Mason Elephant Sanctuary Bali: Top Rescue Park & Eco Lodge

We recently visited the Bali elephant sanctuary near Ubud (also known as Mason Elephant Park) and had a great time playing with the Bali elephants!

This is an elephant rescue park opened in 1997, and they do a lot of great conservation work for the Sumatran elephants, which are critically endangered on their home island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

The safari park has numerous activities, such as elephant rides, elephant feeding and bathing, and a museum. Consequently, it’s easy to visit on a day trip from Ubud and other areas of Bali.

If you wish to stay longer, there is even a 5-star hotel called Mason Elephant Lodge, where you can spend the night and enjoy the animals from your hotel balcony.

This is not the only elephant sanctuary Bali has to offer, but it’s by far the best experience. The park owners genuinely care about the elephants, and the animals seem genuinely happy and well cared for. Read on for our full review!

Bali Elephant Sanctuary: What To Expect

Surrounded by hills and jungle, the park spans 3.5 hectares of tropical landscape where the elephants are kept in a fenced area. However, they have a daily routine allowing them to roam around freely and enjoy a sand pit, shade houses, a bathing lake, and more.

The Bali elephant sanctuary is exceptionally well managed and nicely maintained, featuring botanical gardens, Koi ponds, and stone carvings made by local Balinese artists, along with ample viewing areas to observe the elephants up close.

They provide daily educational talks and elephant shows where visitors can witness the elephants painting and performing other activities. We visited during the Covid pandemic, so some of these programs were limited, but we still had a remarkable experience, and during normal times, it’s certain to be even better.

It is entirely feasible to visit this park on a day trip from other parts of Bali, completing all the highlights in just a couple of hours. Nevertheless, if you’re truly an elephant lover, you could easily stay longer, and there’s a nice lodge at the park for your convenience.

Everything mentioned in this article is my personal opinion, and it’s an unpaid review of the park. We weren’t reimbursed in any way for this endorsement.

Bali Elephant Ride

You can participate in elephant riding at the Bali park, although it incurs an additional cost over the standard ticket.

This is arguably the best elephant ride Bali has to offer, as there’s more space for movement. You get to stroll through a bit of jungle scenery and also a small lake that is perfect for the elephants.

This activity provides good exercise for the elephants, something they require while living in a park. I will discuss the ethics of this aspect later in the article, as I understand some people may have concerns about elephant riding.

Elephant Feeding & Washing

One of the highlights of visiting the park is feeding and washing the elephants.

You are permitted to pet and cuddle them, and you can easily see they enjoy the attention. It’s an engaging experience.

The park features a small lake for the elephants to swim in, and they were lively and playful, making it challenging to capture still photos. The park’s newest baby elephant also joined in on the bath time fun.

You can have your picture taken with the elephants while feeding them or bathing them, and the staff are more than happy to assist. This is all part of the standard entrance ticket.

Each of the elephants in this park consumes 200 kilos of food daily, and typically, guests get to feed them palm stems; however, you can spoil them with fresh fruit baskets for a little extra cost.

Elephant Museum

The entrance to the elephant safari park in Bali includes a lovely museum that features a giant mammoth skeleton (cast replica) along with many other fascinating displays.

While it’s more of a mini-museum, there are numerous unique artifacts, and the quality of displays is top-notch. Exhibits include Balinese Kris daggers and ancient carved tusks from various islands in Indonesia.

I wished to explore this area longer; however, we had additional places to visit after the park. The museum is included free with your entrance ticket.

Special Bali Elephant Photoshoots

If you wish to splurge, you can pay extra for a special private photoshoot with Lukcip, a male Sumatran elephant with impressive tusks.

This was the absolute highlight of our visit to the park, as we could get up close and personal with the most photogenic and outstanding elephant in Bali, all set in the jungle without chains or safety fences obstructing the view. It was nothing short of spectacular!

It’s apparently a favorite with affluent Instagrammers and celebrities, as the normal price for this photoshoot is a staggering 4.5 million Rupiah ($300 USD) for 30 minutes.

Typically, we would forgo such an expense; however, during the pandemic, they offered us a significant discount since there were nearly no other tourists in Bali.

Lukcip willingly posed with us, and the entire encounter was thrilling. Intan even had the opportunity to feed him and sit on his back. I’ve never seen a bull elephant with tusks quite as magnificent!

For scheduling a special photoshoot with this elephant, it’s necessary to make an advance booking via WhatsApp at ☎ +62 811-3979-480 or 811-3960-4959.

The price includes entry to the entire park for four individuals but does not cover the cost of a photographer (bring your own). We took our photos in the morning when the lighting was optimal.

Sumatran Elephant Conservation

The elephants at the safari park aren’t native to Bali (as Bali lacks its own elephants); they were rescued from Sumatra, one of Indonesia’s largest islands.

Sumatran elephants face critical endangerment due to illegal deforestation and poaching. Their native habitat in Sumatra is being destroyed to create agricultural land.

Despite being protected under Indonesian law, the government has done little for enforcement, with a staggering 50% of the world’s Sumatran elephants lost between 1985 and 2007.

Conservationists sadly forecast that Sumatran elephants could face extinction in the wild in less than a decade if poaching persists.

This context is pivotal, as rescue parks like this one in Bali provide the elephants with a sanctuary where they can live and breed safely.

Is The Bali Elephant Sanctuary Ethical?

