Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

For some reason, upon booking I was, I joined the Sustainable Community Development project for three weeks to teach English to children at the Greenway School in, Today is my last day volunteering at the Sustainable Community Development project in Cambodia, time to say goodbye to everyone, This past November I spent two weeks volunteering in Cambodia on the Sustainable Community Development project. Jahoo Gibbon Camp The community-based ecotourism initiative is a joint venture between the indigenous Bunong village of Andong Kralong and the Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation (SVC), where visitors have the chance to see yellow-cheeked crested gibbons and black-shanked douc langurs, as well as rare bird species. This is a popular destination for sightseeing as it overlooks the regions rolling hills.

Anyone over 60 needs to provide medical clearance, due to the remoteness and physical nature of the project. Volunteers will stay Friday night in Sen Monorom town, Mondulkiri, and be transported back to the city of Phnom Penh at 7:00 AM on Saturday, where volunteers will need to arrange their own transport to the airport for departure, stay in Phnom Penh or onward travel. The elephants are returned to the forest and able to roam free. Volunteers at this project will be helping to monitor the health of the elephants, with observation and research, and help to develop and maintain the site as a care facility for these magnificent creatures.

If volunteers stay for two weeks or more, you will have free time on the weekend to explore some of this beautiful province. Accommodations: Shared dorm rooms on-site at the sanctuary, single rooms on arrival and on weekends. You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Phnom Penh.

For volunteers staying longer than one week, all meals over the free time on the weekend at the volunteers own cost. Phnom Doh Krokom Pagoda & the Sea Forest There are a number of look out points around the town, for an amazing view of the sunset over Sen Monorom and the sea forest, take a trip to the Phnom Doh Krokom Pagoda. The chance to observe these elephants in their forest home is as close as you will ever get to see an elephant in the wild but in close proximity! Days 3-5, Tuesday-Thursday: Go on a morning trek to visit and observe the elephants and spend your afternoon gardening, farming or assisting with sanctuary maintenance. Accommodations have been built mostly with recycled materials. A delicious buffet lunch is served daily and the lunch breaks are long with plenty of time to relax.

Most of the volunteer work is done at a distance to allow the elephants to roam free in their natural habitat and have as stress free lifestyle as possible.

Take a swim in the falls pool and then zipline through the Cambodian jungle for an thrilling experience! Meals often include meat and vegetable dishes, but may vary from season to season.

This project takes place in Cambodias most sparsely populated eastern province of Mondulkiri. Weekly Schedule: Volunteers will be picked up from Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) on Saturday and stay the night in Phnom Penh. Have the rest of the afternoon to get settled into the sanctuary. #toggleme>div>div>div:nth-child(7) div{background:url(https://flevix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Loading-Image-1-1.gif) center center no-repeat;min-height:400px}, When I booked the Sustainable Community Development project in Cambodia, I had no idea what to expect.

The transfer will leave Phnom Penh at 7.30 AM and take five to six hours to reach Mondulkiri. Please note: The project schedule is subject to change based on the projects current needs. The projects goal is for you to come to Cambodia, have amazing time and to be highly knowledgeable elephant advocates after your visit, to help continue their work all over the world!

Friday night dinner will be at volunteers own expense. Departures are on a Saturday.

Airport Transfers: Airport pickup is provided upon arrival, Orientation: Introduction and orientation on upon arrival at the sanctuary on the first Sunday.

Volunteers have the option to upgrade to a private bungalow at the sanctuary for an extra fee, pending availability. Following lunch, volunteers either go out to observe the elephants or partake in more hands-on work, depending on the schedule.

After breakfast, around 8:00 AM, volunteers will either head to observe the elephants or engage in some volunteer work.

Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, meals on the weekend (from dinner on Friday to lunch on Sunday), personal expenses.

Work will consist of tasks that are solely for the benefit of the elephants and their forest home. The program will begin officially at 3:00 PM on Sunday, when volunteers meet the project staff in Mondulkiri at their center and journey out to the project site.

The evenings are free for relaxation.

I could not, My experience at the Sustainable Community Development project was an absolutely unforgettable one.

Dei Ey runs a community-operated lodge on the edge of the community forest and a unique bird watching platform inside the protected area. Age: 18-60.

Dinner is always a highlight with delicious local dishes and beer or soda for sale. Volunteer at an elephant sanctuary in Cambodia that is a genuine haven for rescued elephants!

Friday evenings are usually spent in the nearby town where volunteers have the option to try to local restaurant cuisine. If you are are staying for another week, you have free time to explore the area until meeting at 3:00 PM on Sunday. Accommodation in Phnom Penh: Volunteers will be placed in single hotel rooms in Phnom Penh on the Saturday of their arrival, and be transferred to the project Sunday. Mondulkiri is Cambodian for Meeting of the Hills and the region is characterized by its rolling hills, lush landscape and thundering waterfalls.

