Walking with Elephants, Tangkahan
Embark on our 1 day walking with elephants experience with a rescued herd in the nearby village of Tangkahan!
Key information
Price: €100 pp
Duration: 09:00-16:00
Suitable for: all, children and gray travellers
Includes: Transport to and from, Tangkahan HPI guide, walking with elephants, riverside lunch and fruit snacks.
Private and Group 1 Day treks available
In response to years of human-elephant conflict along the jungle-farmland boarders of North Sumatra and Aceh, the Elephant Response Unit decided to create a semi-wild haven for the rescued elephant population in Tangkahan, North Sumatra. Each day the elephants are herded out into their jungle grazing pastures for a whole day of wild grazing, before returning to their enclosure each afternoon via the river. Please note, this experience is run by our local Tangkahan guiding partners, and whilst they offer bathing and washing with the elephants, we only support walking alongside them.
FAQs Walking with Elephants
1. Is the 1 day trek suitable for children or older travellers?
Yes. The walking with elephants experience is a very suitable option for families with children and for older or less confident walkers. The hike up to the jungle feeding grounds takes about an hour, and the descent to the river another hour. During the riverside lunch there is ample opportunity for swimming, a great activity for kids.
2. Is the walking with elephants a private experience?
Whilst only your group will be assigned to our partner guide in Tangkahan, other HPI registered Tangkahan guides may be taking other groups to the feeding ground at the same time; it all depends on the day.
3. How physically demanding is the walking with elephants experience?
The walking with elephants experience is less physically demanding than our 1 day national park trek, however please be aware the drive to Tangkahan lasts anywhere from 1.5-2 hours depending on road conditions.
4. What other wildlife can we expect to see during the walking with elephants experience?
You might see Thomas Leaf Monkeys, Gibbons, Siamangs, Macaques, woodpeckers, butterflies, lizards and insects. Wild orangutans have been spotted in Tangkahan, however this is rare
5. Can we participate in the afternoon elephant washing?
We do not support the elephant washing offered at Tankgahan, however participation is up to guests own discretion.