Ethically run charity caring for *domesticated* elephants, NOT wild elephants that relies on tourism and donations. An (good) English speaking guide gave us a tour of the museum with some very interesting facts before meeting two elephants and the third generation Manhout (trainer) who expertly instructed this giant of a beast around the short forest walk with us aboard (5000 rupee each), then back to the river where you can assist with the bathing and feed them a basket of treats (300r). If you want to see wild elephants, Pinawale is close by (and Udawale, further South) where you can see many more roaming elephants from a Jeep and there are other nearby tourist traps too, though other places may not treat the elephants as well as here. If you are on a day trip is very difficult to get your driver to take you here, maybe as it's lesser known or perhaps there is no cash incentive for them to bring the tourists it being a charity. We did see a male elephant chained, this is when he is in his period of 'Musk' where they can be aggressive and destructive due to hormones. It is for your safety, last thing you want is a 4 tonne bull challenging the one you are on! If this is a concern for you, go see the wild elephants, but you are unlikely to see any up close and although 'tame' these are well cared for here. Fantastic experience. Can also recommend the herb centre nearby too. Surprisingly interesting and some great herbal remedies long lost or replaced by the drug companies.

Avoid any places like these that your driver, tourist guide will take to. I met Monica 47 yr old elephant and her boy friend 54 yrs. Other than these, the place is super filthy and everyone asks for tips excluding your 3000 rs entry fee. If you want a srilankan elephant experience pls go to the original elephant orphanage with 80+ elephants or one of the national parks. This place is a joke. Had I known all this, i would have said No to my driver. Travellers be warned or many places like these on this stretch. Best wishes

It was a wonderful experience. But it would have been better.the price for this experience is on the higher side which was 20$.there were lot of foreign volunteers who stay back and help the foundation. One could adopt an elephant on a monthly basis which costs about 30$. Overall we have great time.

تجربة ممتعه لكن لا تستحق العناء.. It was an enjoyable experience! If you happen to come across this place during your journey, you might consider stopping by. However, I don't believe it's worth planning a specific trip for, as it only has four elephants, and the ticket price was a bit high. I wouldn't recommend it.

Sad to see the elephants still need to work. Non-stop they must entertain tourists. Feeling very sad I visited this place. People riding on elephants, a lot of chains, … sad place! They told me the elephants were rescued from temples, but I dont think they are happy because they still need to work very hard 🥺💔

The best experience ever. We love how much they care about the elephants 🐘 We had Laksmi with us for the tour, we gave her food, we were walking with her and in the and we gave her bath 🛁 ❤️

On the way to Kandy from Colombo this foundation is located. They allow the visitors to have elephant ride and give bath to the elephant on the riverside as a part of activities. Starts @ 3000LNR per person

Experience of a lifetime to be so up close to this mighty creature. You get info of the elephant in the mini museum, get to feed it,bathe it and ride it. The museum needs to be maintained and cleaned better. Ticket is 30 dollars. Caution: Don't mistake it for the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. That is different.

A great experience to see elephants roaming without chains. Everything about this place is great. Instead of visiting elephant orphanage one should visit this place. You can ride the elephant, feed them and take them to bath.

The riding of elephant is fun. Bathing the elephants need a bit more courage as the animals poo and pee in same river water. The 'museum' is not really one as it is an open space for the museum guide to explain. Every activity with the locals require you to tip them pretty much and that marred the overall experience.

Beautiful foundation, elephants are not chained and they are very well cared for. I respect animals so I don’t ride them, but I had an amazing time , connecting with the elephants by loving them and feeding them. Make sure you take a walk around the foundation as well. Also volunteering opportunities are available. I had an amazing experience.

