Mason Elephant Sanctuary Bali – Visitor’s Guide (2023)

The Mason Elephant Sanctuary Bali is the only dedicated elephant rescue park in Ubud, Bali.

Unlike other elephant parks in parts of South East Asia, Mason Elephant Sanctuary Bali has its own philosophy and they take great care to treat the elephants in Bali with kindness, patience, and respect.

I have put together this complete guide to this Elephant Sanctuary in Bali including where it’s located, how much it costs, and what to expect during your visit.

Looking for where to see elephants in Bali and everything around it? Make sure to read until the end!

QUICK ANSWERS – BALI ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

Let’s start this guide with all the essentials you should know before visiting, like the elephant sanctuary location, how to get there, and more.

WHERE IS THE BALI ELEPHANT SANCTUARY?

The Bali Elephant Sanctuary is located near Ubud in central Bali.

Click here to see the location on Google Maps.

HOW TO GET TO BALI ELEPHANT SANCTUARY?

The Mason Elephant Sanctuary is a short thirty-minute drive from Ubud. The best way to reach Elephant Park Bali is to hire a scooter or a car.

If you are staying in the Ubud region, I recommend renting a scooter and making the short drive over to the Elephant Sanctuary Ubud.

Don’t feel confident riding a scooter? Another great option for getting around Bali and see the elephant Ubud sanctuary is to hire a private car and a driver for the day and experience all that the island has to offer.

Includes:

• Experienced Driver
• Hotel pick-up & drop-off
• Mineral water
• Petrol

IS MASON ELEPHANT SANCTUARY UBUD ETHICAL?

Yes, Mason Elephant Sanctuary Bali Ubud is a place where ethical treatment of animals is a top priority.

The sanctuary provides a home for elephants that have previously been mistreated or exploited and are now given the opportunity to live peacefully and happily in a natural and safe environment.

The elephants are never chained or forced to perform, and visitors are educated about elephant conservation and preservation.

There are other elephant sanctuaries in Bali, but I recommend skipping them and coming to Mason Bali instead.

IS THE ELEPHANT RIDE IN BALI ETHICAL?

For many visitors, riding an elephant Bali is a must-try experience. However, there are concerns about animal welfare growing around the world.

While some believe that riding elephants is okay, others feel uneasy about it, and you’re not forced in any way to get the elephant ride.

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the ACEWG international elephant conservation group believes that riding elephants under certain circumstances is ethical and does not harm the animals.

Most particularly, they say that it is safe and doesn’t hurt the elephants to carry up to 20% of their total weight.

The average weight of an Asian elephant is 4,000kg, which is then 800kg. Needless to say, I’m confident you won’t reach this weight, so you’re most likely not going to harm the elephants.

WHAT IS THE BEST ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN BALI?

Other than asking are there elephants in Bali, many tourists want to know the best place to see them. And the Mason Elephant sanctuary is considered the best elephant sanctuary in Bali.

Located in Taro village, the sanctuary offers a unique and unforgettable opportunity to get up close and personal with these majestic creatures in the most ethical way there is.

ELEPHANT SANCTUARY BALI TICKET PRICES

The entrance fee for the Mason Elephant Sanctuary Bali depends on which package you choose.

See below for a list of the different packages available, as well as the Mason elephant park entry fee.

• Mason Elephant Park Admission Ticket – 450k IDR / $28 per person
• Safari Ride – 1,115,000 IDR / $71 per person
• Night Safari – 1,180,000 IDR / $75 per person
• Night Safari With Dinner – 1,475,000 IDR / $94 per person
• Jumbo Wash Experience – 915k IDR / $58 per person
• Jumbo Wash With Elephant Ride – 1,165,000 IDR / $74 per person
• Lake Bathe – 1,065,000 IDR / $68 per person
• Lake Bathe With Elephant Ride – 1,315,000 IDR / $84 per person

WHAT DOES THE ENTRANCE FEE INCLUDE?

While the entrance fee of $28 may seem steep, it’s all worth it, and the ticket includes all the following:

• Hand Feeding & Encounters
• Elephant Lake Viewing
• Treetop Observation Walk
• Baby Elephant Nursery
• Elephant Free-Roam Viewing
• Educational Talks
• Elephant Museum & Information Centre
• Art Gallery and Botanical & Ochid Gardens

MASON ELEPHANT SANCTUARY OPENING HOURS

The Mason elephant park in Bali is open daily, apart from Nyepi Day, from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm. This gives you plenty of time to visit and see the elephants in Ubud.

WHAT TO EXPECT

When visiting the Mason Elephant Sanctuary, you have the option of doing a day trip here or you can spend one night in the lodge to enjoy the full experience!

Upon arrival at the ethical elephant sanctuary Bali, I was warmly greeted by the staff at reception and they kindly showed us to our lodge which is inside the park itself.

We were fortunate enough to stay in the Park View Room which overlooks the Bali elephants from our very own balcony.

These rooms are very large with excellent interior design and they are kitted out with all the amenities you will need including, air-conditioning, a bar fridge, tv, towels, bathrobes, slippers, hairdryers, shampoos, and more.

We were given an itinerary for our two-day stay and first on the list was an elephant ride to dinner.

I heard a knock at the front door, so my friends and I went outside, and right there was a Bali elephant with its mahout (trainer) waiting at the staircase for us, ready to hop on and take a ride over to the restaurant for dinner!

I was informed that the seating on the elephant is not heavy and it does not hurt the elephant. It is well padded underneath and the weight of the chair and two people does not give the elephant any discomfort, otherwise, the elephant would not tolerate the chair.

The restaurant inside Elephant Park Bali caters to all dietary needs and the food is top-notch. You can enjoy a delicious meal here while watching the elephants bathing in the pools next to the restaurant.

There is also an elephant talent show inside the Mason Elephant Sanctuary Bali that is very entertaining and I was impressed at what these large animals are capable of.

I don’t want to spoil it for you with too many details but there is one elephant that walks a balance beam while playing the harmonica with its trunk!

ACTIVITIES AT THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN BALI

The following morning, breakfast is served from 7 am-10 am, which is included with the room at the Ubud elephant sanctuary.

A starter spread of fruits, yogurts, cereals, tea, and coffee is available, and also a set menu to order a main meal.

After breakfast, the next thing on the itinerary is to go and bathe the elephants in the park.

This was actually very enjoyable and my favorite part of the experience was hosing the elephants down and scrubbing off the mud from their leather-like skin.

They were very playful and loved every minute of the interaction with us.

The elephants inside are cared for 24 hours a day and they all seemed very happy and comfortable.

Each elephant has its own personal mahout (trainer) who makes sure they get the correct dietary requirements and vitamins.

If you are staying at one of the accommodation options inside the Elephant park Bali there is a swimming pool, gym, and spa readily available for use and if you are a daytime visitor you can also visit the art gallery, museum, and gift shop located in the park as well.

BEST TOURS IN BALI

WHAT TO PACK FOR BALI

When visiting Bali, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

FINAL THOUGHTS – ELEPHANT SANCTUARY UBUD

In a captive situation, some compromises at the Elephant Sanctuary Bali must be made to ensure both animals and guests are happy and safe.

This explains some of the procedures at the Bali Elephant Sanctuary that are necessary for a harmonious and safe environment. In my personal experience at the sanctuary, I believed it was a happy and healthy herd of elephants.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article about the elephants Bali, and if you have any questions, please leave me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations about this elephant experience Bali to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

THANKS FOR READING

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