Elephant tour attracts many tourists.

H’Blú, a female elephant, is walking in Yok Don National Park when she finds food. She rumbles to call Khăm Phanh, another female elephant, to come and enjoy some banana trees which have been chopped into pieces for them. After eating they walk to the river to bathe. Tourists watch them from the river bank.

The two elephants’ routine unfolds naturally without being forced by the mahouts. Tourists stand at a safe distance to watch the elephants and listen to the tour guide describe each elephant and how they are cared for.

Phan Ngoc Que Lam, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, said: “The elephants are in their natural habitat. I feel comfortable watching them in nature. Elephants are wild animals and they should live in the forest. The tour guide gives us a lot of interesting information about elephants.”

The eco-friendly tour has been conducted by Yok Don National Park and Animals Asia since 2018 to preserve the elephants of Dak Lak, who are growing older and weaker.

There are 10 elephants in the tourism program, including six female elephants, who regularly interact with the tourists. Pham Xuan Quynh, a project officer with Animals Asia, says the elephants are truly free in a semi-wild environment. Instead of riding the elephants, visitors watch them eat, drink, bathe, sleep, and roam the forest without interfering in their lives. 

“The mahouts use neither iron hooks nor wooden clubs. They give food as rewards to persuade the elephants to cooperate. We guide the elephants to return to their natural behavior. They know where to find food, how to heal themselves, and how to take care of each other. Gradually, the elephants are feeling more comfortable and enjoying better health. They can find the kind of food and water they need,” said Quynh.

Tourists take photos of the elephants in the semi-wild environment.

Over the past six years, Yok Don National Park has welcomed many tourists. In 2023 the tour was recognized by the Vietnam Records Organization as one of the 20 most unique tours in Vietnam. Y Siem Hđok, a tour guide in Yok Don National Park, said the recognition shows that the model has had a positive impact on the elephants and their habitat and is appreciated by the tourists. 

“The elephant tour is a popular tour and is good for the animals. During the tour I tell the tourists things that will make them love the elephants more,” said Y Siem Hđok.

Besides the elephant tour, Yok Don National Park offers other interesting activities like boating on the Serepok River, fishing, camping, taking photos of birds, and exploring the forest ecosystem.

Vu Duc Gioi, Deputy Director of the Center for Environmental Education and Services of Yok Don National Park, said they have diversified activities to appeal to more tourists. “We have half-day and full-day elephant tours. Yok Don National Park plans to partner with investors to promote eco-tourism.”

Yok Don National Park’s many rare animal and plant species make it a suitable place for elephants to reintegrate with a semi-wild environment. The elephants live healthier and longer, while providing a unique form of experiential tourism in Dak Lak.