What is included
Our base program is two weeks. This is the minimum duration we recommend for the full experience.
Your program fees cover:
- 12 elephant experiences every 2 weeks (3-4km of hiking each time)
- 12 volunteering sessions at the sanctuary every 2 weeks.
- Weekday accommodation at the sanctuary
- All meals while at the sanctuary (from dinner on Sunday to lunch on Friday each week)
- Weekend accommodation in town - Weekends are spent back in town, where we include your accommodation, including the final Friday night of the program. Meals in town are at your own cost.
- Transport from Sen Monorom townshop to the sanctuary and back.
- Free laundry service while onsite
- On Site Support Staff
- Welcome Orientation
- Contribution to the sanctuary towards the Elephant's care and food
We know not everyone can get this time off work so we do also offer a shorter one week program in these situations. Find details in the what will I be doing section below.
How do I get to the placement
You will stay on site at the volunteer base area of the elephant sanctuary during the weekdays, surrounded by lush foliage and amazing views. For weekends spent in town at Sen Monorom, we will arrange your transport there and back to the sanctuary to resume work for the week.
What will I be doing
During your program you will also
contribute by volunteering onsite, to really get involved in what it
takes to run an elephant sanctuary! You will join local staff to help
out on our farms to grow supplementary food for the elephants (e.g.
bananas and bamboo), working in our reforestation project growing or
planting endangered tree species depending on season or help out with
small construction and maintenance projects like trails, elephant
treatment area maintenance, building bridges – all so the santuary continues
to develop as a facility for elephant care. We love to know in your
application if you have any skills you think could help out on the
program, e.g. building, plumbing, horticulture, vets etc, just let us
know so we can try and plan projects where we can utilise your skills.
All projects are dependent on the time of year e.g. rainy & dry
season and the jobs that are required to be completed onsite that month.
For longer term volunteers, you have the opportunity to become a
team leader where you support the new volunteer arrivals, assist leading
volunteer sessions and visitor check ins, together with lots of
elephant time.
The camp is constantly growing project by project, thanks to the hard
work and dedication of people like YOU, the volunteers that have visited
over the years. Projects in the past have included digging trenches,
building water towers, construction of guesthouses, working on the
banana, bamboo and pineapple farms, trails maintenance, reforestation,
etc. etc.
Day 1 – Saturday / Airport pickup from Phnom Penh, 1 night accommodation in Phnom Penh (dinner/bed/breakfast), private transport to Mondulkiri with English speaking driver (with other volunteers arriving that week) including lunch stop on the way, transfer back to the city of Phnom Penh at the end of program (VIP minivan - public bus).
Day 2 - Sunday / Arrive in Mondulkiri province early
afternoon and meet the team and other volunteers who will be joining you
for your placement.
Day 3 – Monday / Introduction Day. Spend the first day
just meeting the elephants and learning their stories, whilst also
learning about the forest and the local community.
Day 4-6 Tuesday – Thursday / Days will now be split between spending
time with the elephants in the forest learning more about them &
also how to undertake a health assessment and check, together with
getting invoice by helping with volunteer sessions on jobs needing to be
done onsite.
Day 7 – Friday / A final elephant session for the week,
as well as having the opportunity to join a hike out into the community
forest for waterfalls and wildlife viewing to finish the week before
heading back into the town of Sen Monorom at the end of the day
Day 8 – Saturday / Free time, relax, explore waterfalls or book a tour with a local guide
Day 9 – Sunday / Free time to relax and explore. At 3pm in the afternoon return back to the sanctuary site.
Day 10-13 Monday – Thursday / Personal volunteer projects intermingled with elephant health checks and time in the forest.
Day 14 – Friday / Final day onsite, one last visit to the
elephants, spend the afternoon swimming in the waterfall (season
dependant) and then pack up and head to town.
Day 15 – Saturday / Project Placement complete! Head back to Phnom Penh or continue exploring Mondulkiri province and more of Cambodia.
3 Weeks + / Continued volunteering and Elephant observing sessions throughout the weekdays. If you stay for four or
more weeks – you will have the opportunity to become a team leader where you
support the new volunteer arrivals, assist leading volunteer sessions
and visitor check ins, together with lots more elephant time.
Volunteers on the shorter one week stay -
If you can only spare one week, but still want to contribute to the elephants, you can join for the 1st week of the volunteer program. Here you would join for the introduction days to the elephants and learn the basics of elephant health and welfare, contribute with a few volunteering sessions and join a jungle trek.
Who will I be working with
Volunteers at the sanctuary will spend their time with the mahouts (elephant handlers), coordinators and fellow international volunteers from around the world.
What should I bring
We suggest; Lightweight work clothes you do not mind sweating in and getting dirty (shorts and t-shirts), Long sleeve top(s) and trousers to protect you from mosquito bites in the evenings, Sunhat, cap or bandana, Torch/flashlight, Alarm clock, Power adaptor, Your own towels (can be bought locally although choice is limited), Comfortable shoes or sandals (your feet will get wet no matter what time of year due to the nature of some of the work), Lightweight rainproof clothing, Ensure your mobile phone is unlocked if you wish to buy a Cambodia sim card, Simple first aid kit with plasters, bandages, antiseptics and various medications for gastric bug, Working gloves are recommended when harvesting food for the elephants, and essential when composting and High-factor sun-cream/sunglasses are recommended.
What you can expect from us
Our Volunteer Coordinators are able to help whenever you need assistance. They can help with scheduling issues, animal issues, illness, emergencies back home, as well as personal support while you are away from home. Our coordinators can be very busy, but we have an open door policy so you can come and talk to us any time you need.
What we expect from you
In order to become an elephant volunteer with us you need to fulfill the following criteria:
• You must be in good physical and mental condition
• You must be able to tolerate hot and humid climate
• You must be able to speak English
• You must be 18 years old or over
• You must have a positive and practical attitude towards animal welfare and wildlife conservation
