10 Amazing Wildlife Volunteer Projects Around The World
Are you looking to volunteer abroad with animals? Wildlife volunteer projects are a great way to enjoy a truly unique travel experience while making a difference. And not only do wildlife volunteer projects aid in the conservation of some of the planet’s most incredible species, but they also provide support to the local communities who live alongside them.
So why not incorporate a one-week stay at a wildlife sanctuary into your backpacking itinerary, or dive into a two-month wildlife conservation project?
Volunteers can work in wildlife sanctuaries, spend time tracking wildlife, help conduct research, or teach local communities about the importance of wildlife conversation. Many sanctuaries and conservation projects rely on the help of volunteers, and your travels will be enriched knowing that you have contributed to the world in a positive way. At least, I always find this to be the case for myself!
I reached out to some fellow travel bloggers and wildlife enthusiasts to find out which animal volunteer projects they’ve been involved in to help you find your ideal program. Let’s dive in!
Wildlife volunteer projects in Africa
Antelope Park, Zimbabwe
Recommended by Karen from Big Adventures for Little Feet
Africa is abundant with wildlife volunteering opportunities and is a brilliant place for intrepid travellers to explore and experience a completely different ecosystem. Of course, much of Africa’s species face threats to their survival as a result of habitat reduction, human interference and widespread poaching. One wildlife organisation doing its bit to reverse the damage is Antelope Park, a private game reserve in Gweru Zimbabwe.
The 300-acre Antelope Park property is committed to improving wild lion populations in Africa and runs a highly successful Lion Rehabilitation and Release into the Wild program. Volunteers are afforded a very hands-on experience with the opportunity to assist in daily handling and activities with the tiny lion cubs through to the full-grown adult lions.
All aspects of the centre are aimed at rehabilitation processes that prepare the lions for a successful reintroduction to the wild from enrichment activities replicating wild behaviours to daily walks to trigger their hunting instincts.
What is great about this project is the considered importance of local community engagement and the education and involvement of local people in the success of the project. They work hand in hand with ALERT (the African Lion and Environmental Research Trust) to guide ethical practices.
As a volunteer at Antelope Park, you can expect a very exciting and varied experience. From research assistance, lion enrichment, observation of night encounters and much more this is a fabulous wildlife volunteering opportunity for anyone who loves animal conservation. Options are available for short stay volunteering of just a couple days right through to long term engagement on site.
The Great Gorilla Project, Uganda
Recommended by Kayley Allen
Perhaps it’s because they’re so human-like, but in my opinion, mountain gorillas are one of the most captivating animals in the world. I wanted to find a way to see them in the wild, while also benefiting them in some way. So, after some research, I came across the Great Gorilla Project.
This project enables volunteers to head out to Uganda, where approximately 450 gorillas live, and get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures. The work volunteers do on this project helps to bridge the gap between indigenous communities and gorillas who share their rainforest homes.
During your time in Uganda, you’ll be involved in a wide range of activities within the local community, such as visiting schools to educate kids about the importance of gorilla conservation or tree-planting and reforestation work. Not only this, but you will also take part in two treks into the national parks to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat!
The Great Gorilla Project was actually voted as one of the most innovative eco-travel initiatives in the Guardian’s Green Travel List. It’s a really responsible way in which to see endangered mountain gorillas in the wild, as the programmes that this project supports have positive impacts on local communities.
Large Carnivore Conservation, Namibia
Recommended by Tomi Oguledo
Did you know that Namibia is home to 25% of the world’s cheetah population? It’s also home to a range of other awesome carnivores, such as leopard and hyena! This makes Namibia the ideal location for big cat enthusiasts looking to volunteer in Africa.
The Large Carnivore Conservation Project borders the Namib Naukluft Park – an important area for huge scale wildlife conservation – and encompasses an area of 352 km of stunning desert. This gorgeous national park is textbook Namibia with red sand dunes, camel thorn trees and epic sunsets.
Volunteers who work on the Large Carnivore Conservation Project will be involved with essential conservation work such as environmental mapping, carnivore monitoring, radio and GPS tracking, game counts and setting up trail cameras, as well as feeding the five rescued cheetahs who currently reside at the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary in Windhoek. Caring for these cheetah has become a vital aspect of the programme, as these animals were victims of human conflict prior to their rescue.
This really is a fantastic volunteer project for those who love big cats, aspire to help in their conservation, and want to see the real Namibia. It’s hard work, but you’ll also have the opportunity to go on night drives and camp-outs!
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Reserve, South Africa
Recommended by Rai from A Rai of Light
Having an encounter with an elephant or any other animal in the wild is a major reason to visit South Africa. It helps to do a bit of research to know which encounters are ethical and which to avoid. Thanks to many conservationists, the emphasis in South Africa’s wildlife tourism sector is on protecting the wildlife and respecting the people and animals that live in these places. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi reserve, one of the more famous landmarks in Africa, is one such example.
