Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary

The Teknaf sanctuary covers about eleven thousand hectares of hill forest along the narrow peninsula that runs south from Cox's Bazar toward Myanmar, with the sea on one side and the Naf river on the other, and it protects the last substantial habitat for Asian elephant in south-eastern Bangladesh along with a long list of other species. The forest is semi-evergreen on hill slopes and it has been under heavy pressure: illegal logging, encroachment and, since 2017, the very large refugee settlements on the northern edge of the peninsula, which have cleared substantial areas. Marked trails and watchtowers exist and a co-management arrangement involves local villages, but visitor infrastructure is thin.

What you actually see

• The last south-eastern elephant habitat - the forest the herds still use.
• Semi-evergreen hill forest - the woodland on the peninsula slopes.
• Sea on one side, river on the other - the narrowness of the strip.
• Watchtowers and marked trails - the limited visitor infrastructure.

When to go

November to March. Half a day. A guide is advisable both for finding trails and for safety, since elephants are present. Access to some areas is restricted. Check current conditions locally before going.

Honest expectations

Elephants are dangerous and encounters happen; do not walk unaccompanied. The forest has been heavily damaged by clearance and the northern part of the peninsula is dominated by refugee settlements, where visits are not appropriate. Infrastructure is minimal.

Nearby

Teknaf is at the southern tip; Cox's Bazar lies north.