Elefantastic - The Best Elephant Wildlife Sanctuary in India — Attraction in Jaipur Municipal Corporation

From the very beginning, we knew that Elefantastic Tours was for us. Our holiday was centered on a trip to Jaipur, and of course Elefantastic, so when we saw they also offered tours we thought we better give Rahul an email! Rahul was always a speedy responder, extremely polite, and clearly eager to please and offer a top quality experience. He was extremely adaptive regarding dates, our goals and our budget!

Our arrival into Delhi was stress free and we were quickly acquainted with our driver, Haider, who greeted me with beautiful flowers! The car was spacious, had air-con, and Haider kept it well stocked with cold water, which is very appreciated when you’re a pale Scottish woman experiencing monsoon season for the first time! Haider was super friendly and was happy to drive us everywhere, even if it deviated from the itinerary.

All of the hotels were brilliant, very scenic and in prime locations. The facilities for each hotel varied, some had TV, a pool, and Internet, and others didn’t. We were so busy during the day that we were only there to rest our heads! My favorite hotel was in Udaipur where our room looked out onto Lake Pichola and City Palace. It also had a rooftop seating area, where we watched the sunset as we drank masala tea.

The tour guides were top quality; they were extremely professional, knowledgeable, and great companions. In Delhi our tour guide was Bishan and he was fantastic, Delhi was a pretty overwhelming place; it was super busy and difficult to navigate. He was very adaptive to our needs, planned our day based on the restaurants we wanted to visit, and crammed our itinerary to the brim – we had a 12 hour day of fun! Our tour guide in Agra was also brilliant; Raja actually improved the quality of our trip beyond our time with him. We mentioned that we were struggling with tipping as the ATM was giving us large notes. So he worked out how much we would need roughly for tipping the rest of our trip then changed it into 10 rupee notes. This made a huge difference as it removed a stress that was affecting our enjoyment. Raja also had great tips for places to eat, and again crammed our day with fun. We didn’t have a long time in Fatehpur Sikri but our tour guide was really efficient and informative, he also took some cracking pictures! In Udaipur we had Daanveer and when he realized we loved photography he added the Kumbhalgarh Fort to our itinairy, second only to the Great Wall of China. Rajesh in Jaipur was also fabulous, unfortunately we were ill but he adapted to our needs and tried to make the most of our time there.

In Jaipur we visited Rahul and the elephant farm. Elefantastic was something else – I don’t think I can describe it with words you just need to go! Being up close and personal with the elephants was a unique experience. It was obvious they were loved and that Rahul and his team were very knowledgeable about their needs. We fed the elephants, bathed with them (bring a spare pair of clothes), and rode them!

As I said before, Rahul really went the extra mile to ensure the quality of our experience. He kept in contact with us throughout the trip to check that we were happy and that everything was going smoothly. He looked after us while we were sick in Jaipur; he even gave us beds at Elefantastic so we could rest when we weren’t playing with the elephants. When he found out I wanted henna he asked his sister is she would do it for me, and it was beautiful! He really was a great host!

In summary, this was a fantastic, stress-free trip; it’s great for a first visit to India as the culture is very different from our own. My boyfriend and I have just graduated university and we were considering planning this trip ourselves. Everyone says traveling solo without a guide is the most fun, the most adventurous, but that just isn’t true! Going on a tour did not take away the adventure, or the personal aspect (the trip was literally planned around where we wanted to go), and I think if you have a short period of time then a tour is the most efficient way to explore a...

Let me state that I am an animal lover/activist and very aware of animal exploitation.

While visiting India I witnessed many working elephants/animals in general in the street which broke my heart. It’s easy to get angry and not want to support the industry. I completely agree with that, but do realize the elephant in India is tradition and I respect that this is their way of life. I researched elephant sanctuaries in Jaipur and also researched elephant experiences out of curiosity. Elephantastic was the most humane one I found. I booked the experience last minute on a Sunday for a Monday. They were very accommodating. I read the bad reviews where people said the phone calls were rude, but I don’t think they understand the Indian culture of being short and to the point, also English is the second language for the owners, so cut them some slack.

