I love phants Lodge

I’m from a conservation background and have seen some negative reviews about the animals and their enclosures. I understand how hard the owners and staff work, and that wildlife can’t always be released back into the wild. Many of these animals might not survive if they were. Running a rescue centre is incredibly difficult and expensive, even more so alongside a service business. So while you’re here, remember you’re supporting the animals and the people caring for them, and enjoy your stay with that in mind. There’s nowhere else like this in the world. The place itself is beautiful, the rooms are great, and the owner and staff care deeply about conservation and the welfare of the wildlife and people.

Our Mountain View room had a stunning outlook, and we could watch elephants and monkeys from the balcony. It wasn’t very private, though, since it faced the bar and restaurant. That’s just our preference, and next time we’d choose a forest or garden view room. The room was comfortable and had just about everything we needed. We joined the afternoon tour because we couldn’t make the morning one. First there was a good buffet with plenty of food and a decent range, then the tour bus took us around. There was lots to see, including elephants, tigers, birds, and gibbons, and our guide knew a lot. Dinner was tasty and reasonably priced. We’ve just come back from a wonderful stay at I love phants. The staff’s work caring for the wildlife is humbling. We’d definitely stay again and highly recommend it.

Seeing the two elephants from our room was incredible. It overlooked the park, and they’d come close to eat and swim. We also took the day trip, and everything felt beautiful and well cared for. It really seemed like a safe, loving home for animals who’ve been through difficult situations. One of the highlights of our travels so far.

The pool bungalow was a brilliant choice. We could watch some elephants and a family of gibbons from our terrace and pool, and it never got old. We also asked the friendly staff about a couple of trips, and they arranged them around us, including a bespoke trip with a driver for the day. They made us feel like nothing was too much trouble. The WFFT facilities tour is a must. The morning tour includes quite a bit of walking, but it’s well worth it, and our guide was knowledgeable and passionate about the animals. We hadn’t researched the place much and expected mostly an elephant sanctuary, but it’s much more than that. They currently have over 900 rescued animals, covering 36 species, if I remember right. The elephants are amazing, of course. My compliments to Edwin, the founder, for bringing a sanctuary and a holiday stay together so well. We want to return, and maybe volunteer next time.