Mondulkiri Elephant & Wildlife Sanctuary

Location :

• Giacomo Dusina

  26 January 2018

  The best place in Sen Monorum to have a real experience with elephants and learn about local culture

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• Sokha Sophan

  16 September 2017

  Good place to see to Elephan free roaming for a day or overnight really Nice recommend you have to say it

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• Emma

  14 July 2017

  Great experience! We did the one day trip to the sanctuary. We started with trekking in a wonderful place surrounded by nature. We almost had no rain. After that we met the elephants but not all at the same time and gave them some suger cane. We got a delicious khmer lunch. In the afternoon we washed two elephants in the river.
  It was a wonderful day but put on some long socks because there are leashes in the forest. You also have to bear your water (giver with the tour) and a suger cane.

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• Sovolak Laing

  11 July 2017

  Greet organization for helpful to conservation elephants other animal and community Bonung people .

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• Ricarda Peter Reiseblog Ricardachaos

  14 February 2017

  One evening before my day in the wild would start, I heard rumors on the street saying, these elephants in this "sanctuary" aren't as free as people from the tour office advertise. They also said, they are still used as work elephants and they are just rented out for the time to show them to the tourist groups.
  The tour started very well. We got dropped off on the side of the road and we started walking across grass fields and over hills with our tour guide Tom. He explained some very interesting facts about the local flora and fauna. We kept hiking and exploring plants until midday. We haven't seen a single animal, not an elephant nor other animals, so far.
  Right before we finally "found" one elephant, Tom shouted out loud, "I found the elephant!". It was before he was actually able to see the large animal. Except Tom is one of the fortunate people who is able to look around corners. He only saw the guy who was leading the elephant with a large wooden pole in his hand sitting on a rock beside the track. We were actually able to see the elephant when we continued about 20 meters further around the previously mentioned corner. We didn't find the elephant there in the woods by accident. The animal was lead there by his leader.
  We were allowed to feed bananas to the elephant. That was our only close up interaction with this elephant for the whole day after all. The elephant wasn't allowed to get too close to us. Because it is dangerous, they told us. To keep space between us and the giant, the elephant leader shouted out very loud and rude sounding commands and threatened the animal with the pole he carried in his hands and if this wasn't enough he grabbed the elephant very hard by the ear and pulled it backwards.
  Somebody of our group asked about the other elephants in the sanctuary. Because the office in town advertises the sanctuary with about 5 elephants. Tom answered, that they were on a wedding.
  I went through many reviews from the past written by people who participated in a tour like ours and they always reported about 1 or 2 elephants they have seen on the whole tour. And there is always somebody with the elephant, leading it. They carry a wooden pole to threaten the elephant, to hit it with it.
  The next point on our one day adventure was going back to the camp. That meant, we went ahead and the elephant with the elephant leader followed us. Of course, loudly shouted commands and threats towards the elephant.
  After lunch and our group was done swimming. We were supposed to give the elephant a bath. The elephant couldn't or didn't want to go in the water. The elephant leader yelled at him. He forced him down a big, steep step into the water. The elephant screamed while sliding downhill into the water. Almost fell over and screamed even louder. It was horrible to even look at.
  When the elephant was in its weakest position, almost falling over, the elephant leader jumped on its back and lead him into deeper water. He forced him to go down and take a bath, always threatening with the wooden pole in his hand.
  They tell us, that elephants love taking a bath. But this elephant didn't like a bath in this moment. And that’s the whole point of being free. To take a bath when the elephant wants to take a bath. Not when we force the elephant to do it.
  But at this point, I don't want to miss out to tell you about the monkey which lives in the camp.
  There was a dog carrier where they locked him up while no visitors were around. I saw one of the residents of the village kicking the monkey in the face. Another resident shot him with a airgun while we were right there.
  Our 1 day adventure was 40 US-Dollars. For a two day trip you pay even more and for a whole week volunteering way more. While you are paying being a volunteer you cook for the 1 and 2 day groups. Means, you pay to work there to accommodate the other paying groups.

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• Ryatt L

  28 December 2016

  I had an amazing volunteering experience at this elephant sanctuary in Mondulkiri in October (I actually spent my birthday there).
  
  I am very thankful that I found out about Mondulkiri Elephant &Wildlife Sanctuary because this was such a meaningful experience for me, especially getting up close with such gentle and heart-warming creatures.
  
  Another goal has been ticked off my list. My elephant volunteering with Mondulkiri Elephant & Wildlife Sanctuary is definitely one of the best adventures I have ever had. As I am writing this, I am starting to miss the experience, the people I lived with and the friendships I made through my volunteering journey. I will absolutely be back and hope to see the same team or even more team members and of course, the gentle giants.

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• Albert Andreu I Koning

  27 August 2016

  Realment impressionant, una experiència molt recomanable. Cal destacar el respecte als elefants i a la natura. Els mahoud (cuidadors) i la guia Heng, excel·lents.

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• Honey Ounka

  15 August 2016

  Mondlukiri

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