Overall wonderful experience! We were able to feed and shower elephants. I did notice one of the handlers kept pulling on the ear of one of the elephants, 😳🤔, to lay down or get up on the river. Is that normal? I also didn’t like that people get to ride the elephants (even if it is no more than 2 or 3 at a time and with no platform and just a blanket). I’m not sure that is best long term for elephants backs and why would anyone want to ride them anyway? Finally, it was disappointing to be greeted by one of the elephant handlers not with a welcome but with an ask for a tip from the get go paired with a hand gesture. The admission price for us was about $45USD, the highest entrance price during our entire Sri Lankan vacation. It was a real turn off that we were greeted with this request and kept being reminded of his "tip" throughout the elephant bathing experience. I get it, he is trying to make a buck but back off, what a turn off. Let me make a memory then ask me. SMH!

These elephants were all injured and orphaned. Not able to survive in the wild. At this orphanage; these magnificent animals are treated with kindness, we are so happy to have visited this small independent orphanage. Our local guide/driver suggested we come here, instead of the main tourist attraction up the road as this favours well-being of these incredible orphans. He was so right. Their life quality and lifespans here reach in the 80’s rather than 70’s. I’m still processing the knowing look in her eyes when we met and first touched this amazing female elephant, absolutely breathtaking. #❤️ #🇱🇰 #🐘 #thankyou for teaching us better ways of care & support team and your huge commitment to the wellbeing of these gorgeous animals. This is run without any government grants and is pure donation. Our first donation of many. Thank you team

Small but nice place to get in close contact with the elephants. I just feel the elephants are just surrendering to the commands of the workers there. They get ridden on, take a bath, all just for the sake of tourists to enjoy them... I hope they are not unhappy

The foundation has only five elephants. We have been there as our guide said it is the place if we need to be close (pet and feed) the elephants. It was a fun experience, but you don't feel the elephants are in their natural habitat. We visited from colombo to our way to Kandy on a morning weekday and the place was crowded with tourists.

It was a nice place to visit. You can see 6 elephants inside. You can wash them also. You pay an entrance fee. And for riding and washing you must give some tips also. There is a souvenir shop. The garden is little not too big. But u will enjoy...

Amazing experience. The do take care of the elephants which is absolutely lovely. Please don’t take rides on the elephants, best thing to do if feed them and shower them.

10/10 recommendable. At this place, the elephants seem as very happy kiddos. Like me when I was there and was able to experience 2 hours of an exceptional cool elephant walk. I love elephants and I wanted to go to a place where they treat them with respect. It’s possible to book a elephant experience walk there where you can bath, feed, go for a walk through the jungle, hug and cuddle them. Somebody also takes a lot of pictures and videos with your own phone while you walk with the elephant. And it doesn’t cost extra fees afterwards. It was so special and it made my heart melt. It was the best experience I had in Sri Lanka. Thank you!

What a wonderfully special thing to do, spending time with elephants. They care for and nurture the elephants here at this rescue. Touching them, feeding them, and walking with them is truly an amazing and awe-inspiring experience that everyone should have and hold. I highly recommend this wonderful sanctuary in Sri Lanka.

Wonderful experience, fantastic place to spend some valuable time. Except the charges and tips if we don't mind its a must visit place. Place is kept clean its pretty safe to be with elephant. This place is not for Elephant rides this is purely spending good and valuable experience

This place is a mandatory stop on your journey in Sri Lanka. For a very cheap price ticket, we had the opportunity to see elephants closely, touch them, give them food, climb them and bathe them. Bring a change of clothes because you’ll get dirty! Before all this, a volunteer explained us the anatomy of the elephants, the difference between asian and africans, their lifestyle, how they treat and protect them, ecc. I won’t give 5 stars because, even if there the elephants are safeguarded, it still is a touristic place. They don’t hurt them, but it’s clear that the elephants are asked to repeat the same pattern day after day: take food from the visitors, let them have a ride on you, let them bathe you, ecc. I felt bad for them at some point, but again: it didn’t seem they hurt the elephants. After that we had a tour on the factory nearby, where they transform elephants poop in paper and we’ve been able to buy some handmade notebooks and other items.

There are big elephants. If you are looking for babies do not come here. Entrance fee was $15, if you want to ride elephant price is $20 including entrance fee. If you need a trip with elephant it costs more. If you want elephant wash come with your swim suit. Not very clean place. It would be better to wear slipper. Female elephants are not dangerous but be careful about male ones. There is a small factory which produces elephant dung paper next to this place. I suggest you also to visit there.

It was nice 😊 the kids enjoyed it a lot but a bit expensive, the entrance was 30 usd , we fed one elephant and watched as they bathed and learned a bit of history as well

While researching where and how to see elephants, I constantly kept seeing information that Pinnawella wasn't the place to go. It was between Yala National Park (elephants in the wild) or Millennium Elephant Foundation (not in the wild). I'm glad we chose Millennium Elephant Foundation (MEF). It was a bit pricey ($30USD/person), but it was worth it. We chose the package where we got to walk and interact with an elephant as well as bathe that elephant. Started with a bit of a museum-style tour with info from the guide. Then we met "our" elephant, fed her fruits/veggies, took pictures and then walked with her (UNCHAINED) side-by-side though the forest with the Mahout (trainer) and the guide. The guide is very helpful and shares knowledge as we walk. After that we got to bath her in the river. It was perfect. This foundation rescues previously captured elephants and rehabs them. There is a period where some elephants are chained and separated from the rest because that time (according to what we were told) was when they get too aggressive because of hormones (or something). So that is a short period to keep them away from hurting people or other elephants. Notes: - MEF does have mahouts (Elephant trainers), but we didn't see them poking the elephants like you would at other places. MEF is also changing their "poker" poles to have a plastic knob on the end to avoid the sharp edge. - MEF discourages elephant rides (and will stop providing that option soon) - Pinnawella seems to treat their elephants very brutally and that's the reason we chose not to go there.

Beautiful family run foundation. Very informative and friendly. It’s so nice to see how well looked after the elephants are. It’s a very intimate, humbling experience. Perfect amount of time up close with these gentle giants. Recommend an ethical place like this as many in the area are apparently not

Very nice. To see few elephants close by. Although they say riding on elephant is bad, you can still sit on the elephant. What is a bit contradicting. Nevertheless we enjoyed the walk with the elephants side by side and the bathing of her.

The park helps elephants with injuries to recover. They have a small informative museum. You could ride, pet, feed and wash an elephant if you wanted. I experienced that it became a bit monotonous for the elephants.

This place was my first attraction after landing in SriLanka. They have total 5 elephants including one Tasker. They charge 3000 LKR per foreigners for taking an elephant ride, Bathing and Feeding the elephant and a small journey through the elephant museam. They also do volunteer programs for those elephants. We took the opportunity to feed the 55 years old elephant called RAJA and bath a female one named POOJA.

We came here as part of our Jetwing Travels package and had been really looking forward to it. When we got there we were allowed to bathe an elephant for 1 minute and then that was it !!!! We had been looking forward to feeding or walking with the elephants but this didn’t seem to be an option. Staff were unhelpful. In terms of the animal welfare - this is the modern day equivalent of a working elephant. Elephants are forced to repeat monotonous tasks like being bathed / ridden for the enjoyment of tourists. We noticed a few were in chains also. The mahouts (elephant carers) were the worst part. They scream aggressive commands at the elephants and if they don’t comply, they are prodded and jabbed with a metal stick. They definitely did not look qualified to be caring for elephants. They also demanded tips whenever anybody wanted a photo!!! (Despite everyone paying an entrance fee) Luckily, our tour guide had arranged for us to do an elephant safari a few days before and that was AMAAAZING. If you want to experience a real connection with the animal do it in their natural habitat… not in a fake “sanctuary”.

Seems to be a fair place for the elephants. Never know, of course, but it seemed they take care better than other places.

Did half day volunteering which took us all over over facility. Worth every cent and definitely the best way to learn about elephants in sri lanka and get a hands on feeling of how MEF is caring for them

Good place to interact with elephants , ride, bath, feed them nice activity and it may be after 20 years all these things become virtual so try to enjoy it before it happen