Where in Cambodia will I be?
You will be living on the wildlife sanctuary feeding, walking, bathing and caring for the elephants
The Accommodation
The Food
The Sanctuary is largely self-sufficient with a large vegetable garden that you can assist in. Most meals are vegetarian.
Transport
You arrive in Siem Reap, beside the enthralling temples and ruins of Angkor, and travel by local bus to the Sanctuary. We meet you at the airport.
What will my day be like?
The Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary was created to protect the unique animals and remarkable habitat of Cambodia. The Cambodian Wildlife Sanctuary now protects one million acres of rich forest landscape and diverse wildlife population for future generations to see and enjoy.
The Save Elephant Foundation is working within the Cambodian Wildlife Sanctuary to protect the land and the native species, flora and fauna, that call it home, including tigers, monkeys, buffalos, and of course, the Asian elephant.
The project is focused restoring the region’s forest and combatting the illegal logging that has taken place. Elephants rescued from the illegal logging trade are brought to the sanctuary to find a new home here.
What will I be doing in Cambodia?
You will be living on the wildlife sanctuary feeding, walking, bathing and caring for the elephants rescued from the illegal logging industry or from performing tricks for tourists in city streets where they have no access to clean drinkable water and little food.
Some of your work may be reforesting the sanctuary. Local monks bless saffron cloth for you to tie to the large trees as many of the illegal loggers will not cut down trees blessed in this way.
You will also have rescued dogs, monkeys and gibbons to feed and take care of. If you love animals you will love this program.
Other Activities
- Trek the ancient temples of the Angkor Wat complex.
- Relax on a cruise to the floating villages of Tonle Sap.
- Go to a local festival and then a Cambodian Circus.
- Discover the food, spices, unique clothes and housewares in the amazing local day and night markets.
- You can enroll in a Khmer language class, see Aspara dancing, visit local temples and much more!
- It is really easy to immerse you in the daily routine of Siem Reap. The flat central plain makes it an ideal place to explore on foot .
- You'll also get the opportunity to visit local markets, or even stop for a massage
- Whilst at a carnival why not try your hand at some carnival games, visit the market stalls, or try some of the delicious local food on offer. You might even be lucky enough to find some stir fried crickets to try!
- Did you know that fried tarantula is a specialty of Cambodia? Will you be game to try one? When in Cambodia…!!!!
Cambodia. A very brief history!
The majority of Cambodians are Khmer and descend from the Khmer Empire that once extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its peak between the 10th and 13th centuries. This is the civilization that built Angkor, which was once the world’s largest city.
Cambodia became a French protectorate in 1863. After 1887 it was part of French Indochina. Following the Japanese occupation during World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953.
The Killing Fields
In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. During the Khmer Rouge regime, under the dictatorship Pol Pot, at least 1.5 million Cambodians — one-eighth of the population — died from forced hardships, starvation, or execution (many in the mass graves that became known as the Killing Fields).
In December 1978 the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia and drove the Khmer Rouge into the jungle. The Vietnamese occupation lasted for 10 years and was followed by 13 years of civil war.
Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first government, but a second round of elections in 1998 led to political stability.
The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999, and several high- ranking members have been tried for genocide
Elephants in Cambodia
The Asian elephant Elephants were once a vital part of Cambodian culture and civilization. They were used to build the great city of Angkor and were revered in Cambodian Hindu and Buddhist culture. They also lived in large numbers in the wild; in fact, Asian elephants once lived as far west as Iran and over much of China. Now they are endangered in the wild.
In Southeast Asia they have been mistreated for decades, first by the logging industry and today by the tourist industry. Many elephants in captivity have been tortured as babies and separated from their families.
Elephants are perhaps the most nurturing animals in the world. They are not weaned until around the age of three, and female elephants typically stay close to their mothers until the mother dies of old age, while males stay until adolescence.
Elephant herds are big family units led by the oldest female in the group. The whole family works together to care for each other and protect their young. Elephants are one of the few animals to live in a society of grandparents. They are also believed to be as intelligent as great apes and dolphins.
FAQ’s
- Will there be mosquito nets?
- Yes, at the elephant sanctuary!
- May I wear singlets (tank tops), shorts, and bikinis?
- No!
- Do I need bedding?
- No!
- Do I need vaccinations?
- Ask your doctor
- Do I need insurance?
- Yes
- May I bring a suitcase?
- We recommend a backpack.
- Will I be met at the airport?
- We will collect you on the day you arrive (provided you have given us your arrival time and flight number!)
- Do I need to arrange transport for my departure flight?
- We will drop you off at the airport on the day of departure.
- Will there be wifi?
- Not all the time
- Will I have electricity and adaptors?
- Not all the time, but often enough to charge your cameras, phones, and iPods.
- Isn’t Cambodia dangerous?
- Cambodia (a predominantly Buddhist country) has very little civil unrest.
- Will there be big insects or dangerous animals?
- You will be in rural Cambodia, so there will be some insects. Mosquito nets are provided.
Safety
Safety Every aspect of your program has safety as its highest priority. We organize your program from start to finish. If you arrive at the airport on the day the program commences, there will be a Tribe representative to meet you. You will be living in a shared, clean, hygienic, and safe accommodation. You will have constant access to safe drinking water. During your time at the elephant sanctuary, you will be under the supervision of experienced guides and mahouts.
