Dera Amer Elephant Camp

I recently went on an incredible 2 week trip to India and spent the majority of my time in the beautiful state of Rajasthan. Exploring Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaipur, Agra and then finishing off with an incredible four days in Jim Corbett National Park. India was a place I knew I needed to visit as part of my healing journey and for me, animals have always been incredibly therapeutic. When I stumbled upon Dera Amer, I just knew I had to visit this incredible place, and it far exceeded my expectations.

When I first started researching my trip to India, I somehow stumbled upon Dera Amer, a luxury glamping camp located about 45 minutes outside of Jaipur. I instantly decided that this was a place I had to go to and I built my itinerary around staying her for one night. Glamping and Elephants were all I needed to know to decide that this was the place for me.

I arrived at Dera Amer around 12:00pm and was immediately greeted by two of the most friendly elephants I’ve ever met, Laxmi and Rangmala. I was warmly welcomed by the two gentle giants, their trunks swaying gracefully as they enveloped me in a hug with their mighty trunks. Having journeyed through Thailand and Africa, I've had numerous encounters with elephants, though typically surrounded by a throng of tourists all fighting for their brief moment to snap Insta-worthy photos. This was different. This was just me, the mahouts and these two giant beauties. And I had as much time as I wanted.

I fed Rangmala, Laxmi and Lucky the camel banana’s, as the camp owner shared these beautiful creatures pasts. All three animals were rescued from an abusive life at the Amer Fort, where they were forced to work in the intense heat carrying tourists up the massive hill, burning their feet on the scalding pavement. Dera Amer serves as a sanctuary not only for humans but also for these animals, where they are cherished and nurtured. Here, except for their mahouts, no one is permitted to ride them. For those unfamiliar, a mahout is akin to an elephant's caretaker, forming an extraordinarily strong bond with these gentle giants.

After a few precious hours of on one on time with my new best friends, I decided to give them some rest and headed over to the pool to cool down. Jaipur experiences scorching temperatures, and today felt no different. It was 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which, ironically, is considered relatively mild for the region. However, coming from the Boston area where it's currently 30 degrees with snowfall, this warmth felt like summer to me! The pool was pure tranquility, complemented by a gentle breeze drifting through the air - chef’s kiss! The chirping of birds filled the air, while peacocks leisurely strolled around, adding to the serene ambiance.

As the temperature cooled off, it was time to treat Rangmala to a leisurely stroll. The grounds at Dera Amer were picqutesrt and with Rangmala by my side, we wandered for over an hour. In the wild, elephants will walk quite a bit, so it is important that while living at Dera Amer, she gets exercise. This not only is good for her heart, but also helps her digest her food. And boy! Does this girl eat! As we wandered, we soaked in more about the property and its inhabitants, all while Rangmala got her fit on.

Before dinner, the staff arranged a high tea for us at a viewpoint, perfect to watch the sunset. I was told that sometimes there are leopards sitings at this time of the day! They gave me binoculars but I had no luck. Later that evening, a romantic fireside dinner was prepared just for me. All the dishes were crafted from locally grown produce sourced from the villagers' garden, which we were going to visit the following day. Every bite was scrumptious, and as a bonus, it was the first meal that didn't leave me hugging the toilet all night!

The next morning I woke up to the sound of birds walking on my tent roof. I decided to go outside and investigate and that’s when I saw wild peacocks - everywhere! I was told that I would see alot of peacocks on my journey to India but this was the first time and they were everywhere! I brought out my kindle and had a masala chai, soaking in all the goodness that is nature. Breakfast was served shortly after. I can honestly say that was my first time eating breakfast with elephants! After breakfast, I took Lucky the camel for a walk so we could both digest our meals.

Dera Amer saved the best for last—a bath time session for Laxmi! It was undoubtedly the highlight of my visit, and I could sense Laxmi's excitement too. As we scrubbed her down, she playfully splashed us with water, leaving us completely drenched. Bath time is essential for elephants to prevent skin infections, mimicking their natural behavior of rolling in mud and scratching against trees in the wild.

If you are planning a trip to India, I highly recommend supporting a wonderful cause like Dera Amer! I’ve been told they will be getting a third elephant in the next few months, so I know for sure I will be returning. And if you go, please give the elephants an extra hug for me!