I found it confusing to book as they don’t have a direct link on their website to purchase the experience. You must first email them to then have them reply and set up the encounter.

Our experience was 10,200 rupees which was worth EVERY PENNY. If you love animals, this is for you. You are as up close and personal as you want to be. It started with a pickup at our hotel by an amazing driver who was friendly and English speaking. He gave us a tour of the city on our way to the sanctuary.

When we got there, it didn’t look like much but our minds were quickly changed. We had a quick safety talk with the owner and then we were introduced to the elephants. They were a great weight, appear healthy, and happy. We fed them bananas to gain their trust then spent a ton of time petting, loving on her, and speaking with her personal keeper, asking any questions we had. The employees were all friendly and answered all of my inquiries. We continued to take photos while feeding her.

We then gave her a shower which she absolutely loved. The kids in the group next to us painted their elephant (nontoxic) but we passed. We then bathed her where you could see she loved it. From there we walked her (you have to walk through elephant village which is sad because other companies chain their elephants) but once you get to the trail it’s nice and you can see the elephant watering hole. If you’re lucky you can see an elephant happy and bathing. When we got back we were taxi’d to the owners moms house for the most incredible vegetarian food. Easily the best I’ve had while traveling india. The driver then took us back to the hotel. He was sweet and remembered the places we had told him about wanting to check out while making small talk that morning… he brought us to a beautiful textile store and a blue pottery store and also recommended a place for dinner.

Overall, I recommend Elephantastic because they are keeping the Indian tradition alive while offering an alternative to tourists who want to interact with ele’s. They are the most humane option and I choose to support that. I have told my friends about it and will come back the next time I...

Trying to book this experience itself was more of an adventure than I expected, thanks to my chat with the owner, Mr. Rahul. Picture this: you’re all set to make friends with majestic elephants, but first, you’ve got to navigate the jungle of booking conditions. Here’s a quick tour:

Full payment upfront is the golden rule. It felt a bit like being asked to marry someone on the first date – commitment level 100!

Negotiating? Oh, that's a big no-no. According to him, the price is the price, making me wonder if I accidentally called a Mercedes dealership instead. In his own words, as a customer I do not have a right to negotiate and this was an Indian mentality he discourages. Not sure, what race he is trying to win with such behavior. :)

The Luxe Life: Mr. Rahul proudly made it clear that his place is the most expensive elephant experiences of all. And I could take my business elsewhere if I did not like the price. I really felt wanted as a customer at that very moment.

But hey, let’s not forget, the main attraction here is spending quality time with elephants, which, by based on reviews of the fellow travelers, is nothing short of extraordinary.

As the conversation unfolded, it seemed Mr. Rahul prefers his guests to follow the script—pay without a peep; especially international folks who are supposed to just smile, nod, and hand over the cash. For someone used to the dance of bargaining and building connections through negotiation, this was a bit of a cold splash. A splash cold enough to make me decide to take my business elsewhere.

In a world where every traveler’s voice can echo far and wide thanks to reviews, the tone and manner of business interactions matter immensely. It's particularly crucial in the tourism sector, where cultural sensitivities and expectations vary widely. A more accommodating and understanding approach could not only enhance the customer experience but also broaden the appeal of the business to a global audience.

And to Mr. Rahul, a piece of friendly advice: the beauty of your service is evident, and your dedication to providing memorable experiences is clear. Embracing a bit more flexibility and warmth in your interactions could make all the difference. After all, in the end, it’s not just the elephants that leave a lasting impression, but every word exchanged in anticipation of the encounter. (Soon, response from owner will prove, what I am trying to say).

Here’s hoping for a future where the dialogue is as pleasant as the promise of meeting those magnificent elephants. To all future guests, may your visits be everything you hope...