Established in 1895, the park is the oldest National Park in South Africa. Found in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, just north of Richards Bay, much of it is declared a World Heritage Site. It is also considered as a stronghold for the elephant species, a growing and flourishing elephant population of almost 1000. Large breeding herds are sighted regularly on the banks of the Black Umfolozi River as well as watering holes. The elephants are wild and always viewed from a distance without any human interaction that would place the elephants in any harm whatsoever, helping to preserve this as a true wildlife sanctuary.
There is also the opportunity to volunteer with the elephants. Activities include feeding and cleaning the creatures. You will learn how to use the radio telemetry used to search for collar signals and to pinpoint the locations of the elephants. This not only aids in making the day to day life of the elephants more comfortable, but also helps in the survival of this population. Volunteering with elephants is a once in a lifetime experience and comes highly recommended.
Wildlife volunteer projects in Asia
Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project, Sri Lanka
Recommended by Ellie from Ellie’s Little World
Based just outside of Galle, Sri Lanka, Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project was set up in 1988 to help to save the sea turtle population. They work to help in the conservation efforts of sea turtles by monitoring their activity and numbers each year, and by running a rescue centre for injured and sick individuals. They open the centre up to the public and volunteers can give tours to help educate the public on the different species and their conservation issues.
One of the main focuses of the project is their hatchery. Once they have found a female laying eggs, they will dig up the eggs and transport them to their hatchery. This protects the eggs from natural predators as well as humans who steal the eggs to sell. They will release the hatchlings into the sea when they are ready.
A few years ago I volunteered at KSTPC and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Volunteers can stay on site, which includes all meals and sleeping/washing facilities. One of the men who runs the project used to be a professional tour guide, so at weekends he would arrange trips for us all around the country to sight see and see all the amazing things Sri Lanka has to offer.
Whilst at the project, volunteers help to run the hatchery, clean out the tanks and feed the animals that are currently recovering from injuries. We also took part in a community beach clean, and had the option of going to teach English in the local schools. This is a very worthwhile project to volunteer at if you have the chance.
Elephant Nature Park, Thailand
Recommended by Bec from Wyld Family Travel
Finding ethical places to volunteer at can be difficult. Doing your research and finding suitable places take a lot of time but you can be assured that the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai in Thailand is a wonderful place to work with animals.
Founder Lek Chailert wanted to develop a place where mistreated elephants would be safe and finally find a home free of hard labour and cruelty. A forever home full of love, contentment and freedom.
Now not only can you volunteer to work alongside one of the most amazing creatures on the planet Elephant Nature Park is now also a haven for dogs and cats. Dogs are sometimes abandoned at the gate due to disabilities or birth defects and at Elephant Nature Park they are cared for. Some are even given a second chance at being rehomed and some even have special buggies made so they are able to run again on a lead with one of the volunteers if they have been paralysed.
While the Elephant Nature Park makes money off visitors, people who want to stay the night at Elephant Nature Park and volunteers alike, the money goes straight back into finding and bringing more elephants to the park. While you are visiting Elephant Nature Park you are not able to ride or bathe the elephants but you can feed them and you can watch them in the park.
Elephant Nature Park is also a large community. The Mahouts move to the area when they get the job to work with an elephant. Their families are then either employed locally or they are also employed at the park. Their children are sent to school and given a brilliant education as well. So not only is the park a place where the animals are cared for, the care, love and contentment spreads to all that are involved.
Panda Volunteer Program, China
Recommended by Kay from The Awkward Traveller
Giant Pandas are the national treasure of China. Through the incredible amount of resources China has put into panda conservation and wild rehabilitation and reintroduction, pandas were officially upgraded from their endangered status to “vulnerable” in 2018.
To contribute to panda conservation, you can volunteer at a panda research centre in the Sichuan province of China. As part of China’s Panda Volunteer Program, volunteers will pick up some of the grunt work around the research centres that house pandas not eligible for wilderness reintroduction by cleaning panda enclosures, preparing their multivitamin cakes, and feeding midday snacks to the adult pandas.
There are three separate research centers that visitors can volunteer at: Dujiangyan Panda Base, Bifengxia Panda Base, and the Wolong Panda Base. Volunteers will also learn about the history of panda conservation in China, and the vast extent of time, money, and effort it takes to protect and rehabilitate animals on the brink of extinction. However, volunteers are not allowed to hold or take selfies with the pandas, not because it harms the pandas, per se, but because it provides no benefit to them.
The core focus of the Panda Volunteer Program is to promote productive conservation and environmental education. The cost of the Panda Volunteer Program is around 700-1000 RBM, and the proceeds go back to the research bases to fund future panda conservation research and projects. To ensure the safety of both the volunteers and the pandas, volunteers must be between the ages of 12-65, and translators are available for those who do not speak Chinese.
Wildlife volunteer projects in Europe
El Refugio del Burrito, Spain
Recommended by Linn from Andalucia Hiking
If you’re looking to volunteer with an amazing organization that rescues and rehabilitates donkeys and mules, El Refugio del Burrito in southern Spain is the perfect place to go. It’s situated in Fuente de Piedra less than an hour from Malaga and the Costa del Sol and a short drive from El Torcal de Antequera.
