Those close to me know I have a particular passion for creatures. Every opportunity to encounter an animal up close and personally enriches my experience. The PRIMARY motivation for including Chiang Mai in our itinerary was my desire to work at an elephant sanctuary and observe the tigers. I'd invested considerable time exploring different animal welfare organisations to locate one that genuinely cared for its residents and wouldn't leave me financially stretched. Following my thorough investigation, we jointly determined that Ran-Tong Elephant Sanctuary would prove ideal for our needs.
Ran-Tong Elephant Sanctuary provides an assortment of programmes from a half day up to week-long volunteer experiences. Since we were only visiting Chiang Mai briefly, we selected the half day programme. We were collected punctually from our accommodation, Welcome More, at 7:15 am and then collected the other participants who'd booked the half day programme.
When you arrive, you're provided with fresh clothes to slip into since you'll end up soaked and covered in mud. Not long after getting changed, I experienced absolute delight and excitement. We began by preparing treats for the young elephants. This involved handing an accident-prone person (yours truly) a rather intimidating large blade to slice sugar cane into quarters. Helpful suggestion: gather as many small sugar treats as possible. You'll get extra close-up moments with the elephants as a result.
 |
| Now that's a proper knife. |
We then made our way along a narrow trail towards where the mother and young elephants were roaming. Since the elephants aren't tethered or tied up, they approach you whenever they're at ease or spot their caretakers. Each elephant has one dedicated Mahout, spending nearly round-the-clock time with them. You could observe the deep trust the elephants placed in their Mahout and the remarkable connection between them.
This was my opportunity to have a close and intimate meeting with the elephants. It was evident how intelligent these creatures truly are. They swiftly discovered where the sugar treats were stored. Some would sneak around behind you and attempt to grab a snack. That's when I unexpectedly received a kiss from one of the young elephants. I reckon the expression on my face perfectly captured my exact emotions at that moment. It was amongst the most extraordinary encounters of my life.
 |
| The unbreakable bond. |
 |
| Playful nuzzles. |
 |
| Spotless and squeaky clean! |
 |
| Mother and calf connecting. |
 |
| Elephant cuddles |
Have you ever worked as a volunteer at Ran-Tong Elephant Sanctuary or another wildlife refuge in Northern Thailand? Tell us about your experience by leaving a comment below!
Until we meet again...
Keep Exploring!
Stay connected and don't miss out—follow us on social media:
