Camp Chang Kalim – elephant camp insider warning: rude management, long waits, pressured souvenir sales, mixed welfare and short rides
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Camp Chang Kalim – elephant camp, Phuket: an investigator’s verdict from guest reports
Quick snapshot: Camp Chang Kalim – elephant camp is rated 3.4/5 from 689 reviews and operates daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Accessibility is limited: there is no wheelchair-accessible parking and no wheelchair-accessible entrance.
What guests praise
- Several visitors found the elephants gentle and enjoyed feeding them sugarcane during the visit.
- One visitor reported the elephant ride lasted about 20 minutes, describing the physical experience positively.
What guests warn about
- One detailed booking failure: a group booked six elephants for 11 people but staff tried to allocate only five, forcing long waits and ultimately prompting the group to leave after repeated delays.
- Multiple guests describe hard-sell and coercion tactics: staff reportedly stopped activities mid-tour and pressured visitors to buy low-quality accessories priced around 300–400 baht.
- Feeding access is restricted; visitors who wanted to feed the elephants on a whim were told they must buy a ticket package for activities such as swimming or riding.
- Animal-welfare concerns appeared in reviews: one guest observed elephants swaying and vocalizing in distress and urged intervention.
- Some visitors paid roughly 400 baht each for a small bag of sugarcane that produced only a 3-minute feeding/photo opportunity.
Conflicting accounts you should notice
Guest reports split into two clear narratives. On one side, visitors describe calm, gentle animals and a pleasant short ride. On the other, several accounts point to managerial mismanagement, coercive upselling, and signs of animal distress. These contradictions matter because they change the expected experience: you could encounter a straightforward visit or confront sales pressure and welfare red flags.
Practical details drawn from visitor experiences
- Expect the advertised rides to be about 20 minutes when they run smoothly.
- If you plan to feed elephants, verify whether your chosen ticket package includes feeding; otherwise you may be limited to buying a small sugarcane bag at roughly 400 baht for a short interaction.
- Bring patience: at least one party reported waiting half an hour and then another hour during a booking dispute.
- Note the site lacks wheelchair-accessible parking and entrance, which affects mobility-impaired visitors.
- The camp sits in Kalim near several hotels such as Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay, which is useful if you need quick transport back after a problematic visit.
How to avoid the most common problems (actionable tips)
- Confirm and reconfirm the exact allocation when booking: get the number of elephants and riders specified in writing or a screenshot before arrival to prevent substitutions at check-in.
- Ask upfront about feeding rules and what each package actually includes; if feeding matters to you, demand specifics about duration and price of the feeding opportunity.
- Refuse on-site pressure to buy accessories; if stopped mid-activity and asked to purchase, politely decline and request to continue the service you paid for.
- If you notice animal distress behaviors such as repetitive swaying or loud vocalizations, prioritize leaving and report the observations to local animal welfare authorities rather than participating further.
- Plan for contingencies: allow buffer time in your itinerary in case of delays or booking disputes, especially for group visits.
Final assessment
Camp Chang Kalim delivers mixed experiences. Some visitors encountered gentle elephants and a standard short ride; others faced booking failures, aggressive upselling, and troubling animal behaviour. The camp’s average rating reflects these divided reports. If you decide to go, arrive prepared: secure written confirmation, verify what you will receive, set firm boundaries on purchases, and stay alert to animal-welfare signals. These steps are the clearest way to increase the chance of a positive visit based strictly on what past guests reported.
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7.923022, 98.28051
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