During our visit, we did not observe any signs of distress from the elephants; in fact, they appeared genuinely happy and healthy. One can identify an elephant’s mood by observing its tail, similar to how one would with dogs.

If you’re concerned for the elephants’ welfare, I encourage you first to ask questions for a better understanding before forming conclusions.

The park staff clarified several points:

• The elephants are not subjected to cruelty for their training; rather, they are taught with rewards, patience, and repetition.
• While feeding and at night, the elephants are tethered with a chain, but only to prevent them from fighting over food and damaging the park grounds.
• Elephant rides serve as a vital form of exercise, which the elephants require since they receive less of it in the Bali park compared to the wild.
• Although mahouts carry hooks, they are utilized only in emergency situations where the elephant’s safety is at stake.
• Each elephant is assigned a lifelong keeper, along with veterinary care to ensure their health and nutrition.
• Elephants thrive on the interaction they receive from visitors.

All considered, the elephants enjoy a life of luxury in many aspects. While it may not be perfect, nothing is.

Sadly, these majestic creatures would likely face death or suffering if they were to remain in their natural habitat in Sumatra.

While it’s natural to wish for wild animals to live free, parks and sanctuaries like this one are essential for saving endangered species.

Is The Bali Elephant Ride Ethical?

Riding elephants at Mason Elephant Sanctuary Bali is a popular activity, but is it ethical?

Opinions on this are mixed, so if riding elephants in Bali doesn’t sit well with you, there are numerous other enriching activities available at this sanctuary.

However, it’s noteworthy that the ACEWG international elephant conservation group notes that in certain cases, elephant riding can be ethical and does not harm the animal.

The ACEWG comprises some of the world’s esteemed elephant specialists, scientists, and conservationists. Here’s their perspective:

Regarding elephant riding, ACEWG observes that while specific studies on elephants haven’t been extensively conducted, it’s known that horses, dogs, and donkeys can carry weights up to 20-25% of their body weight. For a 6,600-pound elephant, this equates to at least 1,320 pounds.

“If the working hours are limited and the terrain is appropriate, riding two people in a saddle (less than 10% of the elephant’s body weight) would not impose undue stress on the elephant,” the organization states. “The weight of one or two people without a saddle (less than 4% of body weight) would hardly be noticeable.”

Once again, if riding elephants doesn’t appeal to you, there are plenty of other worthwhile activities at the sanctuary. It’s a joy to observe the elephants up close and feed them, and for many visitors, that experience can be sufficiently fulfilling.

Staying At Mason Elephant Lodge

If you wish to spend the night with the elephants, the park features a unique 5-star hotel named Mason Elephant Lodge.

Waking up to the sights and sounds of elephants from your balcony, the rooms offer free breakfast, WiFi, A/C, comfortable beds, and all the amenities expected from a quality Bali hotel.

Additional facilities include a restaurant and bar, gift shop, tour desk, ATM, currency exchange, fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, sauna, massage/spa treatments, car, and bicycle rentals, among others.

Staying at the hotel includes complimentary entrance to the Mason Elephant Park and activities, and for dinner, they provide free elephant rides to the restaurant (referred to as ‘chauffeur’ service).

Opening Hours

• Open: Daily (except during Nyepi Day)
• Hours: 8 AM – 6 PM

How To Get There

The Mason Elephant Park is situated near Ubud in the Taro highlands, central Bali.

It is about a 30-minute drive from Ubud or around 1.5 – 2 hours from other tourist areas like Kuta, Sanur, and Canggu.

You can reach the park by scooter or private car, and there are tour packages available that provide hotel pickup and drop-off.

Best Elephant Tours

If you prefer a comprehensive tour package including hotel pickup and drop-off, here are several options:

• General Admission — This includes access to all attractions at Mason Elephant Park, excluding washing or elephant riding.
• Jumbo Wash — Hand wash an elephant. This also includes buffet lunch and admission to all attractions at the park.
• Bath & Breakfast — Bathe an elephant in the lake, along with breakfast and admission to all attractions.
• Elephant Safari Ride — This package includes the Bali elephant ride, buffet lunch, and admission to all other attractions at the park.

It is advisable to book everything in advance, as the Bali elephant sanctuary can become quite busy at times, particularly on weekends and during holidays.

More Things To Do Nearby

The elephant park is located near Ubud, providing numerous opportunities for exploring attractions in the area.

It’s a short distance from the stunning Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Tirta Empul Temple, and the Gunung Kawi Ruins, among others.

More Ubud Hotels

For those seeking further accommodation options near Mason Elephant Park, here are some top recommendations.

All of these hotels are within a 30-minute driving distance from the Bali elephant sanctuary.

Bali Private Driver & Motorbike Rental

If you want to explore Bali conveniently and safely, consider hiring a private car with an English-speaking driver. My top recommendation is GetYourGuide.

Prices start at 700k Rupiah (~$48 USD) for a full day of travel and sightseeing in Bali (valid for up to 10 hours) for 1-5 passengers. This total covers the entire car, driver, and fuel! It’s an excellent deal. They also offer affordable airport transfers.

For those who prefer traveling by motorbike, rentals are also available. Their scooter rentals begin at 140k Rupiah (~$9) and include a helmet, raincoat, and free delivery in the southern Bali area.

We have used GetYourGuide for many tours and activities worldwide, and they have always provided an excellent experience. Highly recommended.