Review Time
I had a great time at SanWild, the staff were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the animals and running the volunteer project.We did different activity daily but still plenty of downtime. The weekends you can go on excursions.The glamping tent was fine although abit noisy if windy. The food was good as long as you are not a fussy eater. Not a buffet.It was a great experience with great people who know what there doing.
My wife and I volunteered for 2 weeks in Samboja Lestari Orangutan & Sun Bear sanctuary with The Great Projects in Balikpapan and it was as one of the best experiences we have ever had. We are in our 60’s and have travelled extensively and have been attracted to projects involving animals and this has been one of the best.Volunteers are taken care of very well by Kate who is the volunteer co ordinater on-site. She is passionate about what she does and this translates into how she involves the volunteers with the orangutans and Sun Bears. Our group bonded and we became friends, this was an extremely satisfying part of our experience.The lodge was ambient, the food was great and the lodgings were comfortable. I could continue with my accolades but I think you get the gist. If you are considering this kind of experience, want to connect with the Orangutans, the other volunteers and your own desire to contribute to our planet, consider this programme seriously.As you can tell, we highly recommend it. We leave our time with Kate, the other volunteers and the Orangutans & Sun Bears not the same people.
Best 3 weeks of my life! What an amazing experience this was. The staff are super knowledgeable and friendly, always there to help with a smile and full of energy. The accommodation and food were better than expected and and the is no ask too big or too small for the staff, they are very accommodating. The conservation activities included invasive plant clearing, road clearing, digging drainage lines and much more. The best part for me was the animal monitoring, being part of a conservation project which is fully hands off to let the wild animals be truly wild and witness their natural behaviour within arms reach was truly breathtaking. This experience brought tears to my eyes, and made some life-long friends with like-minded passion to contribute to something which is incredibly rewarding. The community work was equally as rewarding to be part of a project to make lives better for those people which in turn will educate and reduce the poaching on the game reserves. This is absolutely worth the time, travel and experience and I can't wait to return back and do it all again in the future. This for me is now a life-long passion, I've learned so much and the passion from the teams really shines through. There is plenty nearby activities to fill your weekends including shopping, whale watching, sky diving, swimming with seals, shark cage dives, bungee jumping, kayaking, horse riding, hiking and more. The scenery, sun sets and stars are just stunning, everything all round exceeded expectations.
We had a fantastic trip!! Our guides Dennis and Peter were amazing and really went above and beyond to make sure we had the best experience possible. The highlight of our trip is visiting the communities and seeing the children who live there. It was very eye opening seeing first hand the challenges of everyday living for them. We were so happy that we were able to contribute monetarily to the school, the hospital and also to the Batwa people. Our highlight is being able to give the Batwa tribe in Kisoro water. We are currently able to finance more projects with the help of our guides. Our goal is to help them be self sufficient in the future. Our money goes much further in Uganda. Of course the gorillas were amazing and such a wonderful experience. We were very humbled by how we were received by the people in Uganda. It was one of the best trips we've done so far.
I don't know where to start. From beginning to end this was a truly magical trip. From being greeted by the resident mongoose on my arrival to the final evening's farewell appearance of the bull rhino at the lodge there was an abundance of animals to see every day. I was also fortunate to be present when they fitted trackers to two of the rhinos and the bull elephant. This involved getting the vet up in the helecopter to dart them and we followed in the car to watch the whole process. I had a mixed bag of jobs, from helping to clear an enclosure of all the bushes and long grass, feeding the carvivores who had to stay in enclosures due to the nature of their background, cleaning out the hyenas' watering hole, monitoring the cameras for poachers, to tracking rhino. We got up close to so may amazing animals both in enclosures and all the rest in the wild and learned such an awful lot about the flora and fauna. Every member of staff made us feel very welcome and one of the family and it was very sad to leave. I shall be returning for sure.
