Bring a volunteer Group of up to 10-12! Embark on a transformative journey by volunteering at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, where you will work closely with rescued Asian elephants. This inspiring project has successfully rescued many elephants from a life of begging on the streets of Bangkok, providing them with a safe and nurturing home in this beautiful sanctuary.
In addition to the elephant sanctuary, the site also features an incredible wildlife sanctuary that houses sun bears, primates, and other native species. We can arrange for you to engage in wildlife conservation efforts for at least one week during your stay, allowing you to expand your impact and experience the diverse wildlife of Thailand.
Duration: 1 – 2 weeks for up to 12 people in a group
Dates: Arrivals throughout the year
Arrival day: Sunday
Return day: Sunday
Eligibility: General level of fitness required. Work can be quite physical and the temperature hot
Age: 16 (younger considered with parents accompanying)
Highlights
- Embark on unforgettable walks with elephants through lush forests, witnessing their natural freedom and forming a unique bond with these gentle giants.
- Immerse yourself in the vibrant sounds of nature as you live alongside playful monkeys and melodious gibbons at the nearby wildlife sanctuary.
- Seize the opportunity to volunteer at the wildlife sanctuary, where you can care for sun bears, colorful birds, and fascinating primates, enriching your conservation experience.
- Participate in heart warming moments as you watch elephants enjoy bath time, and lend a helping hand in giving the older elephants a thorough scrub while assisting with essential health checks.
- Available
- Limited availability
- Very limited availability
- Unavailable
Description
At our wildlife and elephant volunteering project in Thailand, we specialize in accommodating groups of enthusiastic volunteers. Whether you’re planning a school trip, a community service project, or a unique eco-tourism experience, we strive to create a meaningful and memorable stay for your group.
Group Accommodation
- Ideal for groups of 10-12 participants with advance notice.
- Flexible with larger or smaller groups—let’s discuss your needs.
Age Flexibility
- Volunteers aged 16+18 are welcome.
- We can consider younger participants (as young as 12) on a case-by-case basis, typically with parental accompaniment and after discussion.
Teacher-to-Student Ratio
- Typically, 1 teacher for every 3-4 students.
- All groups are supported by dedicated on-site coordinators.
Advance Booking
- Early booking is recommended to ensure we can accommodate your group.
Parental Consent
- For younger volunteers, parental consent and additional documentation may be required, depending on age.
Each group booking is treated with care and consideration, ensuring that we can provide the best possible experience while respecting the needs of our wildlife.
What will I be doing?
Volunteer at Thailand’s premier chain-free elephant sanctuary, currently providing a safe haven for 25 rescued elephants. Many of these majestic animals were once subjected to harsh conditions, forced to beg on the streets of Bangkok, carry tourists on treks, or perform in elephant camps. Now, in their new sanctuary home, they roam freely across 20 hectares of lush land, enjoying a lifestyle that closely resembles their natural habitat.
The sanctuary’s mission is to ensure the elephants live their remaining years in comfort and health. In the wild, elephants graze and move for about 18 hours each day, a stark contrast to their previous lives in captivity. For many of these elephants, this is their first opportunity to consume a natural diet, leading to significant health improvements since their arrival. Your role as a volunteer is crucial to continuing this positive transformation.
As an elephant volunteer in Thailand, you will engage in a variety of fulfilling activities, including:
- Elephant Feeding: Participate in essential tasks like grass cutting, food preparation, and feeding, as the elephants consume approximately 5% of their body weight daily!
- Maintenance Tasks: Help with painting, building, and creating enriching environments for the elephants to enhance their well-being.
- Physical Labor: Involve yourself in preparing, cleaning, and maintaining elephant bathing pools and harvesting food, which can be physically demanding but rewarding!
- Hands-On Elephant Care: Assist with hosing and scrubbing the elephants when necessary, ensuring they have access to ample food, water, and shade.
- Elephant Enrichment: Create stimulating activities for the elephants, or take them on walks outside the sanctuary to graze and exercise in a natural setting.
Additionally, the sanctuary features a wildlife area housing bears, gibbons, macaques, orangutans, otters, birds, and more. If you’re interested, we can arrange for you to volunteer with these animals for one or two weeks during your stay. Working in both sections of the sanctuary provides valuable insights into the diverse conservation and welfare needs of various species.
You will have the opportunity to take one full day off each week, as the volunteering can be physically demanding and involve long hours. If you wish to volunteer on your day off, you’re more than welcome to do so!
Looking to start a career in conservation?
Are you looking for paid work in the conservation sector after volunteering or interning? Oyster have teamed up with our friends at Conservation Careers who support people to find paid work in conservation following study or a career change. You can add their fantastic and flexible course to your volunteering trip with Oyster. Your Oyster experience will help add interest to your conservation resume as an eye catching addition to your job applications in future!