As a volunteer on this project you will be volunteering at an ethical elephant sanctuary whose main goal is to allow rescued elephants the opportunity to live in their natural habitat and live as free animals. It was a gift, My experience volunteering in Cambodia began in Siem Reap with Culture Week before I went on to the Medical Aid, I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer in Cambodia for a month working in the Oddar Meanchey Referral Hospital as, This morning at the hospital while I was volunteering in Cambodia at the Medical Aid project, instead of doing rounds,, Having booked my flight, been dropped off at the airport, said my last goodbyes and now soaring through the skies,, Sustainability Initiative - Free week & conservation course, Volunteering in Cambodia An Unforgettable Learning and Travel Experience, Volunteering in Cambodia Where Children Will Melt Your Heart, Volunteering in Cambodia My Personal Teaching Experience, Volunteering in Cambodia Jolantas Wonderful Birthday Treat, Volunteering in Cambodia Unforgettable Samraong, Volunteering in Cambodia Delivering Babies, Volunteering in Cambodia Getting Hands-On Experience, Volunteering in Cambodia Pick the Weeds, Sustainability Initiative Free week & conservation course, Go on daily treks to find elephants in the forest, Work with an organization that is strictly against riding, bathing, performing with or abusing elephants, Help to maintain the 1500 hectare (3,700 acre) parcel of land, that is dedicated to the elephants, Live at the base of a mountain, that overlooks the beautiful elephant sanctuary, Have your weekends free to explore Cambodia, Trekking out to find the elephants in the forest five to seven kilometers per day, Observing elephant behavior in their natural habitat, Taking part in research programs related to the elephants and their forest habitat, Reforestation work in the community forest as well as the larger protected forest, Planting and maintaining food farms, such as banana and bamboo for the elephants, Maintaining the sanctuary for example, building bridges and trails and maintaining the facilities, such as the elephant hospital, Helping to monitor the forest and wildlife and much more, Moderate to high level of physical fitness. WEHH In the intimacy of the Bunong culture Give sense to your holidays by immersing in the culture of Bunong Indigenous People and help our local communities to improve livelihoods. There are currently eight, full-time retired elephants at the sanctuary. The province capital is Sen Monorom, also the only official town of the province, while the remainder of Mondulkiri is made up of natural forest, including three large protected areas.

Learn about the elephants histories, the local people and the unique role they play in protecting these unique animals.

The site is also home to one of the highest ziplines in Cambodia.

Number of Volunteers: Up to 12 international volunteers (this is the maximum on the volunteer program, but there can be up to 30 people on-site, including the volunteer program, visitors and groups or research programs).

Accommodation at the sanctuary: From Sunday until Friday afternoon, volunteers will be staying in a mixed-gender, shared dorm on the sanctuary site, overlooking the beautiful forest. Food: 3 meals per workday are provided, except on Fri and Sat. Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment): Arrival Day, Saturday: Arrive at Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH).

GoEco > Asia > Cambodia > Elephant Sanctuary & Forest Conservation.

For volunteers staying longer than one week, you will not return to Phnom Penh on Saturday, but will be staying in Mondulkiri and returning to the project site again on Sunday at 3:00 PM. This haven is unique in that the elephants have 1500 hectares (3,700 acres) of natural forest in which they roam around and live as free animals one of the largest areas of forest for captive elephants in the whole of Asia.

Food: All meals from dinner on the first Saturday in Phnom Penh until the following Friday lunch onsite the sanctuary are provided. Volunteers will only engage with the elephants in ethical ways.

Use your weekends to explore or learn more about the indigenous Bunong people through a range of experiences. Location of the Project: Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia, Project length: Minimum 2 weeks Maximum 12 weeks, Arrival Airport: Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH), Volunteer Work: Observation, research, reforestation, forest conservation. Day 1, Sunday: Early morning youll catch a bus from Phnom Penh to the project site and join in a welcome briefing and introduction talk on the program. Vegetarian, vegan and special diets can be accommodated onsite at the sanctuary.

Internet: There are Internet cafes in town, but please note that there is no internet or cell phone reception at the project or accommodations volunteers should be sure to advise family and friends that you will be out of contact during your stay at the sanctuary. Weekends are then free to explore the beautiful Mondulkiri province, or relax and chill in town. The rolling hills of the province provide a delightful, scenic view that is complemented by the many waterfalls of the province. This program is now open to international volunteers!

A few suggested travel highlights for the Mondulkiri area are as follows: Bou Sra Waterfall The Bou Sra Waterfall is made up of three magnificent falls that create a pool and is a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike. Day 6, Friday: Spend the morning with the elephants, and the afternoon trekking to a nearby waterfall if the season allows it. Day 2, Monday: Become acquainted with the elephant families while trekking through their natural jungle habitat. Volunteers have the option to upgrade to private bungalows with en suite bathrooms for additional fees please note there are only four private bungalows on-site.

Days 7-8, Saturday-Sunday: Volunteers return to Phnom Penh.

A typical day: A typical day begins at 7:00 AM with breakfast served in the group dining room. Accommodation on the weekends: On Friday evening, volunteers will be placed in single rooms at a hostel in Sen Monorom.

This sanctuary prides itself on its ethical values; there is no riding, bathing with, hand feeding, performing with or abusing of the elephants in any way, shape or form. Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow a similar schedule of volunteering Monday-Friday morning and having Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon off. Volunteers are trekking out into 1,500 hectares of beautiful forest to find the elephants, therefore there is a lot of hiking (five-seven kilometers per day) on difficult terrain and volunteers need to be prepared accordingly. Please take note of this projects minimum requirements: Mondulkiri is an ideal location for volunteers who enjoy sightseeing and embracing nature. Friday night dinner is not included allowing the volunteers to choose where you have dinner in town on your return.

Dei Ey & Pu Chrey A Forest Experience Come and experience the life of the Bunong people in Mondulkiris protected forests.

Spend the day acclimating to Cambodia and enjoying the beautiful city.

Volunteers will be provided dinner that night as well as breakfast Sunday morning and a packed lunch for the transfer to Sen Monorom, Mondulkiri, in the east of Cambodia.

Laundry: Laundry service is included onsite at the sanctuary. Volunteers will spend all week on-site and return to town on Friday at 5:00 PM. As a volunteer at this project you allow the project to do what they do best: care for sick and abused elephants, protect the forests and provide vital jobs, healthcare, community assistance and vet care for the local indigenous population and elephant owners across Cambodia. Age Exceptions: Anyone under 18 years of age must also be accompanied by an adult.