Volunteering With Wildlife Conservation Organizations: A Guide to Impactful Travel

Traveling is a great way to get out of your comfort zone. Whether you’re on a backpacking trip across Indonesia or an all-out tour of South Africa, there are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in a new culture. A big part of any culture is the native flora and fauna. Improving the lives of local wildlife and helping to preserve the habitats of native animals is an enriching way to give back to the communities that you’ll visit. 

There are plenty of animals needing our help across the globe. Volunteering with wildlife conservation programs as part of your next itinerary is an exciting way to commit to impactful travel. You’ll have the opportunity to expand your knowledge of animals, their habitats, and the threats that face native wildlife populations. You’ll also learn how you can make a difference through empowering volunteer programs and wildlife-focused initiatives. In this article, we’ll help you answer the following questions:

• What are the benefits of volunteering with wildlife conservation organizations?
• Which are the best wildlife conservation NGOs to volunteer with?
• How can Further Travel connect you to the top wildlife conservation organizations?

At Further Travel, we’re committed to creating thrilling travel programs that give back to the communities that host our adventurous travelers. We work with wildlife conservation NGOs around the world to promote ecotourism, spread environmental awareness, and assist in key wildlife conservation efforts. 

Benefits of Volunteering with Wildlife Conservation Organizations

Volunteering with wildlife conservation organizations offers a wide range of benefits. Do important work as you explore new places and get involved in key initiatives that help wildlife conservation NGOs achieve their missions. 

At Further Travel, we encourage our eco-volunteers to be open-minded to adventure as they assist wildlife conservation organizations in exotic locations around the world. We’ll show you how you can:

• Give back to the planet
• Work with like-minded people
• See the world and make a difference

Start your wildlife conservation volunteer journey by working with Further Travel. We offer a range of exciting opportunities to expose yourself to new cultures and get acquainted with wildlife conservation groups around the planet. Explore our programs to see where your love for wildlife conservation can take you.

Give Back to The Planet with Wildlife Conservation

Your travel abroad experience is a great way to connect with local wildlife conservation NGOs and do important work. Our volunteer programs connect you to organizations that are making an impact on the local environment and assisting wildlife through a wide range of conservation projects. 

Let’s start by looking at Save the Beach and the impact they make in the Maldives. 

Save the Beach and Camp Maldives

As part of the Camp Maldives 16-day program, you’ll work with the local wildlife conservation organization, Save the Beach, and learn about The Maldives’ fragile ecosystems. Some of the work Save the Beach focuses on includes:

• Beach cleanups and litter audits
• Coral restoration and rehabilitation
• Community outreach and engagement
• Research and education

The Maldives provides a fertile ground for the transfer of planktonic larvae of reef organisms and other marine life across the Indian Ocean. During your time with Save the Beach, you’ll assist by conducting reef surveys, planting coral, assessing coral health, and updating an online database.

Work With Like-Minded People While Volunteering

As you volunteer with wildlife protection and conservation organizations, you’ll find yourself surrounded by fellow environmentally conscious people. This is a great opportunity to make friends with fellow travelers and bond over your shared love of wildlife and conservation. 

You’ll get to collaborate on meaningful tasks during your volunteer experience and develop a range of new skills. As you travel and volunteer abroad, you’ll get to know community members who work at wildlife conservation organizations too. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from conservation experts who will mentor you in environmentalism and raise your awareness of local wildlife concerns. 

Build a network of conservation-focused people like yourself as you dive into exciting wildlife conservation projects during your Further Travel experience. Gain a new, informed perspective on the treatment of animals, and be inspired to continue your learning on wildlife conservation.

See the World and Make a Difference

Further Travel offers a wide range of unique travel experiences for global travelers to enjoy. Go on an adventure in Thailand, volunteer in South African communities, or traverse Vietnam and Cambodia. No matter where you choose to go, your itinerary will be filled with exciting activities, new cultural experiences, and purposeful tasks that support local conservation and education. 

There are a number of threats to wildlife populations around the world and by participating in wildlife conservation volunteering you’re not only exploring a new place but positively contributing to environmental change. Further Travel's commitment to assisting wildlife conservation NGOs allows us to partner our intrepid travelers with committed programs that do good and continuously make a difference. By working with Further Travel, you can rest assured that your travel plans are handled by a company that prioritizes sustainability and provides an unforgettable experience.

Wildlife Conservation NGOs

A key way to make an impact during your travels is to coordinate a volunteering experience with wildlife conservation NGOs. Further Travel's itineraries connect you with the best wildlife conservation organizations around the world, so you don’t have to do any planning ahead of your trip! Work closely on projects that focus on addressing environmental threats and challenges that face wildlife. The initiatives that we’ll focus on include:

• Turtle conservation
• Elephant sanctuaries
• Rescue P.A.W.S

Take the trip of a lifetime and connect with local wildlife conservation NGOs that are dedicated to improving the quality of life for a diverse range of wildlife. Let’s start by diving into how you can help assist local NGOs in their mission to conserve turtle populations in Bali.

Turtle Conservation Organizations

Our Camp Bali programs offer turtle conservation experiences for passionate wildlife volunteers. The Turtle Conservation And Education Center in Serangan is a must-see location as part of any Bali travel experience.  