Accommodation
- Shared Accommodation: Experience communal living in the heart of the sanctuary, fostering connections with fellow volunteers.
- Room Sharing: Expect to share your room with 2 to 5 other volunteers, creating a collaborative and friendly environment.
- Modern Facilities: Enjoy western-style toilets and showers, with water heated naturally by the sun, enhancing your eco-friendly experience.
- Comfortable Living: The accommodation is designed to be comfortable yet basic, providing a cozy space to relax after a rewarding day with the elephants.
- Central Communal Areas: Take advantage of communal spaces located at the center of the sanctuary, perfect for socializing and unwinding with other volunteers.
Food
- Three Daily Meals Provided: Enjoy the convenience of three nutritious meals each day during your volunteering experience.
- DIY Breakfast Options: Start your day with a DIY breakfast featuring cereals, toast, eggs, and fresh fruits to fuel your morning activities.
- Local Cuisine for Lunch and Dinner: Savor delicious traditional Thai dishes for lunch and dinner, expertly prepared by local cooks, with occasional Western options available.
- Dietary Accommodations: Most dietary requirements can be accommodated, including vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free, and gluten-free diets. Please note that gluten-free options may be limited, so you may want to supplement your meals.
- Nut Allergy Caution: This project is not suitable for individuals with severe nut allergies due to the nature of the local cuisine.
Travel arrangements
Airport: Bangkok (BKK)
Arrival day: Sunday before 14:00. You will be collected from the airport and transferred to the sanctuary
Departure day: Sunday after 12:00
Supporting You
Meet Edwin: A Dedicated Advocate for Animal Welfare
Edwin, originally from the Netherlands, has devoted his life to animal welfare after serving in the army. Following his military career, he moved to Thailand, where he became increasingly aware of the pressing issues surrounding animal care and treatment. Disturbed by the practices he witnessed, Edwin founded a sanctuary to provide a safe haven for displaced and abused animals.
With nearly 30 years of experience living in Thailand, Edwin is fluent in Thai and other languages, allowing him to connect deeply with the local community and culture. His passion for animal welfare and commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable animals continue to drive his work at the sanctuary.
Included
- Access to your own personal ‘My Oyster’ account – our online portal where you can find out much more about the program and manage your booking
- Dedicated contact time with an experienced destination manager to discuss the project, answer any of your questions and for us to find out more about you
- Help and advice from our UK office before arrival and whilst you are away
- In-country support
- Pre-departure information covering medical, safety and project advice
- Gold level, 24/7 Pharos crisis management and incident support cover
- Financial protection: ATOL (if we book your flights); IPP (if we don’t book your flights)
- Thorough orientation on arrival
- Accommodation (see the ‘accommodation’ section above for details)
- Advice on visa requirements
- Oyster plants a tree in Africa with TreeAid to help reduce the impact of global carbon emissions
- Airport collection
- Food
On your return:
- Welcome home pack
- Certificate of Recognition (on request)
- References (on request)
Not Included
- Flights – as an ATOL bonded company, Oyster can book flights for you
- You need a valid passport that meets the requirements of the country you will be travelling to
- Insurance (covering your time with Oyster and any planned independent travel)
- Any costs associated with changing your return flight date if you need to
- Independent travel costs
- Home country travel costs
- Spending money for additional trips, food and entertainment
- Cost of a hotel in Bangkok if arriving too late for the transfer (before 14.00)
- Return transfer to the airport
More Information
Elephants in Thailand have faced significant challenges throughout history. Many were taken from their natural habitats, domesticated, and exploited in the logging industry. As mechanization took over, these magnificent creatures became obsolete, leaving their owners in financial turmoil. In an effort to recoup losses, some owners resorted to illegal practices, sending their elephants to the streets to beg for money or perform tricks. Others were forced into tourist camps, where they carried visitors on treks or showcased tricks for entertainment.
This project is dedicated to providing a safe haven for rescued elephants, offering them the chance to recover from their traumatic pasts. With many more elephants in need of protection and rehabilitation, our mission is more critical than ever.
Elephant volunteering in Thailand has become an increasingly popular option for those looking to make a difference. Without the dedication of passionate volunteers, the welfare of these elephants would greatly diminish, and this vital rehabilitation initiative could not thrive. Working hands-on with elephants is a unique privilege, allowing volunteers to contribute to the recovery and happiness of these majestic animals as they transition from a life of exploitation to one filled with care and respect.
Experience Life at an Elephant Sanctuary Designed for Natural Living
The sanctuary aims to replicate a natural, wild habitat for elephants, fostering an environment that encourages their innate behaviors. However, many of the elephants have become highly humanized due to their past experiences, making ongoing human interaction essential for their well-being. In this unique setting, elephants roam freely, showcasing their sociable nature.
