Elephants, my friends in Kuala Gandah

Words and photos by Nivashia Vignes

After months of telling myself to visit the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre in Pahang, I was finally there with my family.

The trip getting close to these gentle giants, feeding them and bathing their babies was ‘wild’, thrilling and unforgettable.

Elephants at this government-run centre roamed freely in their jungle enclosure. It was nice to see them moving about rather than being chained up.

During feeding time, the elephants were gathered and brought to the feeding area. Visitors were introduced to them and told of their background stories, like how they were found and how the centre nursed them back to health and rehabilitated them.

Their stories were sad but it is comforting that they are now well cared for, protected and treated with dignity.

After the introductions, fruits were wheeled out in carts. Used to people, the elephants reached out with their trunks and grabbed the fruits right out of our hands. They kept wanting more.

Next, there was a ‘show’ to see. The gentle giants sat and stood on two legs on a log on command. The performance showed not only their strength, but also their good balance and intelligence.

Bath time was next and we got to wash a baby elephant. Looking at it roll over in the water and their frolics was fun. For safety, we only watched the adult elephants bathe in the river.

A few tips before heading off to enjoy this sanctuary: bring spare clothes to change if you want to bathe the baby elephants. The sanctuary does not allow visitors, namely ladies, to be in swimwear, so just wear clothes you are comfortable in like t-shirts and shorts.

The visit was also educational as we got to see a video on elephants and the important work the centre has been doing – rescuing injured and abandoned wild elephants, rehabilitating and relocating those whose habitats were destroyed by logging and urbanisation, and releasing them back into the jungle.

For the past 25 years, the centre has helped over 300 elephants and prevented further decline in the elephant population through its work. It currently has 20 to 30 elephants in its care.

There is also an information station in the common area with large tablets that show more details and photos of elephants. There are also big elephants skulls to take pictures with.

What I loved most was seeing the animals living well in the sanctuary and not having to perform tricks or stunts or even give rides anymore for visitors’ amusement.

The trip is worthwhile, and getting there is not much of a hassle, which is about 90 minutes from Kuala Lumpur via the E8 highway. You get off the highway at Lanchang and proceed another 10km on a rural road.

Opening hours from Saturdays to Thursday are 8am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm. On Fridays, the place opens 8am to 12.15pm and 2.45pm to 5pm.