Some of our most popular volunteer projects give the chance to volunteer with wildlife. We offer a range of wildlife conservation volunteer projects, where you can work in the field, and rehabilitation projects where you can nurse sick and injured animals within an animal rehabilitation centre.
If you want to volunteer with wildlife on your gap year, we have a huge range of projects to choose from.
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Experience an exciting and varied volunteer project on a beautiful Big 5 Game Reserve near to South Africa’s coast. Assist in conservation management whilst learning new skills and meeting some great people. You will also have the opportunity to take part in a worthwhile community project.
Surround yourself with some of Africa's most beautiful animals on this fantastic 2 week volunteer project. Located in South Africa, you will be assisting in caring for Lions, Leopards and Hyena's as well as many other species of wildlife.
Get close to the fastest mammal in the world! Monitor cheetahs and leopards and help restore the plains back to their natural state. You’ll play a vital role in preserving African wildlife for the future.
The perfect combination of sport and conservation. Help look after turtle eggs and the baby turtles - not difficult when they’re so sweet! Then learn to surf or improve your technique at a nearby beach.
With the help of volunteers, giant pandas can be saved from extinction. You’ll be involved in feeding and observing these amazing creatures and have opportunities to photograph them. The weekends will be free for you to explore China.
Go back to basics in the Namib Desert as you take part in projects that help elephants and landowners to live together in harmony. You’ll go on a unique elephant patrol and get involved in building projects.
Work with other volunteers and local staff in husbandry, data collection, habitat restoration and community development in Malaysia. Spend time in a zoo improving living conditions as well as an Orang-Utan rehabilitation centre.
Work with orang-utans in a zoo, before seeing them in a rehabilitation centre and the wild. The trip takes you deep into the Bornean jungle, where you’ll help build trails and get to know the Iban tribes.
Give orphaned and injured sloths the TLC they need. You’ll help out at a centre dedicated to the protection of these endangered creatures, feeding them and helping them return to the wild.
This varied programme will get you involved in elephant conservation as well as community development on the beautiful island of Sri Lanka. Work with the local people to improve education and promote the work of the project in improved elephant care and conservation.
Covering Thailand, China, Malaysia, Africa and Australia, this really is the ultimate wildlife experience! Lend a hand with vital conservation work across the globe and get up close to a variety of animals! Zimbabwe - Thailand - China - Malaysia - Australia - USA
Experience raw Africa through the plains of Kenya. You’ll witness it's breathtaking landscapes, learn about nomadic cultures, help provide first hand data on wildlife activities and promote harmony between the community and wildlife.
Actively help to save endangered wildlife species in Zululand by initiating, implementing and managing some of the most exciting monitoring projects in this part of South Africa.
Learn how to identify and photograph dolphins, penguins and other sea creatures. You’ll be working towards making dolphin watching a tourist attraction, and thus persuading fishermen not to kill them for food.
Swim with great whites…in a cage! Sail through Sharks’ Alley, among seals and penguins, while you record shark activity. Tuition on shark behaviour, underwater filming and lots more will give you an in depth understanding of these magnificent creatures.
Nurse injured and orphaned monkeys, plus baboons, snakes, crocodiles and any other animals needing attention. Longer-staying volunteers have the chance to work on sites that release monkeys back into the wild. Project Video Now Online
Walk with lions and watch cubs hunt their first prey. This is a rare opportunity to get close to wild animals while contributing to valuable breeding and release work. Explore the grasslands on horseback or elephant-back, too.
As seen on ITV’s incredible Lion Country series, meet the stars of the show yourself!
This is a fantastic opportunity to experience African wilderness whilst contributing to the conservation of large carnivores in this area. The carnivore research project offers a hands-on scientific experience as well as helping to conserve habitats and wildlife.
Handle rhino, train elephants and make a real difference to the future of endangered species in Zimbabwe. Living close to the animals will give you a unique insight into their lives and make for fantastic photos opportunities.
Get up close and personal with whale sharks – they eat plankton, not humans! Learn to dive in tropical waters and collect data on whale sharks, coral reefs and turtles.
Escort baby turtles to the sea, take part in patrols to protect the eggs and observe turtle behaviour. Working next to the Pacific Ocean, you’ll be part of a highly successful conservation project.
Get yourself on course to manage a game farm or nature reserve. Surrounded by the Big Five and other African wildlife, you’ll learn about educational bush walks, how to identify animals, game tracking, navigation and more. Project Video Now Online
Get hands-on with orphaned and injured animals. The centre cares for big cats, baboons, crocodiles and many others, and is also working to tackle the problem of wild animals attacking farmers’ livestock.
Volunteer on the coast of Ecuador and help with the day-to-day care and rehabilitation of animals that have been abused or injured. These might include monkeys, jaguars, lions, parrots and other native species.
Study the fascinating workings of the African savannah and help protect its fragile ecosystem. Enjoy a five day Kruger safari where you’ll have the chance to see elephants, rhinos, lions and leopards before working along side wildlife researchers in a national park in Swaziland learning hands-on conservation techniques.
We’ve spiced up our complete South America gap year option with a Galapagos adventure! Combine volunteering with intrepid exploration, a linguistic challenge and a trip to these awe-inspiring islands! Ecuador - Galapagos Islands - Peru – Bolivia
Work with some of the rarest groups of gibbons - small, endangered apes. Through this project, you can get involved with all aspects of their care and efforts to keep them from extinction.
The chance to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary on Kangaroo Island is a truly unique opportunity to learn about the amazing Australian wildlife in a simply stunning location.
Play a part in protecting South Africa’s beautiful Wild Coast. Work at a lion cub centre, sleep under the stars, learn about wildlife management, go on game drives and bushwalks, and more – perfect for outdoor people!
Get involved with innovative and highly successful work to enrich the lives of the resident rescued gibbons. Study them, help care for them on a daily basis and just enjoy watching them interact against a stunning natural background.
Need a career change? Want a qualification? Always dreamt of working alongside the wildlife of Africa? Then this is field guide course in South Africa is the ideal programme for you!
Put your love of photography to good use on a World Heritage Site. Photograph elephants, rhinos and many other creatures for a database, and possibly magazines. You’ll also teach local children about their surroundings.