Trip Details

Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteer Rajasthan India

How would you like to help out at a wildlife sanctuary, looking after a whole host of fluffy (and not so fluffy) creatures? Our Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteer project in Rajasthan, India, houses 61 species and is a safe haven for animals born in captivity. Here, you’ll find many animals which have been injured, are in breeding programs or simply lack the skills to survive in the wild. Importantly, you will gain first- hand experience of caring for rescued animals, as well as helping to improve wildlife data collection and research. In short, this is a great project for would-be vets, or simply those who have a big heart for creatures great and small!

Learn how to Care for Rescued Animals in Picturesque Rajasthan

While Rajasthan is famous for its deserts and palaces, it’s also known for its work in preserving many endangered species.  And our Menagerie for Education on Wildlife and Habitat Preservation programme is where it all happens! Here, you will be feeding and bathing animals, cleaning their enclosures, and recording their behavioural patterns. However, you will also work on park activities, from weeding to analysis of visitor behaviour, and even redesigning enclosures. A very varied bag of tasks!

Work with the wider Community on this Exciting Project!

This project is something you can really get your teeth into, as it goes far beyond the realms of its animal enclosures.  In fact, your daily activities might extend to helping out with awareness programmes, signboard preparation and maintenance activities. Further, you will assist with exhibitions and even lectures for school groups. And if you’re quite handy, you can also contribute with some physical grafting! Choose to help out with local settlements by building sanitation facilities, or medical health awareness and immunisation camps.

Why be a Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteer Rajasthan, India?

  • Learn about native species of the Aravalli ecosystem
  • Improve your understanding of animal care and protection
  • Work with a great team of dedicated animal lovers and vet professionals
  • Enjoy staying at our comfortable accommodation with great indoor/outdoor spaces
  • Discover authentic Indian cuisine with all meals included in the programme

Get in touch to find out more or browse through our many other volunteer experiences.

Trip Itinerary

On your Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteer project in Rajastan, you will be busy, so take the Sunday of your arrival to relax and refresh before the week begins.

Mandatory Orientation Schedule

Monday

On your first day of the program, you will have an orientation, to better understand your new environment and programme. Further, you’ll attend an energetic Rajasthani cultural dance concert, and visit the local market, close to our centre. Thereafter, you can use your free time to exchange your currency or shop for anything you might need during your stay.

Tuesday

On the second day of your first week, we will introduce you to the project site. Our coordinators will also provide you with an overview of the project activities so as to introduce you to the project in a step-by-step manner.

Wednesday to Friday

Your time on the project will commence on Wednesday.

You will be working along with the staff and the forest guards on various activities as per the requirement from 9:00 to 12:00. Return to our centre for lunch and for relaxation. Then depart again at 14:00 and continue with other activities scheduled for the day.

Places to Visit

Unsurprisingly, Rajasthan offers many wonderful places to visit, with its many temples, and historical buildings. In fact, you’ll struggle to choose what to visit whilst you are here!

Jaisalmer, a gigantic sandcastle that remains inhabited and has mesmerized people from all over the world. With ninety-nine bastions, the castle encircles shops, a palace and more.

Pushkar, a Hindu pilgrimage town that is home to one of the few Brahma temples, over fifty bathing ghats and over 400 temples. The main street is a long bazaar, where you can find any souvenir you can think of to bring back home.

Jodhpur, dubbed “The Blue City” for its blue-tinted edifices, Jodhpur is considered an architectural masterpiece. Visit its ever-photogenic streets and Mehrangarh, a magnificent fort that towers over the town.

Jaipur, a colourful and flamboyant city made famous by the Hawa Mahal, a pink-toned building that towers over the main bazaar. It was historically built for royal women to be able to see festivals without being on the streets.

Ajmer, famous for its Islamic heritage and for containing one of India’s most important Muslim pilgrimage centres. In Ajmer, you’ll  find examples of Muslim architecture such as the Jain golden temples.

This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Trip Accommodation

Nicknamed the Venice of the East, The Royal city of Udaipur is primarily known for its art and architecture. In fact, it has temples dating as far back as 950 AD and palaces dating back to the Rajput era so there’s plenty of history here!  Drawing several million tourists a year, it has loads to offer in terms of art, architecture, culture and cuisine. With all of this and more, Udaipur is one of the cities everyone should visit at least once in their lives!

