Feeding elephants
Watching the young up close.
Ensign Joe Painter — Public domain · U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joe Painter — Public domain · KjjjKjjj — CC BY 4.0
The National Elephant Conservation Centre at Kuala Gandah, on the edge of the Krau Wildlife Reserve in Pahang. Malaysia's wildlife department founded it in 1989 as the base of the Elephant Relocation Team, which since the 1970s has rescued elephants whose habitat is being lost to farming and development and moved them to safe forests such as Taman Negara. The centre offers visitors an educational programme: watching and feeding the young elephants, a film on the relocation work, and an afternoon conservation talk by the mahouts. Elephant riding is not allowed, and a barrier separates visitors from the animals. Entry is free and donations are welcome; it opens from eight to one and from half past two to half past four, closing from half past twelve on Fridays. Bathing with the young elephants in the river costs ten ringgit for an adult, depends on the weather and is limited to about a hundred people a day, so register early. Donate only at the counter or through the official website, as the department has warned of unofficial sites selling tickets to a place that does not sell tickets. The drive is long, so set aside a full day or book an organised tour.
Watching the young up close.
The story of elephant rescue.
With the young elephants.
Lanchang, Pahang, about two hours' drive east of Kuala Lumpur
No, entry is free and donations are taken at the counter; only the bathing activity has a small fee. Beware of unofficial websites selling tickets.
There is no direct public transport, so the easiest way is by car in about two hours from Kuala Lumpur, or an organised tour that sometimes pairs it with Genting Highlands.