About this experience
An elephant back safari from Habarana is an hour spent in the company of a working elephant and its mahout, on the edge of the lakes and scrub forest that surround this small town in the Cultural Triangle. It sits between the bigger sights of the region, so it fits easily into a day that also takes in Sigiriya or Dambulla.
The heart of the hour is a ride of about 30 minutes on the elephant's back. The mahout walks alongside and sets the pace, which is slow and swaying, and from that height you look out over water hyacinth and the open water of the tank, with waterbirds working the shallows.
After the ride comes the part many guests remember longest. The elephant wades into the water and lies down on its side, and you are handed a coconut shell or a scoop to help scrub and rinse it while the mahout guides you. It is wet, muddy and unhurried, and you see at close quarters how carefully the animal is groomed after its bath.
The hour ends with feeding, when the elephant takes food straight from your hand, a good moment for photographs. Entrance tickets are part of the booking; food and drinks, and tips for the mahout, are not included.
Wear comfortable clothes you do not mind getting wet, and sandals or shoes that can go into shallow water. A wide-brimmed hat or cap helps against the sun, and a towel and a change of clothes are worth bringing if you plan to join in the bathing.
