain roaming the jungle. that means this captive herd is half the population and suddenly the care and attention took on a new light. This small group is responsible for saving the Sumatran Elephant from extinction. Sure they do circus tricks, sure they are captive but as was obvious once we arrived at the river, if they really wanted to leave and strike out on their own again in the jungle they could. Herd instinct though keeps them together. Should you go? Yes it is important. your contribution is helping preserve a vanishing species. Should you wash them? it is up to you though they do seem to like that attention. Should you engage with them? Yes. They are intelligent and gentle and seem to appreciate the interaction. But as with a visit to the wildlife of Bukit Lawang, tell the locals why you have come. Tell them how important their environment, their jungle and their animals are to you. So after you visit, spend some time exploring the surrounds and meeting and engaging with the people who live in the village. Spend some money. Ask questions share experiences. These are a wonderful people. Please don't ride the elephants though it is not a dignified activity for them and by that I mean no disrespect to their mahouts and their families. There is a different dynamic and relationship and set of permissions operating which we as tourists are not a part of.

5Franzi1987 5:00 PM Sep 28, 2014

Amazing Experience
We took a 2 hour ride on bumpy roads from Bukit Lawang to geht to Tangkahan. We booked the washing and riding directly at the ticket office of Tangkahan and when we arrived everything was well organized. First we went to the river with about 8 Elefants and 6 other people to let them take a bath and wash them. It was a great experience being so close to those animals. During the wash you can talk to the guides and ask them about their work, they don't speak the best of english but try their best to explain everything. After the washing you can hand feed the elephants and take pictures with them. Afterwards we went on a 1 hour jungle trek which was also a great experience. The guides only command the elephants by words, if you stay long enough you can also learn to comunicate with the elephants. This was one of the best experiences I ever had, friendly people, amazing animals, a once in a lifetime experience! Do not miss it, it is worth every bump in the road.