Project

Project

Volunteer Work Responsibilities

The primary focus of our elephant volunteer project is to help the day to day running of the orphanage. Working under the direction of the mahouts (the person in charge of caring of the elephant) and with other volunteers. 

As an Elephant volunteer, you will be learning everything from the anatomy of an elephant, to the complex history of elephant population in Sri Lanka.

Become a Volunteer

Volunteer Program

There are a few elements combined on this program, making it a very interesting, varied and satisfying project. You’ll participate in the following:

  1. Working with the elephants at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
  2. Helping to teach disadvantaged local children or monks.

Here is an example of some of the work volunteers will carry out with the elephants

  • Help with the cleaning of the elephant enclosures
  • Participating in bathing elephants
  • Interacting with baby elephants
  • You’ll also have to feed the elephants
  • Keep the project site clean and tidy
  • Collecting the elephants’ dung and food waste for composting

A typical daily schedule might be as follows

  • 8.00 AM – Breakfast
  • 8.30 – 12 noon – Help mahouts to clean elephant enclosures, food preparation for the sick and old elephants, interact with baby elephants or washing baby elephants.
  • 12 noon – 2 .00 pm – Lunch break (all volunteers get 2 hours to eat and relax)
  • 2.00 PM – 4.00 pm – Watch elephant bathing and playing in the river, washing elephants in the river.
  • Teach or play games with poor kids in the area [once a week]
  • 6.30 – 7.00 PM – Dinner

After the dinner Volunteers have free time to spend as they wish.

You will be provided T-shirts on arrival for your program at Pinnawala. The uniform will identify you as a volunteer at the orphanage and will ensure that you stand out from the tourists. 

Accommodation & Food

Accommodation

The accommodation is in clean but basic. You will live in a lovely volunteer hostel nearby the project site with comfortable single and double rooms and western toilets. Every room is provided with a ceiling fan, individual beds and mosquito nets. You will have the chance to see real Sri Lankan lifestyle as this area is more rural. There is WiFi (internet connection) at the accommodation.

(Private /Air conditioned rooms available on request)

Food

All meals will be prepared for the team. We will provide you with 3 delicious local meals throughout your stay with us. We will cook you Sri Lankan food where you can taste real traditional food. Menu will be different each and every day.

Vegetarians, vegans and those with food allergies can be accommodated.

Food of Sri Lanka is hot and spicy. Base food of the inhabitants of the island is rice which they consume with curry both veg, fish and meat based. All the curry dishes are cooked on the base of fresh coconut milk and flavored by liberal use of spices. Rice and curry, Fried rice, Fried noodles, Kottu, Biryani, Chopsuey are some popular dishes of Sri Lanka. 

Extra Activities

Camping, Visiting old temples and meet monks in the area, Climbing little mountains in the area, Relax by the river and river bath, Pool facilities, Visit local villages to get an experience that very few foreigners get. You will get a unique insight into true Sri Lankan culture.

Over the weekends you will be able to travel far across the country exploring wonderful sandy beaches, Historical sites, Hill country, national parks….etc.

Extra Activities

Camping, Visiting old temples and meet monks in the area, Climbing little mountains in the area, Relax by the river and river bath, Pool facilities, Visit local villages to get an experience that very few foreigners get. You will get a unique insight into true Sri Lankan culture.

Over the weekends you will be able to travel far across the country exploring wonderful sandy beaches, Historical sites, Hill country, national parks….etc.

Become a Volunteer