I had an amazing trip!!, and have made some friends from all over and also made Memories of a life time!!. I was at first so so nervous as I was on my own traveling to and from Namibia, but once getting and settling into the sanctuary/reserve I felt at ease as all the people both other volunteers and staff made me feel at home. First day We settled into the sanctuary / reserve and could if we wanted , to go to help out which I did we started with the small animal feeding. We was straight into work the next day and the rest obviously of the week and helping out , we was lucky as we got to on game counts all my first week they're as well as doing morning and afternoon activities. Most defiant highlights for me , was one learning and getting stuck into the daily activities and also going on the baboon walk and the cheetah walk. But the number one thing on my list of highlights , was just learning all about conservation side of it and just seeing them in there natural habitat. But also enjoyed looking after, and feeding the ones one sight of the Namibian Wildlife Sanctuary and reserve. Also was seeing the , Elephants and Rhinos and Lions. and going to the on sight school.
This was such a fabulous experience, that I don't really know where to start. Kate and Wick work hard to make sure everyone is happy and included in all activities and to make sure you feel at home as possible. They really try to bring the whole group together and make it fun. Seeing the Sun bears and Orangutans enjoy your efforts is so worth the very hot hard work! Knowing what clothing to take was my biggest stress, I recommend 3/4 running leggings, not too tight sports bras and dark T-shirts (some of the jobs are pretty messy!) and thin long baggy clothing for the evening (it's still very hot and protection from mosquitoes). The PCR testing is a bit of a pain and delays things and wastes a day, but the first 5 days go quick. The food at the lodge could do with a more varied menu, but the staff are very accommodating if your diet requires something different. I loved it and really hope to do it again!
We travelled as a family of four to Sanwild - including two little animals aged 6 and 7 years old. It was like jumping into a different life, and far exceeded our expectations as a 'holiday'. Junel, the volunteer coordinator, was superb throughout and was with our kids during the day to ensure they were getting involved in a safe way. Every morning we woke up from our luxury tent (half villa, half tent), with a stunning view of the watering hole and background of a beautiful African sunrise. Elephants, warthogs, wilder beast and impala were often just a few metres away. I enjoyed being part of a working farm/Sanctuary for two weeks - the work was always optional, but I loved getting stuck in with bush clearing, chopping down trees, feeding the cheetahs and lions and monitoring the movement of the animals. Our stay also coincided with the helicopter darting of an elephant to fit a tracker which was a really unique experience. Overall it was the lifestyle I enjoyed the most - Eco Rangers such as Gustav took us on wildlife treks into the bush, including scaling a mountain on the property. Every day was different, and we were helping in a small way to a working farm whilst being truly part of a different way of life, a simpler way of life, framed by the African countryside.
It was an amazing experience from day one to day 12. Hard work living and working in the steamy jungle but worth it when you see the beautiful orangutans that you are helping. James was such a lovely volunteer coordinator- always making sure we knew what we were doing and that we were happy doing it. Kind and friendly and always smiling. Only improvement I would offer is to have gum boots (Wellingtons) on site to borrow. They are big and heavy and take up too much room in luggage.
Hard to say goodbye to the Azores, after two weeks of rough, incredibly beautiful volcanic landscapes, swift whaling trips on DiveAzores’ Keiko, the rigid inflatable boat skippered by Tiago or Lionel, and shared camaraderie throughout!! A few Atlantic-size storms provided some dramatic background for our bouncy, splashy outings in the Keiko on good days, to jointly scan the grey waters for dorsal fins, pick up whale conversations underwater via hydrophone, getting excited at whale tails —ok, flukes— and bits and pieces of whale noses, or frolicking dolphins, all of us, really, enjoying the wonder of these islands. I will remember!1-14 April 2024
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The Great Projects is an expert provider of safe and ethical volunteer holidays abroad for solo travellers, families, and groups. Founded in 2006, we offer a selection of unique and exclusive projects across Africa, Asia, Europe, Central America, and South America. Specialising in wildlife conservation, our projects are perfect for anyone looking to go behind the scenes and work with some of the planet's most endangered species.
As members of ATOL and ABTOT, we are fully committed to ensuring the safety of everyone who travels with us. Plus, with flights, tailor-made travel insurance, and a passionate, dedicated, and friendly team available 24/7, we make booking easy, offering peace of mind to all our volunteers throughout their journey. So what are you waiting for? Find your next adventure today, with The Great Projects.See more
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