This wildlife conservation center nurses turtles back to health and works as part of an island-wide strategy to eradicate illegal turtle trading. The center focuses on purchasing baby turtles from locals to deter the public from consuming turtle products and rehabilitating injured turtles so they can be released back into the wild. Volunteers play an integral part at the Serangan wildlife conservation organization. During your visit, you’ll learn about:

1. Green sea turtles
2. Hawksbill sea turtles
3. Olive Ridley sea turtles

You’ll also learn about the threats that turtles face in Bali and their cultural significance. Your experience in turtle conservation will deepen your knowledge of wildlife conservation and improve the quality of life for the turtles living at the Serangan Turtle Conservation And Education Center.

Elephant Sanctuaries and Conservation Initiatives

Over the course of the last century, the habitat of elephants has dropped to a third of its original size. As a result of this major loss, a number of wildlife conservation organizations across Asia have committed to improving the lives of elephants. 

Our Camp Thailand programs dedicate time to volunteering with elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. Camp Thailand is dedicated to:

• Helping improve elephant welfare
• Re-educating unsuspecting tourists about the treatment of elephants in South Asia
• Providing care to elephants who live in local sanctuaries

At Further Travel, we believe that spreading awareness about elephant conservation is an important mission that makes our programs stand out. Be part of a powerful mission that ensures the care and protection of Thailand’s elephant population.

Rescue P.A.W.S. and Wildlife Volunteers

Throughout Thailand, there has been a surge in populations of stray dogs. The wildlife conservation organization, Rescue P.A.W.S., improves the well-being of these animals through care, rehabilitation, and preparation for adoption. 

Rescue P.A.W.S. mission: 

Rescue P.A.W.S.’ mission is to reduce the overpopulation of dogs and cats in Thailand, improve the overall well-being of the street animals in our province, and create a healthy relationship between the human and animal communities. We believe we will achieve this through sterilization, vaccination, and education. We aim to use our resources effectively and efficiently, keeping in mind our mission every day and with everything we do.

Further Travel's Camp Thailand — Rescue Paws program offers volunteers hands-on experience working with this powerful wildlife conservation NGO. As a volunteer at Rescue P.A.W.S., your core responsibilities will include:

1. Feeding the animals
2. Taking the dogs for beach walks
3. Assisting with health checks and vaccinations
4. Completing field research

Your time with Rescue P.A.W.S. will assist in improving the lives of Thailand’s increasing stray animal population and providing quality care, love, and attention to furry friends. 

Further Travel’s Wildlife Conservation Programs

Our range of wildlife conservation-focused programs offers volunteers a life-changing opportunity to connect with a wide range of creatures. You’ll become well acquainted with all manner of wildlife as you work with local wildlife conservation NGOs in their mission to rehabilitate, care for, and rear local animals. 

The programs we’ll focus on include:

• Camp South Africa: Animal Conservation
• Camp Thailand: Camp Elephant
• Camp Bali: Island Hopper

No matter which program you choose, rest assured that Further Travel will help you every step of the way as you travel and volunteer abroad. We’ve done the hard work in planning an exciting trip so that you don’t have to. Our itineraries are meticulously planned so that you can show up, make a difference, and have the time of your life! Let’s get to know our exciting wildlife conservation programs in more detail.

Camp South Africa: Animal Conservation

Wildlife tourism is a prominent industry in Africa that has damaging repercussions for the big five animals that tourists are so eager to see in the wild. Thankfully, sanctuaries across the continent are dedicated to caring for native wildlife and educating tourists on the threats that face lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and more, in Africa.

At Camp South Africa: Animal Conservation, you’ll volunteer at  Big Cat Rescue, the Education Centre, and Animal Rehabilitation Centre for two weeks. During your time in South Africa, you’ll be exposed to the ever-changing nature of working with wildlife. No two days look the same when you’re volunteering at a wildlife conservation organization! Some of your duties will include:

• Maintenance tasks around the reserve
• Feeding animals
• Caring for animals

You’ll also have the chance to get involved with lecture-based content about the life and history of South Africa’s wildlife. Educate yourself and others as you get up close and personal with wildlife that is being saved, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild.

Camp Thailand: Camp Elephant

For those who can’t get enough of Thailand’s gentle giants, Camp Thailand: Camp Elephant is the perfect trip for you! 

You’ll be working with elephants that have been saved from the Thai ivory trade and are being cared for in local sanctuaries. During your time at Camp Elephant, your responsibilities will include:

• Feeding the elephants
• Bathing the elephants
• Preparing snacks for the elephants
• Learning about the history of elephants in Thailand

Get up close and personal with Thailand’s gentle giants as you feed them fruit, bathe them in the nearby river, and get to know their unique, sweet, personalities. By volunteering at elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, you’ll get to learn about incredible creatures and make a difference.

Camp Bali: Island Hopper

For travelers eager to explore all that Indonesia has to offer, Camp Bali: Island Hopper is your perfect trip. Explore the best of Bali as you dive into a new adventure every day and make a powerful impact on local wildlife. During your trip, you’ll connect with local wildlife conservation agencies to assist in turtle conservation efforts. 

Some of your duties at the turtle conservation center include:

1. Feeding the turtles
2. Maintaining the grounds
3. Cleaning enclosures
4. Supporting environmental education programs
5. Doing beach clean-ups

Get to know the local turtles and the role they play in marine ecosystems as you spend your day volunteering at the Serangan wildlife conservation organization for sea turtles. 

Work with Wildlife Conservation Organizations and Further Travel

There are so many ways to get involved with wildlife conservation groups when you head abroad with Further Travel!  Contact us by emailing info@camp.co.uk, or calling 0161 222 3780 to learn more about how we can find your perfect wildlife conservation adventure!

Ready to see the world and make a difference? Start your application with us today!