Seeking advice on best place to see wild Asian elephants

[DavidBrown]

Hello.

Does anyone out there have an opinion on where the best country (or countries) and parks within are to see wild Asian elephants? If you were a neophyte traveler to Asia and wanted to see wild elephants, what would you recommend as a "starter" trip in terms of safety, convenience, and moderate budget?

I have read Chlidonias's wonderful account of his Asia trip and watching elephants in Borneo...this seems like a worthwhile destination.

Any other ideas or opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[reduakari]

Hello.

Does anyone out there have an opinion on where the best country (or countries) and parks within are to see wild Asian elephants? If you were a neophyte traveler to Asia and wanted to see wild elephants, what would you recommend as a "starter" trip in terms of safety, convenience, and moderate budget?

I have read Chlidonias's wonderful account of his Asia trip and watching elephants in Borneo...this seems like a worthwhile destination.

Any other ideas or opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Sri Lanka is pretty extraordinary....

Leopards, sperm whales, water monitors, purple-faced langurs, sloth bears and plenty of elephants. And now very safe, with incredible cultural sights and phenomenal beaches

 

[Chlidonias]

apart from the Bornean elephants at the Kinabatangan, other very good options are at Khao Yai National Park in Thailand (very easy to get to and cheap as chips) and Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. Corbett National Park in India is renowned for its elephants but I don't know how cheap it is.

EDIT: re-reading the initial post, specifically this bit-- "what would you recommend as a "starter" trip in terms of safety, convenience, and moderate budget?"-- I would say Thailand. Every backpacker and his dog goes there so its a well-travelled destination (but you don't need to be a backpacker to go), its as cheap as cheap can be, Khao Yai is really close to the capital Bangkok, and despite the coups they have every so often its a very safe country. Sri Lanka would be a very close second though.

 

[DavidBrown]

Thanks for the response reduakari and Chlidonias. Much appreciated. I will check out Thailand and Sri Lanka.

@Chlidonias, your Asia trip narrative was very informative and great fun to read.

 

[Jurek7]

In Uda Waluwe NP, Sri Lanka, wild elephants hang by the public road behind an electrified fence bordering the park. People stop by, take photos, toss them bananas etc.