Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary @ Pahang

Welcome to Kuala Gandah

Established in 1989 by the Jabatan Perhilitan (Department of Wildlife and National Parks), the National Elephant Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah, Lanchang is a base for the Elephant Relocation Team, which began the elephant translocation program in 1974. The centre houses a number of resident elephants which were brought in from Myanmar and Thailand. These elephants are trained and used in translocation exercises to help capture problematic wild elephants throughout Peninsular Malaysia. The centre also looks after orphaned elephants to keep them safe from illegal hunters and encroachment activities.

Dinner time for baby elephant

Beautiful nature

The National Elephant Conservation Centre is open to visitors from 8.00am - 4.30pm throughout the year except for some public holidays. When you're there, the first thing you need to do is to register at the counter located in the main building. Take note that only visitors who register and receive a yellow sticker can enjoy a fun ride on the elephant, bathe and feed them. Be there early to register for this sticker as it is only limited to 120pax/day. Otherwise, you'll just have to settle with the red sticker which is only limited to visiting purposes.

Area restricted to Adult Elephants only

Bathing area

Entrance to this centre is FREE, but a simple gesture of goodwill i.e. donation is encouraged and truly appreciated as this will ensure that these sweet loving  gentle giant creatures will continue to have a place to live in. For elephant lovers, you no longer have to travel all the way to Thailand to experience an elephant adventure. A journey by car to Kuala Gandah will only take approximately 1.5 hours from Kuala Lumpur city via the Kuala Lumpur - Karak Highway and East Coast Expressway.   

The Young Ones

Don't worry! There are many signboards around

Time	Activities
8.00am	Breakfast – Elephants are fed with pellets and concentrates
9.30am – 10.30am	Training – Elephants are trained to learn basic commands such as sit and stay, obey specific commands for translocation works and break bad habits
10.30am	In the enclosure – Elephants are free to roam in the enclosure
11.30am – 12.00pm	Lunch – Visitors can join the staffs to feed the elephants with fruits
12.00pm – 2.00pm	In the enclosure – Elephants are free to roam in the enclosure
2.00pm	Bath – Visitors with yellow stickers can help to bathe the elephants in the river
2.45pm	Ride – Visitors with yellow stickers can ride the elephants
3.00pm	Stalled – Elephants return to their stalls
3.15pm	Dinner – Elephants are fed with fruits and plants

Verdict :

Sandal says :

• Trip Experience - 9/10 (good to know we have such a place)

• Cleanliness - 7/10 (the place is under construction)

• Value for $$$ - 10/10 (it's free!)

• Recommend to a friend? - Yes (enough of working, go help the elephants)

Toothpick says : 

• Trip Experience - 9.5/10 (Wonderful! I love elephants)

• Cleanliness - 6.5/10 (river very muddy, construction work in progress)

• Value for $$$ - 10/10 (free of charge, but please donate to help upkeep the elephants)

• Recommend to a friend? - Yes (Do visit, elephants are playful animals who enjoy attention =))


Address :
National Elephant Conservation Centre, 

Department of Wildlife and National Parks, 

Kuala Gandah, 28500 Lanchang, 

Pahang Darul Makmur. 

Tel: +609 - 279 0391; Fax: +609- 279 0398


GPS :  

N = 3° 35' 33.9", E = 102° 8' 38.5"


Google Map :
3.59224,102.144181