As a volunteer at the sanctuary, you will have the opportunity to work closely with these incredible creatures. Your responsibilities will include taking elephants for baths, feeding them nutritious meals, and walking with them daily. This hands-on experience not only supports the elephants’ rehabilitation but also allows you to form meaningful connections with these gentle giants.
These elephants have all been rescued from difficult backgrounds. Often forced to beg in the street, dance or perform tricks for tourists and or take tourists for rides, these elephants are now allowed to roam as freely as possible. The elephants all live in huge enclosures and they are taken out by the volunteers during the day to roam.
Oyster assesses projects carefully to ensure that they offer high standards of animal welfare and environmental practice. We also check that volunteers understand key points of good practice before working with animals. To find out more, see our animal welfare policy.
We are an approved activity provider for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. You are able to put the time that you spend volunteering abroad on this project towards achieving your Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. We are happy to sign off your completion of this programme to show that you have achieved the Residential section of the Gold Award.
Discover the Elephant Sanctuary Within a Larger Wildlife Conservation Initiative
The elephant sanctuary is a vital component of a broader wildlife sanctuary, both part of a comprehensive animal welfare initiative situated on the same plot of land. This expansive wildlife sanctuary is home to approximately 700 animals, including sun bears, gibbons, macaques, various bird species, and more.
As a group, you may have the opportunity to engage with the wildlife sanctuary for at least one week during your stay, subject to availability. This experience allows you to gain a deeper understanding of conservation efforts in Thailand while actively contributing to the welfare of a diverse range of animals.
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Understanding Thailand’s Tropical Climate
Thailand experiences a tropical climate, characterized by a mix of sunshine and rain, often occurring within minutes of each other! The wettest months are typically September and October, so it’s advisable to pack waterproof gear during this time. However, rain usually falls in short, sharp bursts and rarely disrupts project activities. Here’s a general overview of the seasonal weather:
- Cold Season (November – February): Expect mild temperatures ranging from approximately 15°C to 30°C.
- Hot Season (March – June): Temperatures can soar between 30°C and 45°C, making it the hottest time of the year.
- Rainy Season (July – August): Experience warm temperatures averaging between 25°C and 35°C, with occasional rainfall.
- Wet Season (September – October): Expect similar temperatures of around 25°C to 35°C, with increased rainfall.
Be prepared for all weather conditions to make the most of your volunteering experience in Thailand!
We would recommend budgeting approximately £30 a week for food and free time activities.
There is really easy access to cash machines from the centre so you do not need to take all your cash with you. Cards work everywhere.
No visa is necessary for under 30 days from UK and most western European countries. We will give advice on longer stays.
You will need to make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months after you arrive in Thailand.
You must have your vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Without these you will not be able to work on the project. You should visit your doctor or travel nurse to find out what other vaccinations you may need.
It is strongly recommended that you are vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, rabies and tuberculosis. These are entirely optional (at your own risk) as these diseases do occur in Thailand but have not occurred at the centre. Please follow your doctor’s advice.
For any more information, including entry requirements related to Covid-19, please see the Fit for Travel website or the UK government’s travel advice page for Thailand.
There are medical facilities approximately 30 minutes from the project site. Larger hospitals can be found within 3 hours drive.
Safety and Accommodation at the Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand
The elephant sanctuary is situated in a secure and safe area, ensuring peace of mind for all volunteers. Upon arrival, you will receive a comprehensive safety briefing, and there is a safe on-site for storing your valuables. Accommodation is shared with other volunteers, fostering a sense of community, and coordinators are also present on-site to provide support.
While volunteering with animals abroad involves some inherent risks, you will work closely with highly trained staff throughout your time as a Thailand elephant volunteer. Comprehensive training will be provided for all aspects of your role, ensuring you feel confident and well-supported by the local team.
The sanctuary is conveniently located just 20 minutes away from the popular tourist towns of Cha Am and Hua Hin. These beautiful towns are accustomed to hosting visitors and offer various attractions. Please remember that Thailand is a Buddhist country, so it’s important to dress modestly and avoid showing too much skin while in public.
There is intermittent access to wifi at the sanctuary, however this is neither reliable nor fast. Many volunteers buy a local SIM card to access data on the move.
There is mobile phone signal at the centre and you can receive incoming emergency calls at the centre too.
Thailand is 7 hours ahead of GMT (GMT +7)
In Thailand, a mixture of European plugs and American plugs are used.
Got a question or want to chat to Project Manager Kate who has first-hand experience of the project? Call +44 (0) 1892 771 973or email: – [email protected].
