Help to rehabilitate animals by volunteering for this magnificent project. You will be living and working in an amazing environment! Loss of habitat is the greatest threat to wildlife in Thailand. The Centre has provided shelter for several types of wild animals, some of them only for a short period of time, while others will be protected there for life. Enjoy the refreshing forest air, nice views of the hills and the lively wildlife. Welcome to Thailand!

Project fee from EUR 680

Your role as a volunteer

There are a variety of animals at the centre; different species of Macaque, six species of gibbons, small and big cats, sun and moon bears, a crocodile and exotic birds. The staff and volunteer’s main task is to make sure the animals have food and that they are getting enough fluid on a daily basis, work also consists of  improving and restoration of the centre.

As a volunteer on this project you might be involved in any one of these activities

• Feed the animals
• Keep the enclosures clean
• Assist in the construction of both the center and the enclosures.
• Assisting the staff in the care of the animals
• Working with reforestation
• Lecturing and educating school children who visit the center

The information in the volunteer project is not strict. All kinds of help will be appreciated. If you can develop new methods, tasks or anything else these proposals will be received with open arms. Remember that it is your own imagination and creativity that will decide how much you learn and contribute during your volunteering period.

The projects mission

The project aims to take care of the animals, helping them to recover in the most natural environment possible. Since 2001, the project has been helping wild animals that have been illegally kept as pets and those that have been hurt in the wild. Often, the animals come from places with horrible conditions brought on by mismanagement. Here is your chance to care for the animals in different ways. The vision is to let them return to the wild and if that’s not possible, to let them live in an environment with natural conditions at the centre.

Our partner

The project started in 2001 with the vision of improving the lives of both animals and humans in the area. The project is run in cooperation with our local partner, who has a long experience in receiving volunteers. Thanks to this partnership Volunteer Travels can offer you a well-organized and safe volunteer experience.

How do I book a trip?

You can book your trip with Volunteer Travels by calling us on (+46) 08-23 93 00 or by booking through our website www.volunteertravels.com by clicking on “Book a trip”. You can also email us on [email protected]. When you have registered yourself we will send you an invoice with a registration fee of £200.00. The registration fee is later incorporated into the trip price and the amount is then deducted from your final invoice. When you have paid the registration fee you are formally registered. You will then receive preparatory information from us in good time to plan your trip.

Your everyday life

Introduction

You will fly to Bangkok International Airport where staff from our local partner organization will meet you. The trip from the airport to the project will take about 2-4 hours depending on traffic. The program starts with an introduction about the Thai manners and general tips that will prepare you for your time on the project. Food, accommodation and local transport are included in your stay; you only need extra cash for any tours before and after the project period.

Accommodation and food

All volunteers live in small bungalows. There are simple rooms shared by two people, and also 3-4 bedded rooms. All bungalows have a bathroom with one western toilet and shower in each with cold water. All rooms have a fan. You will be offered three meals a day. Lunch and dinner cooked by Thai chefs, mostly Thai dishes and sometimes with a European touch. They can arrange vegetarian/vegan and other special diets. This has to be notified before departure!

Leisure

You will work at the project six days a week from morning to evening around 6 pm, a longer lunch break are included. When you are not working you are free to explore Thailand on your own. If you want to have an extra day off, then you need to make this known in advance at your place of work by letting them know that you need to take off the days you plan to be away. Your project coordinator can help you with tips on destinations and activities during weekends. For those who want to enjoy the sun and sea there are Hua Hin and Cha Am which are about an hour’s ride from the project. You can visit Thailand’s biggest national park, Kaeng Krashan, its located just 40 km from the project. The nearest village from the project is a 10-minute walk away, in the village there are some shops where you can buy snacks and drinks. There are three internet cafes with good connection. Every Sunday there is a “night market” where you can buy food, clothes and other small items. If you want to relax and stay near the project, there is a TV with a DVD player in the main building where you can watch a movie or hang out with the other volunteers.

About Thailand

Friendly and fun-loving, exotic and tropical, cultured and historic; Thailand beams with a lustrous hue from its gaudy temples and golden beaches, to the ever-comforting Thai smile. Beyond the beaches, there is a fascinating country with a great culture and tremendous hospitality. The celestial world is a close confidant in this Buddhist nation, where religious devotion is a colourful and ubiquitous spectacle. Gleaming temples and golden Buddha’s frame both the rural and modern landscape with exuberance. With Thailand’s exotic beaches and tropical forests there is no time for being bored, with too much to explore and discover.

Practical Information

Flight

Your flight ticket is not included in the tour price and you will need to book it through a travel agency of your choice. Book your ticket so that you land in Bangkok on a Sunday, the day before your project time starts between 10:00-14:00. If you will arrive after 14:00, you have to spend a night in Bangkok – this you need to arrange by yourself.  Your last day will be on a Friday, following the number of weeks you booked at the project. You need to book your return flight, if you are not staying longer, for the Saturday or Sunday. Please be sure that your ticket dates correspond with your time at the project accurately.

Visa

It is the volunteers responsibility to acquire the right visa for the trip. Different visa rules may apply depending on your nationality. Visit the embassy web page of your destination to find out what the visa terms are between your country and that destination.

Insurance

It is your responsibility to make sure that your insurance covers illness, injury and theft whilst you are volunteering. Most travel agency’s sell a travel insurance that is valid for volunteer work, so be sure to enquire about it when booking your flight tickets. Volunteer Travels does however, supply liability insurance and is included in the price. Liability insurance applies to instances when compensation for damages is demanded of you, as a private person, for unintentionally hurting someone or for unintentionally damaging someone else’s property.

Vaccinations

You should contact your nearest vaccination centre for any questions regarding vaccinations for travel to Thailand. Volunteer Travels always recommends vaccinating against Hepatitis A and B when travelling abroad.