Overview
Be a volunteer for the Elephant Conservation Program in Sri Lanka with Volunteering Solutions and live a life amidst nature's lap! Volunteers will get the rare opportunity to work alongside local conservationists, educators, community partners and local villagers deep in the heart of the Sri Lankan wilderness. This is a true conservation project where wild elephants are not touched or interfered with at all as they are in their natural habitat.
Wild elephants (and other wildlife) are under threat in this part of the country particularly because of heightened levels of human-elephant conflict created in recent times due to a range of issues. It is a genuine research-based project involving elephant tracking, monitoring, observations, and education to the local communities, including running campaigns and awareness programs.
No matter whether you are a high school student who's an animal lover, or a gap year traveler looking for meaningful work experience - this project will be perfect for all. Even for those who are looking for an interesting family volunteering opportunity - what can be better than exploring this Southeast Asian island, soaking in the authentic vibes while working for these gentle giants!
Program Requirements
Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the project. 16 & 17-year olds can participate with parental consent. Children below 16 years must be accompanied by an adult or parents. All participants need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteers should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference and have a keen interest in wildlife conservation. Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check.
Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities
As a volunteer, your main tasks would be to :-
- Gather information on elephants and other wildlife and tropical ecosystems, often watching them from strategically placed treehouses
- Collect essential environmental and socio-economic data and maintain logbooks to help develop community-based conservation programs
- Participate in discussions with local villagers to help identify practical solutions to human-elephant conflicts
- Observe, assess and document human-elephant conflicts
- Teach environmental education to local school children from time to time
- Build and mend fencing to protect agricultural crops and homes from damage by wild elephants
Note: The majority of the work is conducted in the field, hence casual comfortable clothing (t-shirts, shorts, loose pants, sneakers, sandals, flipflops, hats, etc.) is recommended as participants are out in the open for significant periods of time. Sunscreen highly recommended as the sun can be strong during the day, and mosquito/insect repellents are advisable to bring as well.
Volunteer Work Schedule
All volunteers working in this project would have the following schedule -
Sunday: Arrival in Sri Lanka. A member from the local team will pick you up from the Colombo Airport and drive you straight to Wasgamuwa in a car/van. The journey takes approximately 6-7 hrs by road.Volunteers should plan to arrive before 12 noon on Sunday as it's advisable not to drive in the forest after dark. In Wasgamuwa, the local project team greets the participants and take them to the field house (where the volunteers live). Training and orientation are conducted that evening (or the next morning) and project activities begin the next morning.
Monday - Friday: Working on the project along with the local team and other volunteers.
Local transportation to and from the project is provided each day. Participants are supported throughout the duration of their stay by the local conservation and support team, who live and work in the field house with them.
Participants work for 4-6 hours during the weekdays. 2 shifts of 2-3 hours each, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon.
Weekends are free for the volunteer.After completing the program duration, participants are provided with Private transfers back to the airprort.Private transfers will also be provided between Wasgamuwa and Galle and vice versa for any combination projects and tours done in our Galle project location.
Living
Airport Transfers
On arrival, participants are picked up from Colombo airport by our driver and taken straight to Wasgamuwa (i.e., project site) in a car/van, which is roughly a 6-hour journey. Participants should plan to arrive before 12 noon on Sunday as it's advisable not to drive in the forest after dark. Private return transfer from Wasgamuwa to Colombo airport is also included on completion of the project. In some cases, participants may choose to volunteer at another project at our Galle location in which case private transfer for that too is provided by us.
Orientation
Before the program begins, you’ll be provided with a brief orientation by the local team in Sri Lanka. You’ll be told about the project, your work and everything else, that you need to know while you’re there.
Accommodation
Volunteers stay in a field house, located amidst the lush forests of Sri Lanka. You are surrounded by a ring of striking mountains where you will look out onto a large reservoir where elephants love to bath!
The house is just 15 minutes from the Wasgamuwa National Park. The accommodation is basic with dorm-style beds (with mosquito netting) and shared bathrooms. Rooms will be allotted on the same-gender sharing basis. It’s big enough to accommodate up to 40 people at the same time, where you will stay is very spacious with a high roof, which helps to cool the property as gentle breezes blow along from the neighboring lake.
All of the essentials are provided for you, such as mosquito nets, electric fans, pillows, and clean bedsheets. However, towels & toiletries are not included - make sure to carry your own.
Meals
Volunteers will be provided with all the meals - Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can expect some of the following meals:
- Breakfast – Cereals, toast, fresh fruits
- Lunch – Salads, fresh fruits
- Dinner – Chicken, fish, vegetables, rice
Meals are usually a mix of local Sri Lankan dishes. Vegetarians can be catered for.
Free Time
You’ll mostly be free on the weekends, to explore and soak in the beauty of this tropical island. There are several day trips that you can do in the vicinity, but most of the volunteers simply like to explore the beautiful area around the park, and relax in the jungle along with other fellow mates.
