Volunteer with Elephants in Thailand – Chiang Mai

If there is one thing that Thailand is known for apart from its scintillating beaches, it is definitely the Elephants. Elephants are immensely popular in Thailand and are highly revered as well. The love and affection for these giant mammals in Thailand is pretty evident, and that is exactly what the elephant camp volunteering is all about.

Gap year travellers who are wildlife enthusiasts and looking for volunteer opportunities for wildlife conservation and welfare can join this program in Chiang Mai.The Camp is located in a  beautiful setup, located amidst lush green forests and surrounded by tall mountains from all sides. Every little bit helps in the development of the camp. Late in the afternoon/early evening, volunteers will be able to spend more time with the elephants and elephant trainers.  This is when volunteers will really begin to bond with these lovely creatures and learn how to best care for them. This program is best suited for wildlife enthusiasts and those who are willing to do some outdoor hard work.

Currently there are about 6 elephants with 10 workers. Most of the workers are of ethnic hill tribe descent, which makes them an ethnic minority in Thailand. Many of the workers are unable to speak, read or write in Thai very well.

The camp receives foreign day visitors. The cost of admission from the day visitors keep the elephants healthy and the camp in operation. Elephants are incredibly large animals and take a lot of money to keep properly fed.

There are very few elephants in the wild in northern Thailand. Therefore camps such as Chang Land, are the only real place where elephants can live in sanctuary from poachers and where people can safely visit, learn and experience the Asian elephant. Some claim that if it wasn’t for camps such as Chang Land, Asian elephants would no longer exist outside of zoos.

For this reason, just volunteering in the project is helping further the plight of the Asian elephant in Thailand

The elephant camp project is an hour and a half drive (almost) straight north from the city of Chiang Mai. The campsite is beautiful, as it is nestled in a mountain valley.

Want to see other ways to make an impact? Check out our Volunteer in Asia programs.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteers joining the elephant camp program in Thailand, Chiang Mai will be living at the camp itself. Their routine work starts from early morning 06:30 am or 07:00 am with taking the elephants for a walk followed by a bath. The rest of the day goes by in doing some of the other caretaking work for elephants at the camp. A generic routine duty that volunteers need to execute during their volunteer work at the elephant camp program includes;

• Taking elephants for a walk followed by a bath in the morning.

• Prepare and feed breakfast to the elephants.

• Help with direction and safety procedures with day tourists upon their arrival.

• Work with the elephants and learn how to be an elephant trainer.  

• taking care of one of the baby elephants

• Moving equipment at the camp.  

This program is highly recommended for animal lovers and for those who are looking to work outdoors.

Requirements & eligibility

Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded and have a passion for working with elephants as well as working outdoors and getting their hands dirty. You should also be proactive, have the ability to take initiative and willing to work outdoors.