About the Accommodation

Our accommodation makes for a very comfortable stay! There is a mini library where you can read, a beautiful garden to relax in and dining and lounge areas where you can hang out with fellow volunteers. Rooms are shared on a single-gender basis of 4-8 people per room. Further, there is an option to reserve a private room – however, this is subject to availability, and must be requested before booking at an additional cost.

Food Arrangements

Get a taste of authentic Indian cuisine with meals included in the programme. However, if you are a little picky, don’t worry – we offer a mix of Western and Indian food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. That said, you can expect to have a chicken dish twice per week, although vegetarian dishes are always available. Alternatively, you can also use the kitchen facilities to cook for yourself or eat out at any of the local restaurants if you prefer. Lastly, there is a refrigerator which you are welcome to use to store food and beverages.

Facilities

Our house is located 5km away from the city centre, where you can find anything you might need. Conveniently, the nearest ATM and supermarket are located a pleasant 15 minute walk away from our accommodation.

 

Trip Country Info

India

Capital: New Delhi
Language: Hindi, English and 22 other officially recognized languages
Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)
Time zone: UTC +5:30

India is known for its pyramid-like temples, its colorful streets and it’s crowded cities. This country represents one of the most vivid and the largest cultures in the world. From the golden triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra to the coast where Ayurveda medicine was born, India offers a 360 degree journey through the most magical of lands. Known for being the second most populated country in the world, India will show you the faces of thousands of Hindu gods in its very vast collection of temples all throughout the country. The land of colors and smiles is ready to take you on your next adventure whether road tripping or helping out in local communities, this sub-continent will amaze your senses. India will shift the way you see the world.

India’s literacy rate is around 60% for women and 80% for men. The principal language is Hindi and English is also commonly used in all major cities. New Delhi, the capital of India, is what many would call the real deal when travelling through the country. It is one of the biggest and most populated cities in the whole world with up to 25 million citizens. New Delhi is known for its amazing cuisine and its new modality of “street food”, which means restaurants with every specialty you can imagine are available to you all throughout the city! Chennai is another of the biggest cities in India, known as the “Detroit of India” for its automobile industry. If you are looking for a quieter spot Kerala is the centre of lifestyle, art, architecture, language and literature in all of the country!

Gap year programs to India are enjoyed in a country with wonderful history that dates back several thousand years. In particular, one of the most incredible historical points of India is how four separate world religions originated here – Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. Beyond this, however, India has only truly been independent as a nation since 1947, just a couple years after World War 2 concluded.

In that time, India has grown to be the eleventh largest economy in the world as well as the second most populous nation, second only to China. This isn’t particularly surprising when you consider that India has been an economic powerhouse for trade routes in the past, but it is very impressive to consider that India has almost reached the status of superpower over the course of 66 years.

The geography of India has been a target for nature lovers for many years but is finally becoming an easy place to visit and explore for foreign tourists. With the Himalayas to the north, the desert in the centre and the luxurious beaches to the west, India has a type of climate that suits the desires of just about anyone. Even if you have a soft spot for snow, you can easily embrace that love by visiting some of the northern mountains which are nearly always capped in snow and ice!

With thousands of years of history and an incredibly diverse climate, India is not a place you can simply read about and understand. You have to visit and immerse yourself within the various Indian cultures before you get an idea of just how amazing India really is. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch now to find out more about our amazing gap year volunteer programs and holidays in India or browse the latest experiences below.

Please Note TRU are not currently able to accept any volunteers in India due to the current Covid-19 pandemic. We will be sure to update you when it is safe to travel and restrictions ease in India.

Participant Criteria & Requirements

Standard Requirements

No requirements have been provided.

Additional Requirements

No requirements have been provided.

What's included

  • 24/7 support in case of emergencies
  • Accommodation
  • Airport Pick up
  • English speaking coordinator
  • Meals
  • Orientation

What's not included

  • Airport drop off
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Vaccination
  • Visa