Program Cost
Please Note: -An application fee of £165 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment.
What are you Paying for?
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Airport Pickup on Scheduled Days
- Accommodation in a Field House near the Project
- Orientation on arrival
- Meals
- Guaranteed project placement
- Private vehicle transfers from airport to project and back
- Dedicated staff support at the Project
- 24/7 local emergency support
- Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
- 100% Financial Protection
- UK Based Support
- Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)
What's NOT included?
- Visa Fee
- International Airfare
- Vaccinations
- Any personal expenses
- Additional Local Excursions and Trips
Program Dates
| Months | 2022 | 2023 |
| January | 0209162330 | 07142128 |
| February | 06132027 | 04111825 |
| March | 06132027 | 04111825 |
| April | 03101724 | 0108152229 |
| May | 0108152229 | 06132027 |
| June | 05121926 | 03101724 |
| July | 0310172431 | 0108152229 |
| August | 07142128 | 05121926 |
| September | 04111825 | 02091623 |
| October | 0209162330 | 07142128 |
| November | 06132027 | 04111825 |
| December | 04111825 | 01091623 |
FAQ's
FAQ's Application and Program Details
As we have limited spots available in our programs and we serve on first come first basis, it is recommended that potential volunteers book their programs well in advance to get confirmed placements. You can book your slot by filling the application form online and pay the application fee. You can pay your program fee later and also, in installments. However, the complete payment should be made 45 days prior to the starting of the program. If you are volunteering in a group, you can also fill a group application form.
Below are the necessary requirements to participate in the Sri Lankan volunteer projects:
The minimum age requirement for the programs in Sri Lanka is 17 years.
Volunteers participating in the Medical Program should be at least 18-year-old.
Volunteers need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. They should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.
The participant must be in good health.
We encourage our participants to volunteer in a group. We take special care in providing you a placement and also customize your itinerary to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Also, we can design special group programs for groups of 5 or more. Our programs are designed to be safe, affordable and offer a great group volunteering experience to the volunteers.
In our experience of more than 12+ years, we have enabled and facilitated volunteer program placements for college groups, university groups, high school groups, group of families, group of couples as well as groups of colleagues.
A short orientation is given after arrival about the city and placements. The volunteers are also taken for a short tour of Colombo before they start with their program. However, the tour depends on the arrival time of your flight.
For our returning volunteers, $50 discount is provided for the application fee for their next VolSol program.
Flights and Visa
Volunteers can apply for ETA online and the approval of the same will be communicated via email.
Volunteers can be provided with the supporting documents if needed. More information will be provided once you enroll for the program.
Srilankan Airlines
Air India
Mihin Lanka
Spicejet
Emirates
There are frequent in-country flights from Colombo to Galle and Kegalle as well.
Health and Safety
Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
You can consult your doctor once, before traveling to Sri Lanka.
Accommodation and Living
Volunteers joining the programs in Galle, Sri Lanka, get to stay in the quaint Unawatuna neighborhood, overlooking the famous Unawatuna Beach and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The volunteer house has 11 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.Most of these rooms have ocean views! There's a private 40-foot outdoor swimming pool surrounded by tropical greenery. The house also has 3 kitchens as well as 3 living/common rooms (one each per floor), a prominent dining area, and a private outdoor garden with seating/lounging areas.
The office is located on the ground floor of the house near the main entrance – this is where the local team operate from every day. The house is located in a peaceful, nature-filled neighborhood adjacent to a small Buddhist temple (nestled away from the main tourist areas). To ensure the safety and security of the participants, there are CCTV cameras installed, and an in-house security guard for night-time surveillance. Hot water and high-speed Wi-Fi are there and you can opt for air-conditioning and laundry facilities at an additional charge.
Other than that, we also provide single/double/family private room upgrades at extra charges. The beach is just about 5 minutes walk from the stay and you can reach the Galle Fort in about 15 minutes.
Volunteers working in Wasgamuwa National Park are given accommodation in a field house in close vicinity of the project location. Three meals are provided in a day including both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The food is tasty, hygienic and nutritious, suitable for all volunteers.
Breakfast usually comprises of Bread, Butter, Jam, Bun or Rolls, Eggs and Fruits like Banana & Pineapple & Tea. The lunch includes Sri Lankan style rice and curry and the dinner includes noodles, spaghetti, pasta, chapati, hoppers or String Hoppers with curry.
If you have special dietary requirements, please mention the same in your application form.
We encourage our volunteers to travel. We have designed various weekend tours which can be booked under the ‘Add-on Tours’ section in your ‘My Account’. Your in-country coordinator will also help you book and organize the tours once you are in Sri Lanka.
Connect with Past Volunteers
To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit the Meet a Volunteer section on our website
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