Island Safari
I promised to give up the info for the Elephant Trekking Tour and here it is. There are different variations of it. We took the one day tour that included elephant trekking to a tropical waterfall and the jungle canoe trip. It included beverages, a Thai lunch and light snacks. Because we had to wait because the elephant delivery truck broke down, we even received t-shirts that say, "Answer the Call of the Wild..... I Did It."
The elephant trekking consisted of a 45 minute return ride up a dusty road and then further up a stream over boulders and cliffs but don't worry the Thai elephants can handle it. I thought there is no way this elephant is going to make it up this narrow, high cliff with those colossal feet and slightly protruding belly, but she did it no sweat. I have to admit I was pretty nervous, I've seen "Animals Gone Wild" one too many times.
Apparently, the Thai elephant is much more accustomed to this rough, hilly terrain as opposed to their African cousins. Did you know that 20 years ago there were over 100,000 wild elephants in Thailand but now there are only around 2,000 to 3,000 remaining? Seems like a shame to me, seeing that they are Thailand's national symbol. They were slaughtered for their valuable tusks.
Also, the Thai elephant's ears are a little smaller than the African elephants because the temperature isn't so hot for them. Oh, and the Thai elephant is rumoured to be much more relaxed and easy going. The photo above is of a male elephant who lost one of his tusks while working in the logging industry.
For more detailed information on the tour contact:
Phuket Trekking Club
156/6 Nanai Rd., Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Tel.: (66-76) 342525, 341453, 342683 | Fax: (66-76) 343036
E-mail: info@phukettrekkingclub.com
Phuket Trekking Club - Cost 3400 Thai baht but depends on the season etc.
