Seblat Elephant Conservation Center | Ride With the Elephants

E

mbark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience while also making a positive impact for conservation efforts! Spend a couple days with the trained elephants at Seblat and you will understand why these magnificent animals are worth protecting. Seblat is one of only 6 Elephant Conservation Centers in Indonesia. In an effort to reduce human-elephant conflict and protect other forms of wildlife, the government created several protected forests to safeguard endangered species.

The conservation offers a variety of fun and challenging outdoor activities including feeding and bathing the trained elephants, riding the elephants with the mahouts (trainers) through the jungles, and even forging across the Seblat River on an elephant’s back. If you desire an extended stay, you can also go camping with an elephant patrol team to observe elephants in the wild.

Day 1

Canoeing across the river that runs through the Seblat Conservation Center.

Housing at the basecamp is basic, but it get the job done!

Leave from Bengkulu city in the morning stopping along the way to eat lunch. Arrive at Seblat Conservation Center before 2pm in order to cross the river by canoe. Settle into the shelters and relax after your journey. In the afternoon, cool off by bathing in the river with the elephants. Help the mahouts (elephant trainers) scrub down and clean the elephants.

When night falls, relax in the shelter and bring a good book to read as you enjoy the sounds of the jungle around you and the thousands of stars above.

Day 2

Riding on the back of the Elephant on an epic jungle trek.

Wake up, eat breakfast, and get ready for a unique expedition into the jungle. Join the mahouts for a jungle trek on the back of an elephant. Hike with the elephants for up to 4 hours (longer if you stay an extra night…see itinerary below). After your journey, eat lunch, say goodbye to your new friends and depart for Bengkulu.

Day 3

Take bath with the Elephant in the river!

OPTION A:

Another Bath:

After the jungle trek on day 2 with the elephants, come back to camp, and cool off by bathing in the river with the elephants one more time. Relax again that night in your shelters, read a good book, and enjoy your surroundings. Take your time and depart for Bengkulu the next day.

OPTION B:

A Night in the Jungle:

On day 2, prepare for an extended jungle trek with the elephants. Camp out with the elephants and mahouts in the jungle for one night… Don’t worry- you have elephants to protect you! In the morning, journey back to the conservation center along the Seblat river. Eat lunch and depart for Bengkulu city.

IMPORTANT!

Seblat ECC is not designed or set up as a tourist destination. It is a grassroots conservation effort that is still developing. Please keep this in mind. If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-track adventure and not a comfortable experience, then Seblat is the place for you!

Click for costs.

Summary

Difficulty: Moderate

Activities: Camping, Swimming, Wildlife, Conservation

Terrain: Jungles, Rivers, Palm Oil Plantations

Duration: 2-10 days

Months of Operation: All year round

Location: 4.5 hours from Bengkulu

Nearest Village: Suka Baru

Closest Airport: Bengkulu (BKS)

Conditions

At the center, you will be given lodging in the form of a very basic shelter or tent. Food and other amenities will be provided.

Later, ride with the elephants through the dense jungle, take a bath with the elephants in the river, and learn about the local efforts to protect one of the world’s smallest, and most endangered elephant species.

PLEASE NOTE:

Seblat ECC is not designed or set up as a tourist destination. It is a grassroots conservation effort that is still developing. Please keep this in mind. If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-track adventure and not a comfortable experience, then Seblat is the place for you!

What to Bring

A comfortable pair of hiking or walking shoes – preferably water resistant.
Comfortable trekking socks – with the various wetlands and streams you’ll be crossing, your feet will definitely get wet, even with good shoes. Good hiking socks can help prevent blistering.
Long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Preferably made from quick-dry material.
Your own water bottle, to cut down on single-use plastics.
Insect repellent (only up to 20% deet).
A headlamp, especially if you want to take any night walks.
A waterproof jacket in case it rains, and to keep you warm in the chilly evenings and mornings.

Getting Here

Fly into Bengkulu (BKS) airport and get picked up and prepared to embark on a 4.5 hour drive to Seblat. Price includes a local guide, transport from Bengkulu to and from the center, lodging (very basic shelter or tent), permits, tickets, food, and transportation. Price per person reduced with more than two travelers, but usually limited to a max of six people to lessen the impact on the environment.

Minimum 3 Day Advanced Booking Required for this Trek due to Permit Processing

Conservation and Community Benefit

These elephants are one of the world’s most endangered species of elephant in the world. Visiting the center provides an opportunity for you to learn and experience what it takes to care for these magnificent beasts.

As always, we use only local guides and porters from nearby communities, who are paid a fair, ethical wage above the standard local price. One hundred percent of money spent on this trek stays in this rural community – there’s no tourism leakage here!