Elephant Haven in Thailand: Kindred Spirit Sanctuary
In the Thai mountain village of Ban Naklang, near the Myanmar border, we found a special place called the Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary. Here, a Northern Irish girl named Kerri and her husband Sombat have been running a small-scale elephant sanctuary since 2016. With so much love and passion, they give some of these giant animals a dignified and animal-friendly life. Many elephants are rescued from difficult circumstances.
This place is perfect for those that want to have a unique experience of hiking in the forest, finding elephants and observe their natural behaviors in their home environment. Volunteers and visitors must be physically fit to hike every day up and down mountains to get to the elephants. What we like is that in Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary, you can see exactly where the funds they receive are going and how they are benefiting the sanctuary, the elephants and community.
Volunteers and visitors are expected to wake up early in the morning and be prepared for a long hike into the forest. Anticipate returning to the village by early afternoon, but your day's adventure goes beyond the hike. You can help in English teaching sessions at the local school. Another option is to immerse yourself in educational experiences about Asian elephants, while simultaneously diving into the local language and culture. For a serene end to your day, take a traditional Thai massage, or explore the art of basket weaving.
Best time to visit
Thailand has a tropical climate, and the weather varies each season. In the colder season (November - February) the average maximum temperatures fall between 28°C (82°F) and 33°C (91°F), while during the summer (March - May) you can count on 30°C (86°F) to 37°C (99°F). April is the warmest month.
May marks the start of the rainy season, which lasts until the end of October. Usually, the rain storms are short, but with very heavy downpours. September and October are on average the wettest months throughout the country. Click here to find out more climate information about Thailand.