Overview of Kulen Elephant Forest

In the foothills of Kulen Mountain, lies the Bos Thom Community Forest, 1100 acres of protected forest inhabited by the former elephants of Angkor. For 22 years, these elephants have given rides to visitors in the temples of the world heritage site. Today, they roam free in their natural habitat and are living testimony of a changing world.

With 75 remaining captive elephants in Cambodia, the protection of this amazing animal is more critical than ever. A visit to the Kulen Elephant Forest will not only help the elephants of Angkor but all elephants in Cambodia through the KEF’s longer term objectives, for we believe in the power of education and tourism as drivers for conservation.

The Mission

The elephants at the Kulen Elephant Forest have spent most of their lives working in the tourism industry and are enjoying a long-awaited and well-deserved retirement. Here in the forest, they can finally roam free and unburdened. They will rediscover relationships, natural foods they haven’t eaten in years, and receive the best of care.

Our mission is to provide our residents with a happy and comfortable retirement but also to offer a fun, educational approach to elephant conservation and contribute as much as possible to preserving the remaining elephants of Cambodia.

Tours

Every tour departs from our office in downtown Siem Reap where our shuttle will take you on a one hour drive to the Kulen Elephant Forest. Once at the reserve, you will spend time learning about elephants as you follow them through their natural habitat, observing their relationships and behaviors.
Click on the packages to learn more about our unique experiences or take a look below for more information about our facility.

Overnight Camping

Sleep under the stars and alongside elephants with our overnight camping experience. After an afternoon with elephants, spend a night camping complete with campfire cooking and some restful sleep at our fully-equipped campsite. In the morning, have breakfast in the wild before your day of adventure.

Support

We aim to provide support and assistance whenever possible to the captive elephant community of Cambodia. Whether it be through advising, educating, resource exchange or hosting elephants in need of care; we are ready to lend a helping hand.