Wildlife Volunteering abroad with communities
join our community mental health and medical programmes in Uganda, and travel to the nearby homes of the gorillas
Wildlife volunteering and conservation in Kenya, and Sri Lanka
We work with partners in Kenya and Sri Lanka to provide a range of wildlife volunteering projects, each originating within communities and supported by them. These projects are integral to managing and restoring eco systems, co-existence with wildlife, and developing livelihoods. Programs in Kenya include butterfly conservation in the north; turtle and mangrove forest conservation in the east; monkey, birds, and snake conservation in the west; and wildlife conservancy with the Maasai and their rangers on the Maasai Mara in the south. In Sri Lanka you can teach in local schools and work with a turtle sanctuary established in a fishing village on a turtle nesting beach
Volunteer with turtles in Kenya, Sri Lanka
Turtle Habitat Restoration
Country: Kenya
Location: coastal Indian Ocean
Code: Ke-WC-MT
Weeks: 2 - 4 - 52
Project Description:
Volunteer with a grass roots community organisation recognised by the Kenyan Gov since 2009. This community based project operates in 2 coastal communities to safeguard turtle nesting beaches, restore the mangrove forests, and grow incomes through management of mangrove resources, such as crab farming, and developing tourism in this coastal environmental jewel.
Volunteers propagate & plant mangroves, monitor turtle nest sites, beach cleanups, and support the rehabilitation of turtle by-catch; and support crab farming in the creeks. Volunteers also identify mangrove creeks for canoe tourism, maintain walkways, work with tourists, as well as offering administrative and social media support. School outreach explains the importance of this work to children for the future.
Turtle Rescue & Hatchery
Country: Sri Lanka
Location: West Coast
Code: SL_WC_Tu
Days: 1 - 5
Project Description:
This turtle sanctuary was opened over 20 years ago by the fishermen of this beach village to support the turtles they found maimed by entanglement, and those caught in their nets. The rescue centre is also a hatchery, relocating the eggs after being called by hotels, and the navy or police from where they are laid on Colombo’s beaches, to escape predation by dogs, monitor lizards, and humans. This is becoming more necessary given Colombo’s rising population, and obvious loss since 2015 of beaches due to previous dredging for construction projects. Our volunteers love this wildlife conservation volunteering, and we recommend this as something you do on arrival, or before leaving from another project.
Wildlife Conservation Volunteering in Kenya
Volunteer with the Maasai’s Wildlife Rangers
Location: Maasai Mara
Country: Kenya
Code: Ke-WC-MM
Weeks: 4 - 52
Project Description:
Live amongst the Maasai, and Samburu, who have kept their traditional ways of life even as the world encroaches, making them the symbol of Kenya. Enhance and support the livelihoods generated through livestock farming in the Maasai Mara Conservancy Area. Support wildlife conservation on the Maasai Mara with game wardens and specialists.
Kakamega Equatorial Forest Wildlife Conservation
Country: Kenya
Location: Kakamega Forest
Code: Ke_WC_KF
Weeks: 3 - 26
Project Description:
Develop and protect the natural, cultural and heritage resources of the remnants of the last forest of its type in east Africa.
You will carry out reforestation projects (including nursery management - grafting, planting), as well as conservation work (butterfly, & fish farming, monitoring bio-diversity and habitat restoration), as well as supporting the development of agro-forestry with the local Luhya community. You will also conduct school outreach programs to inform about forest management, restoration, and sustainable agriculture,
Other activities include practical non-chemical pest and disease management, identification of herbs for pest and disease management in crops, village seed selection and storing, and at times, making Langstroth and Kenya top bar hives
