Mallika Dureja
Elephant Safari Park Bali was established in 1997 and is located in the misty hinterlands of Ubud, a response to the plight of the native elephant population in Sumatra, where deforestation and poaching eradicated their population. This park houses 27 critically endangered Sumatran elephants, six of which were born in this elephant rescue center. While giving guests the chance to learn and interact with these gentle giants, the park offers a comfortable and safe habitat for the large herd.
The park has been carefully landscaped within its four hectares to mimic the native Sumatra habitat for the elephants. This chosen location in central Bali was also selected due to its cooler climate and lush vegetation that aids in keeping the elephants comfy and cool in such a serene setting.
Elephant Safari park adheres to the ‘5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare’, freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, injury or discomfort; freedom to discuss; and freedom from distress and fear. There is no use of harsh or cruel methods of training here, as all training is based upon patience, reward and repetition.
There are 27 Sumatran elephants residing within the beautiful botanical gardens of this resort surrounded by mountains and rainforests. A mammoth skeleton over 15,000 years old is also found in the park, making it one of the rarest sights in Southeast Asia. A comprehensive museum houses over 1000 exhibits in the park. Additionally, the museum has an information center that provides displays and a short graphic history of elephants in addition to a spa and an extensive collection of elephant-related items.
Highlights
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Experience the sounds of nature, eat a delicious fruit breakfast, and then interact with Bali’s largest herd of 27 Sumatran elephants during various activities.
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Enjoy watching the resident giants plunging into the park lake between rides, painting, or other activities
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Enjoy observing, hand feeding, petting, and taking photos of the elephants while learning more about them
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Take part in one of elephant’s favorite daily rituals by taking part in barefoot washing, bathing, and riding in their bathing lake
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While enjoying a full breakfast buffet in the Park Restaurant, view the elephants soaking up the morning sun and drying off
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Watch the elephants display their inborn intelligence as they partake in small tricks like swinging hula hoops, painting, shooting a basket, and kicking a soccer ball
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Take a scenic and informative elephant ride through the Taro jungle and the park to experience the wild side
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Enjoy an evening safari ride in the dimly lit forest before enjoying a gourmet buffet dinner, and conclude the evening with an Elephant Education Show
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Browse the Park’s gift shop and purchase a variety of elephant-related items such as carvings, paintings, jewelry, and clothing.
Points Of Interest
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Elephant Feeding and Bathing
One of the best things to do at the park is to feed the elephants. They appear to like the attention, so feel free to pet and cuddle them. Get the special opportunity to bathe the elephants and ride them bareback as they splash around in their bathing water. The most delightful part of the process is actually wetting the elephants down and cleaning the mud off of their skin, which resembles leather.
You can take pictures with the elephants while you’re feeding or bathing them. The elephants at this park can be given palm stems as a regular gift or a basket of fresh fruit as a special treat.
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Check out the Elephant Museum
At the entrance of Bali’s Elephant Safari Park is a sizable museum with a cast facsimile of a massive mammoth skeleton among other intriguing artifacts. The display is more akin to a miniature museum, yet it nevertheless contains a wide variety of fascinating antiques of the highest caliber. Balinese Kris daggers and antique tusk carvings from various Indonesian islands are on show, among other things.
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Indulge in Photoshoots
The most extravagant option is to do a private photo shoot with a Sumatran elephant with large tusks. Featuring the most photogenic and spectacular elephant in the jungle without any chains or safety fences in the way, this is one of the highlights of a visit to the park
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Watch the Elephant Talent Show
An exclusive talent show that takes place every day involves three elephants entertaining you in an arena. Even though this show is very brief (15 minutes), it is nevertheless an excellent way to learn about the natural behavior of the largest land mammal in the world. Also, it is a means of demonstrating the elephants’ inherited intelligence. A good example of this is when they perform small tricks, such as kicking soccer balls, shooting basketballs, swinging hula hoops, and even painting.
