Program Reviews

This is my third trip with Animal Experience International. I can honestly say this organization has changed my life. Nora is always just one email away. Answering even the silliest of questions that I have, like do I take a checked bag vs only a carry-on but also help with the most important questions like how to get my visa, where the taxi will pick me up ect... no question too big or too small. I also feel so safe, as if someone is right here with me even if they are half way across the world.
My trip to Thailand was absolutely amazing. We worked mostly with primates; gibbons, macaques and langurs as well as some bears, otters, pigs, munjack and many more. This place is a safe haven for these animals who have all had a very difficult life prior to being rescued. The fact I could play a small role in their care means the world to me. Ever since my first trip in 2019 to Guatemala I feel like my eyes have been opened in both positive and negative ways. I can never unknow the hurt that trafficked animals go through but in the same breath I see how many people are trying to help these animals and give them a better life.
AEI has truly changed lives for the better and I can't wait to volunteer again.

I spent two weeks at the wildlife rehabilitation in Thailand and made some unforgettable memories and friends. They have the coolest animals and you can tell their health and welfare is the most important to them. I would go back in a heartbeat! The food was amazing and all the staff there were so kind.
I definitely got put outside my comfort zone but Im glad I did because I now have some of the best experiences and stories ever!
I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone. AEI made my trip go smoothly and made me feel safe at all times.

I came back last week from a two-week long trip to ARCAS in Guatemala in the veterinary program! I learned about AEI back in 2019 when I met Dr. Heather Reid and listened to her lecture about wildlife rehabilitation and volunteering abroad. Soon after, I got in contact with Nora who was extremely punctual, kind and knowledgeable. With COVID-19, the trip was pushed back repeatedly but Nora never gave up and gave frequent updates on the possibility of rebooking my dates. She reassures and addresses any concerns you have about anything related to your trip. I already knew where I wanted to go and Nora helped me make it a reality! Despite flights not being included, Nora gave excellent recommendations on who to book flights with and where to stop over. She gave a comprehensive packing list and manual which was helpful in being prepared for the culture and environment change. As a young woman and having never travelled by myself, I was extremely nervous but AEI was always there for me every step of the way!

There was some slight miscommunication between the centre and AEI about specific packing items, housing and internet accessibility, however, overall, the trip was an absolute adventure and a once in a lifetime experience!

Traveling internationally, and volunteering with animals was always a dream of mine, and I am so grateful for Animal Experience International for helping me achieve that. This was my first time traveling out of the country independent, as well as volunteering, and AEI was very helpful in the process of preparing me for my trip. They provided me all the information I needed, and were always available if I had any questions, or concerns at all, and were quick to respond. AEI was there for me with every aspect of my trip from start to finish. Traveling independently out of the country can be nerve-wracking but I always felt safe and prepared thanks to AEI. I am so glad they were the ones guiding me for my first experience as a volunteer out of the country.

The elephant sanctuary was a lovely experience and I am so glad I got the chance to work closely with elephants in a place where the elephants were happy, well cared for, and where their well being was the number one priority.

The daily routine involved hand feeding banana balls to the elephants, chopping up fruit, making enrichments for the elephants, and cleaning the enclosures. Depending on the elephants you were with for the day you would also sometimes shower and scrub them with a hose and brush and take them on short - long walks. You also had daily special projects that varied and were mostly designed to help with the upkeep of the facility.

The accommodations were decent. The rooms varied from old to new. Most rooms were shared by at least four people, however, the older rooms slept two. The bathrooms also varied from old to new - all bathrooms had a shower and toilet - some toilets were flush and others you had to pour water into to get them to flush. All showers were cold but they weren't freezing and most days it was refreshing because it had been very hot. There was no air conditioning but all rooms had fans.

Mags and her team were such an amazing group to be working with. They were very informative and allowed us hands on tasks that we will never forget. I planted mangrove trees, cleaned up the ocean side, visited a locally Women ran recycling center and of course studied and observed the amazing Sea Turtle. I learned a lot of different aspects about Sea Turtle Conservation that I had not thought about prior. This program helped me feel that I am doing something to better our environment and there is also so much more to be done. I really appreciate everyone's time and efforts that went into this program. It was very beneficial for me!
I am now armed with fictional data and real life experience to explain to people why change is a must and it needs to happen immediately.

What an incredible experience! Nora, from AEI, perfectly planned every detail of this trip. We were connected with an outstanding host in the local community and an inspiring organization (LAST). Nora was available before the trip to video call and answer all of our questions. She also communicated with our group throughout the entire trip to ensure we were having an amazing experience. I was also impressed with the organization of our transportation. Being in an unfamiliar location, it could have gotten quite overwhelming, but, with AEI's help, our transportation was always well organized. We worked with sea turtles, mangroves, and a local spay and neuter clinic. This trip was truly life-changing thanks to AEI, and I learned so much about conservation.

My trip to Costa Rica was unlike any other trip aboard I've experienced! Thanks to AEI, I had the best time and also gained so much valuable knowledge from this trip. I had assumed I would just being doing a lot of manual labor while in Costa Rica, but the education aspect of this program really helped me understand why the work was so important and needed to be done in the first place. LAST (Latin American Sea Turtles) was the organization that I worked with and because of them I was able to learn so much about sea turtles, their habitats, the ecosystem in the Osa Peninsula, and about the importance of conservation. Without AEI I'm sure I would've never found LAST or been able to plan a trip like this on my own, so I am very grateful for everyone at AEI who handled the logistics because everything went smoothly and I felt very safe and comfortable at all times.

It would be so much work to try to put a trip together like this on your own, and going through AEI is an awesome option. They provide support leading up to the trip, and are also available for help during the trip, which is very comforting. Everything ran so smoothly for our trip there, thanks to their careful planning.
Working with LAST (Latin America Sea Turtles) was an amazing experience, and I was confident in them and their work because I know AEI had already done their research and worked with them before. If you want to work with animal organizations overseas but do not know which ones to trust or choose, working through AEI is a great option for you. They do research on organizations, and carefully plan trips that are environmentally friendly and do not cause harm to places, people, or animals. They are a great organization to work with.

Some of the unique features that I loved was being able to be surrounded by the rural community of Costa Rica. We were able to experience the culture first hand while getting to help researchers with sea turtles and other animals. Staying in a smaller setting made you realize just how connected the community is. Dogs are constantly roaming around while Scarlett Macaws fly through the air. It is something that you will never forget. The amount of diversity can't be beaten and you will be able to meet some of the most friendly people that treat you like family.

Some of the activities that my group conducted were sea turtle research day, mangrove reforestation and bringing a company to animals at a spay and neuter clinic. These were each very different while we were able to help both animals and plants. This trip really made me appreciate our environment and encouraged me to continue to save our planet.