Turtle Rehabilitation and Care
Coordinator | Lauren
Coordinator | Lauren
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Help protect endangered sea turtles, right on the beach in Ambalangoda
Help with the rehabilitation of wounded turtles whether by humans or rubbish in the ocean
Look after and care for the injured turtles, with the hope to release them back into the wild
Clean the turtles tanks & feed them
Learn how to collect turtle population statistics, identify turtle species, collect eggs & monitor nests
Situated right on the beach, assist at the turtle conservation centre by caring for, cleaning and protecting these incredible animals. Help educate the local community!
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 16+
Singles
Couples
Families
50+
This project is situated on a beach in Ambalangoda, a small town in the South of Sri Lanka. This conservation project is one of only 9 wounded turtle conservations in the country. Our project is certified by the Sri Lankan government and offers volunteers the chance to help with this valued and endangered species.
You will focus on the rehabilitation of wounded turtles whether by humans, rubbish or other waste. There are many turtles along the coasts of Sri Lanka that are found hurt and without the ability to survive on their own.
Out of 7 species of turtles that live in the world, 5 of those species live in the Indian Ocean. You will be helping to care for 4 different species of turtles– Loggerhead (the rarest), Hawksbill, Green and Olive Ridley. There are around 33 disabled or wounded turtles living in the centre, as well as being able to hatch hundreds of turtle eggs in a separate centre, which will be released to the ocean. With your help, the project aims to give these incredible animals an opportunity to survive in a safe and healthy environment. Sea Turtles are known to live for around 150 years.
Location
Ambalangoda is a coastal fishing town located in the Galle District, in Southern Sri Lanka. This small town has a very local feel, with markets, supermarkets, banks and several shops to eat out at. Ambalangoda is known as a Buddhist town, with most of the locals following this religion. It has some pretty golden beaches that are not frequently visited by tourists, giving it a real authentic feel. The area is also known for puppet shows, moonstone, antique furniture and devil dancing.
Project Tasks
- Assist in the conservation of turtles by directly taking care of them and their environment
- Create more awareness amongst fishermen and local people regarding turtle conservation
- Help release hatchlings back into the ocean
- Clean the tanks & centre, prepare food, feed the turtles and clean them
Typical day
Volunteer for 4-6 hours a day.
Monday to Friday
The activities will vary according to beach weather conditions and the number of volunteers on the project. Your daily activities will be cleaning the turtles and their tanks at the turtle conservation centre. It’s vital for the turtle’s health to have a clean and hygienic environment. This project will teach you valuable advice on how to care for the turtles and identify each species.
Typical activities during the week would include:
- Feeding the turtles (every other day)
- Cleaning the tanks
- Cleaning the turtles
- Cleaning the beach from rubbish
- Helping with the weekly release of over 100 turtle hatchlings into the ocean (depending on weather and season).
Free-time activities
Here are a few things you can do in Sri Lanka!
Royal Botanical Gardens
The Botanic Gardens are situated around 5. km to the West of Kandy. Once being only for the Kandyan royalty, they are now open to the public to wander around at their leisure. There’s 60 hectares of beautiful garden to explore, where you will see a huge Javan fig tree, pretty orchids and even monkeys!
Knuckles mountain range
This stunning mountain range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hosts many walking trails. You will find small villages, beautiful waterfalls, numerous native wildlife and rice fields. This is the perfect place for people who love the outdoors and adventurous hiking trails.
Sigiriya (Lion Rock)
Another UNESCO World Heritage site, this ancient rock is situated around 91km North from Kandy and is very popular with tourists, who can climb up to the top for some seriously stunning views. Along the way you will see antient rock carvings and paintings on the walls of this sacred rock. It will take roughly just over an hour to climb up.
Yala National Park
Located on the South coast of Sri Lanka, this stunning park hosts one of the highest leopard densities in the world. Not only that, you can also spot elephants, monkeys, birds, buffalo and more. There are numerous tours in Yala, from day tours to over several days of safari.
Adam’s Peak
Around 91km South of Kandy you can climb to the top of this sacred sight, just as the locals do for pilgrimage. It’s a bit of a trek up in the dark but totally worth it to see the sun coming up over the clouds, mountains and lush forest. You will be greeted by stunning views to reward your efforts!
Hortons Plains National Park
You can trek through this beautiful national park to ‘World’s End’, a 9.5km round loop trail, taking around 3 hours. This is a pretty easy walk, but you will be greeted with amazing views out over the countryside and above the clouds! It’s best to visit here early (before 10am) as the clouds can roll in after that and block the incredible views.
Udawatta Kele Reserve
Situated near the Kandy lake, this nature reserve is complete with monkeys and birds- fantastic for wildlife and nature lovers. Here you will find wooded forests, over 400 species of plants and 70 bird species. You can trek through the forest for a relaxing break away from the city.
Tea Plantations
Kandy and Nuwara Eliya are both popular places to visit a tea plantation, for a refreshing taste of some of Sri Lanka’s best fresh tea! Not only do they produce great tea, the landscape is stunningly green, with endless hills rolling off into the distance.
Water Sports
Swimming
Sightseeing
Diving/
Snorkling
Snorkling
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Climbing
Hiking
Museum/
Opera
Opera
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 16 years old on the program start date.
You need to speak English (basic level)
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
What's Included
Accommodation
3 meals p/day weekdays / 2 meals p/day weekends
Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
1 day orientation
Daily transportation to project
In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
Fundraising support
University course credits (where applicable)
Certificate of Completion
Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.
A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Bandaranayake International Airport (CMB). You must arrive between the hours 05:00 to 21:00 on Sunday.
If arriving outside the pickup times on Sunday, you can book a private transfer for US$50.
If arriving during the week, or on Saturday, we charge US$50 for any extra night’s accommodation before your program, and another US$50 fee for a private transfer.
Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrival’s terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).
From the airport to the Kandy accommodation, it takes around 3-4 hours by road and to the Ambalangoda accommodation, around 3 hours.
Accommodation is included for the duration of your volunteer program. The volunteer house is conveniently located in Ambalangoda, which is just a few metres from the ocean! It’s a 10 min walk to the nearest supermarket and ATM in the town centre. You’ll share rooms with 4-10 other volunteers of the same gender with a shared toilet per room. A fridge, safety deposit boxes (bring own padlock), lockable rooms, showers, bed linen and fan are included with volunteers expected to bring their own towel. Laundry facilities are available at a small fee. The centres do not have Wi-Fi. Most volunteers will purchase a local data plan and connect this to their personal devices.
3 meals per day are provided during weekdays and 2 meals per day on weekends. Safe filtered drinking water is provided along with tea and coffee. You can expect meals with rice, coconut, spices, roti, lots of vegetables & sparing amounts of meat.
Good access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
The nearest airport is Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo. We assist you to find cheap flights to Sri Lanka.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Sri Lanka provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Sri Lanka you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Sri Lanka.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
Program starts every Monday. Arrivals on Sat/ Sun. If arriving on Sat, an extra night is charged.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 - 20 weeks
Program fees
1 week
(min. stay)
$710
2 weeks
$870
3 weeks
$1,150
4 weeks
$1,430
8 weeks
$2,570
12 weeks
$3,700
20 weeks
(max. stay)
$5,450
Average fees
$491
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated.
Involvement Volunteers IVI
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Your final payment will be agreed with Involvement Volunteers IVI during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
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Turtle Rehabilitation and Care
Situated right on the beach, assist at the turtle conservation centre by caring for, cleaning and protecting these incredible animals. Help educate the local community!
$491/week
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