Green Day Out at Kuala Gandah, Pahang

Welcome to Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre.
Background - the main building at the sanctuary. Please check in...

For a change, we took the opportunity & head to Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre, Pahang. It is about approximately 130km or about 2 hours drive from Kuala Lumpur on the Kuala Lumpur-Kuantan East Coast Highway. Exit at Lanchang and turn right at the first junction after paying the toll. There are ample signboards directing you to the centre and along the way, you will pass through an orang asli village and some typical rumah kampung.

Elephant's pooh & not holy shit...size between a ping pong ball and a tennis ball
(smells better than human shit...no joke, unless I have odd preference)

Little hut by the stream for elephant bathing activity..time to get wet!

No bikini allowed...the guys lead by good example (keep up the catwalk)

Established in 1989 & managed by the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks, it offers visitors a hands-on introduction to the largest mammal on earth. Worker elephants are trained to help "guide and mother' others during the relocation process to National Park wildlife sanctuaries. Visitors are invited to help bath them in the shallow river or ride them, so watch out for a dunking as you try to clamber up their backs!

Elephant enclosure - safe to take a shot or two (stampede free)

Fancy getting fried? Thou shall not touch...ZzzzZ!

Time to bring out the elephants..here comes the rangers

Elephants getting ready to move out of their enclosure

Feeding time...melons, bananas & etc
(make sure your kids don't take a bite at the fruits meant for these mammals)

riding the elephant's bare back..
do wear long pants if you mind the rough hairy back!!

This Centre is open to the public everyday from 8.00am to 4.30pm, including public holidays, but the great experience starts at 1.00pm and ends by 3.30pm. Reaching the sanctuary by noon will be most ideal. Entrance is free, but it is good to call the centre 1-2 weeks in advance to register your group so you won’t miss out handling with the elephants (riding, bathing and swimming with them). The park management will be issued 3 types of passes (Pass A – feeding, touching & observation only / Pass B – feeding, touching, bathing & riding / Pass C – for official visit only).

Weekends and school holidays attract very large crowds.

tame baby elephants for adoption...anyone?

Your donation is much appreciated by the end of the day. This is a unique experience many foreign visitors longed to experience in Malaysia, so please give generously as the park does not charge you for your visit.

Donation - please give generously to upkeep the conservation efforts
(Unless you prefer to head to Kenya to see elephants)

You can get more information from the centre or the official website:

Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre
Tel: 09-2790391 or log on to http://www.wildlife.gov.my

Things you should bring:

• Extra spare clothing, a bar soap and towel
• Mosquito repellent
• Camera for memorable shots
• Money for donation for the center’s good effort