El Refugio del Burrito is a subsidiary of the British organization The Donkey Sanctuary and works wholeheartedly with rescuing donkeys, mules, and horses all over Spain. Their main focus is to relocate the animals through adoption, but if the animals are too sick or maltreated to go for adoption, they get a forever home at the sanctuary. There they will receive all the medical care and love they need. The paddocks are large and once they have been through a quarantine period and are ready to meet the other donkeys and mules, they are released into the paddock to meet their new friends.
Spain is known for the use of donkeys, mules, and horses in their traditional fiestas and pilgrimages. El Refugio del Burrito has a large presence in these gatherings.
When volunteering at El Refugio del Burrito, you will mainly do mucking and feeding, but there are also other tasks like grooming and helping out the staff and vet.
To volunteer, it’s required a minimum of two months and you need to pay for legally required training during your first week. These animals are truly gentle and so loving. Volunteering with El Refugio del Burrito is an experience for a lifetime.
Iberian Wolf Sanctuary, Portugal
Recommended by Charlotte Coombe
Iberian wolves, also known as Spanish wolves, used to roam free in northern Portugal and northwest Spain. But now, it’s sadly believed that there are only 300 left in the wild.
Just an hour outside of Portugal’s capital city Lisbon, there is an ethical wolf sanctuary home to 10 rescued wolves. The sanctuary is a permanent, safe home for these wolves, as they have been rescued from illegal captive conditions and cannot return to the wild.
The sanctuary has spacious enclosures containing a wide variety of vegetation and landscape features so that the rescued wolves can live as similar as possible to how they would in the wild.
Volunteers are welcome at the sanctuary to help out with caring for the wolves and to support conservation work in the area. Typical volunteer tasks include preparing food and feeding the wolves, monitoring the wolves, maintaining the forest and maintaining the wolf enclosure. The work is physically demanding, but it’s highly rewarding knowing your work is directly contributing to the conservation of this incredible species.
Wildlife volunteer projects in Central & South America
La Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary, Bolivia
Recommended by Lora from Explore With Lora
South America is home to some of the most remarkable wildlife on this planet. One of the best ways to see the amazing wildlife here is to spend some time volunteering. One worthy organization is La Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary in Bolivia.
The mission of La Senda Verde is to take care of rescued wild animals that are victims of trafficking, cruelty, and habitat loss within Bolivia. The sanctuary works closely with the nearby communities, offering a much-needed space for animals that suffer due to these ongoing issues in Bolivia. The sanctuary also helps educates locals and tourists on these issues through guided visits and community outreach.
The sanctuary is home to over 700 different animals. As a volunteer at La Senda Verde, your main responsibilities include cleaning, feeding, and enriching the lives of the animals. There are five different areas that volunteers work in on a rotational basis including specials, big cats/bears, monkeys, quarantine/tortoises, and the aviary.
If you are interested in volunteering with La Senda Verde, you can submit an application directly through their website. It is possible to book through third-party websites but I don’t recommend doing this as the fees will be higher and the profits do not go back to the organization. The organization requires a minimum two-week commitment from volunteers as significant training is provided. While the work is long and tiring, it is very rewarding to learn about and bond with these incredible animals.
Jaguar Rescue Center, Costa Rica
Recommended by Lozzy from Cuppa to Copa Travels
The Jaguar Rescue Center is one of the most well-known wildlife volunteering opportunities in Costa Rica. You might be disappointed there are no actual residing jaguars at the center, but they do look after injured, abandoned and orphaned monkeys, sloths, parrots, reptiles and more.
To earn the donations it takes to raise and rehabilitate the hundreds of animals in their care, they run highly informative tours several times a day to educate tourists in the Puerto Viejo area, which are designed with the wildlife’s safety and wellbeing in mind. This is not a zoo; they aim to give as many of the animals as possible the skills and confidence needed to be released into the wild.
The center takes their rehabilitation and environmental work extremely seriously, and they require volunteers to spend a minimum of 4 weeks with them. Extra hands are needed for everything from washing up to rebuilding enclosures and having a hands-on involvement in the animals’ lives.
The Jaguar Rescue Center has been licensed in the Puerto Viejo area for over 12 years, and has established itself as a key player in conservation efforts. And what’s more, in 2020 Costa Rica rose to the safest country in Latin America according to the Global Peace Index, so it’s a great place for an extended stay to get to know local life whilst also making a difference.
I hope this post has helped you find a wildlife volunteer project that’s perfect for you! Don’t forget: when choosing a program, it’s important to make sure you think about the ethical considerations of what you’ll be doing, and make sure that it genuinely benefits wildlife and local communities. Happy volunteering 🙂
About The Author
Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger based in London. She writes about active adventure travel, aiming to encourage and inspire travellers to make the most of the great outdoors.
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When I visited Costa Rica, I actually really wanted to visit the Jaguar Rescue Center! But unfortunately I ended up not having enough time in the country, but I’m so happy to hear it’s a great place! I will definitely visit the next time I’m there!