HOT Magazine HOT Magazine Issue - 9, 10 Volume 5 | Page 33

Wild Elephants You’ll see elephants in many places across Thailand. Typically, they’re domesticated, but if you want to see some in the wild the best place is the Kui Buri National Park, just over an hour’s drive south of Hua Hin. The drivers and guides who take you through the park are actually local farmers who, for years, fought with the elephants to protect their crops. But in 1999 large grass prairies were created on 12,000 rai (approx. 4,700 acres) of land within the park’s boundaries. This meant the elephants had enough to eat without rampaging through farmers’ fields. Over the last 18 years the wildlife population has increased to over 200 wild elephants and 150 gaurs (the world’s largest wild cattle species). The elephants now offers farmers and other local people income– so elephants have gone from enemy to friend. You can’t take your own vehicle into the park proper and must go with the approved tour vehicles and guides (800 Baht). Perched on wooden benches in the back of a ‘pick-up’ trucks with your guide (and chief wildlife spotter) beside you, off you set. Tours typically start mid-afternoon when the wildlife start getting active again after the heat of the day. You take a circular route stopping at several locations where elephants, if about, can be easily seen. Overall you can spend three to four hours travelling through the park. Everyone we know who has done this tour have had multiple sightings of elephants – so a good success rate! We certainly did, thanks to our ever watchful guide! We also captured some great photos and I was even able to take a short video of a small family of Guar that were just 30 meters from our vehicle. HOT Magazine 33