by Sandra Goodwin

Created on: March 24, 2009   Last Updated: March 27, 2009

Most people don't consider hard work a vacation but my 73 year old mother in law and I just spent the most amazing two weeks of our lives volunteering at The Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand. The Elephant Nature Park was started in 1995 by an inspiring Thai woman, Lek Chailert, to provide a place of rest and rescue for Thailand's working elephants. She began with two ex working elephants she purchased herself and a small parcel of leased land. Through the caring generosity of people from around the world ENP <Elephant Nature Park> now owns a large parcel of land in the Mae Taeng Valley and is home to 38 elephants of various ages and condition. Each elephant has their own mahout who stays with them throughout the day keeping visitors safe and practicing Lek's philosophy of reward based training. Lek hopes to show elephant owners and trainers that the old method of fear and dominance can be a thing of the past. All the elephants at the park respond willingly to the new kinder handling.

We began our two weeks of volunteer work being picked up at our hotel in Chiang Mai by one of the park vans. We stopped at the ENP office to register and meet the other folks we would be working with. Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, England, France, Poland, USA and even Tahiti were well represented. An hour's drive north and we got our first look at elephant heaven on earth nestled along the river between lush green hills.

Our accommodations were basic: one or two beds depending on if it was a double or single room with mosquito netting and a community bathroom and showers for each group of huts. We were able to watch two family groups of elephants who spent the nights in the enclosures right outside our rooms. Breakfast, lunch and dinner was included in the cost for two weeks of volunteering.

Our first morning was spent touring the park and being introduced to each elephant and her family. We joined the day visitors at feeding time where we hand fed each elephant part of their daily rations of fruits and vegetables. A delicious buffet lunch of northern Thai food was followed by an opportunity to join the elephants in the river for their bath time.

After bath time the volunteers gathered to hear what our schedules for the following weeks would be like. Breakfast was from 7-8 am after which we would form groups to clean the elephant and water buffalo enclosures. Before and after lunch projects consisted of clearing brush on the new property, mending fences, planting and picking vegetables, preparing elephant food, working in the kitchen, feeding the dogs and cats, repairing buildings, painting new structures and cleaning up along the river. No matter your age or physical capabilities there was something you could do to help. We also had the opportunity each day to feed the elephants twice, bathe them in the river and help the veterinarian in his duties.

You will not ride an elephant, not see an elephant painting or witness an elephant being forced to perform. You will see people smiling and laughing while working hard or handing an elephant a banana. You will see all the baby elephants gather around the old man elephant of the park each day just to touch and love on him. You will see elephants just being elephants and you will know that you are helping an amazing woman change the lives of all working elephants in Thailand for the better.

You can check out volunteer opportunities at elephantnaturepark.org or elephantnaturefoundationonline.com for a vacation you will never forget.

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