Question 1

When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka

Accepted Answer

For the South, Middle (where we are situated) and West of the country, between December and April is the best time. Monsoon season comes around April time and the best weather (rarely dropping below 25 degrees C) usually occurs around January. The North and East is best to visit from May to October.

Question 2

What languages do you speak?

Accepted Answer

At Elephant Care Relief, we speak Sinhala and English, so no need to learn a whole new language for your trip.

Question 3

Do I need a special Visa?

Accepted Answer

You do not need any special visa to come and stay with us, even if you are staying with us for an extended amount of time. You need a tourist visa which can be attained online on the Sri Lanka government website. Please make sure you put yourself as coming for a holiday or you may not be permitted to enter the country. If you need any help with this please get in contact with us and we will help advise you, however we cannot give any legal advice, so if your issue is out of our scope of assistance, please seek legal aid. For those staying longer than a month, tourist visa’s can be extended at the immigration office in Colombo.

Question 4

Is there internet access?

Accepted Answer

Yes, both are available. We recommend purchasing a Sri Lankan SIM card upon arrival in the country, as our WiFi is not the best, and we are at the project location for most of the day. If you do not purchase one upon arrival, we can help you obtain one in the local town. In this town, there is also a post office with international shipping.

Question 5

Is Sri Lanka Safe?

Accepted Answer

Like anywhere in the world, there are dangers, but being such a new country to such large amounts of tourism, Sri Lanka is very safe, being ranked one of the safest places for female travellers in Asia. That being said, making sure you respect the local communities and culture will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable experience in Sri Lanka.

Question 6

Will I have time for extra activities?

Accepted Answer

During your stay with us, to make sure your stay is broken up into an enjoyable experience, the inclusion of activties is offered as part of your volunteering, allowing you to explore one of Sri Lanka’s less known areas for a truly unforgettable experience. Weekends are also designed to give you lot’s of free time if you are staying longer than one week.

Question 7

Should I have Travel Insurance?

Accepted Answer

In short, yes, it is always best if you have travel insurance when you travel, especially if you will be spending most of your time in the Jungle. Make sure to find the best deal for you.

Question 8

Why are elephants rented and not owned?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka is very different when it comes to Elephants than other places in Asia. Due to the nature in which elephant domestication came about, and the sheer lack of domesticated elephants, elephants have always been sold at an exceedingly high price. As we are a small project and have always had small funds, owning is not an option for us as of now. In the future we hope to change this drastically and own lot’s of elephants, however this is why we are so reliant on you. Donations, Day Trips and Volunteering are the backbone of our project, and the only reason we can stay open.

Question 9

What is a mahout and why are they needed?

Accepted Answer

Mahout’s are an inherited role that are a domesticated elephant’s handler. They are able to command elephant’s through a special language, and are around their elephant every single day. Unfortunately, the initial ideology of mahout’s is ton control elephants by force, torture, and starvation. This is a practice we are actively trying to change, and that we have achieved with Mali’s mahout, Samandha. Mahout’s must stay with their elephants, as we do not want to put anyone out of work by saving these elephants, so changing the relationship that they have in a positive way is the best way forward.

Question 10

What is a bullhook?

Accepted Answer

A bullhook is an item that is the main tool for elephant domestication in Sri Lanka. It is something that we want to completely abolish from our project. However, as we run our project in the village, for the local communities piece of mind we have to have it present. We NEVER use it on our elephants, and is only there for show. When our elephants are grazing or in the river, it is not in sight, only when walking to and from their beds is it present.

Question 11

Can I read reviews anywhere?

Accepted Answer

Of course! If you look up Elephant Care Relief on Google Maps, you will have ample oppurtunity to read through all the reviews that people have left for us.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS