Shwesettaw Mann Creek Elephant Camp in Minbu District, Magway Region resumed its tourism service on 5 February, along with Mann Shwesettaw Pagoda Festival, said U Aung Win Naing, manager of the Elephant Camp.
The elephant camp is aimed to attract local travellers and tourists in the forms of forest-based tourism and ecotourism in the protected area of the Myanma Timber Enterprise. Myanmar implemented elephant-based tourism, created eco-tourism sites and opened elephant camps near rivers and mountain ranges.
“A jetty, recreating sites, decoration and bungalows have been prepared near Mann Creek to enjoy elephant bathing and river view. Additionally, elephant lovers can also donate online for elephant buffet pricing K30,000-K50,000-K100,000 per day ,” said U Aung Win Naing.
The camp is open between 7 am and 6 pm. There are 11 elephants in the camp. A local visitor is charged K1,000 while the entrance fee for a tourist is K5,000. The elephant rides cost K5,000 for a local traveller and K10,000 for a tourist. There are 11 bungalows for accommodation. A bungalow can be rented at K30,000 per day.
The camp was opened on 9 February 2019 and is situated outside the Padaung-Pyawbwe forest reserve eight miles away from the road to Mann Shwesettaw Pagoda in Minbu District. The COVID-19 negative consequences shut down the camp from 25 March 2020. It was reopened along with the festival of Mann Shwesettaw Pagoda at which the footprints of the Buddha were enshrined. Moreover, the third anniversary of the camp was also marked at the opening ceremony of the camp. — Maung Maung (Minbu)/GNLM
