Program Reviews

GVI Chiang Mai was truly the most unforgettable experience of my entire life. I’m 26 years old and have experienced quite a bit so far but the four weeks I spent in Huay Pakkoot were the best of my life. The scenery is breathtaking and the people and elephants are even better.
I’m pursuing a career in conservation and initially signed up to gain experience in the area. I learned more than I could imagine, gaining invaluable insight into real conservation efforts and ethical animal experiences. The programme is run fantastically with a perfect balance of elephant and community activities. Each day was exciting, informative and rewarding - I have truly never felt so fulfilled in my life.
Working with the programme managers, Jonny & Kat, was the greatest pleasure and to see their genuine passion and the tireless work they do for the elephants and the village of Huay Pakkoot inspired me every day.
Despite signing up for conservation purposes, living in Huay Pakkoot is what makes the programme so special. The relationship between the elephants and their mahouts is beautiful to see. The homestay was the ideal accommodation which provided privacy with our own rooms but also further immersed us into the beautiful Pakinyaw culture. The relationship Jonny and Kat have built with the villagers is heart-warming and they always put what is best for the village and the elephants at the forefront of everything they do. This is exactly how a conservation/community project should run.
There is an amazing sense of community between GVI participants and also with the villagers and I've definitely made friends for life. Almost immediately, I felt a part of the village and I was absolutely heartbroken to leave. I’m already planning on when I can return.
Whether you’re passionate about elephants/conservation, want to immerse yourself in a lovely authentic culture or want to make a meaningful impact on the world, this will be a life changing experience which I could not recommend enough. The only thing I would have done differently is stay longer!

I participated in the Bird Research program in Kéköldi (Costa Rica) for a month and had a wonderful time. I would definitely do another GVI program in the future.

What went well:
- The staff on base are all extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. They were a real inspiration to be around and I learnt so much from them. As well as being enthusiastic and professional, they are also really lovely and supportive people.
- Pre-departure support is really good - you get a lot of useful information and a packing list. You also get a support coordinator who is there to answer questions before you travel.
- The base is situated in the heart of the rainforest - you're up close to nature and it's really peaceful (photo attached). You share the base with a Bribri family who were all so welcoming despite my lack of Spanish! There is also a library so you can read up on different species during your downtime.
- As well as conducting surveys, there was a well-run program of talks throughout my time there. Talks were given by interns, volunteers and staff and I learnt about wildlife photography, big cats, deforestation, snakes, moths & butterflies. I had the opportunity to do a presentation of my own - this was a fun project and a good way to gain a deeper knowledge of my chosen species.
- Most participants came from conservation backgrounds which was nice to see. Everyone was passionate about animals and the environment.

What could be improved:
- The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because the GVI marketing team need to be more joined up with staff on the ground. As of 23/06/2023 there are still references to jaguars on the GVI website - this is only applicable to the old site in Jalova as there are no jaguars in Kéköldi (but there is an ocelot!) My recommendation to the marketing team is to get staff on base to proof-read your marketing copy to make sure it's accurate and not misleading.

My advice to prospective participants:
- Speak to alumni so you get a good idea of the program and life on base, or have a look at the program's Instagram page (if there is one)
- Make sure you are fit - there is a lot of hiking in 30C heat!

I’ve had the best 6 weeks with GVI Tenerife. I was originally booked on for 4 weeks so the fact I extended while I was there showed just how much I enjoyed my experience. Base is like a family and the staff were worth their weight in gold. We went out on the boat 3 times a week and I had some incredible sightings over my time there. On the boat we were taught how to record data and then once we were back on base we would process it and identify the different pilot whales we saw. On other days as a volunteer I did land surveys and park/beach clean as well as watching informative documentaries on conservation. We also had a lot of free time where we could go to the shops, beach, pool or explore other parts of the island.

It has always been my dream to work with animals and conservation. Joining the gvi team in Limpopo and being able to see wildlife as they should, learning about them, and actually contribute to conservation is a dream come true. Learning the know-hows, living simply, and meeting new people are just a few of the perks I've experienced during this time. The internship is hard work but everything is worth it at the end of the day. The staff are always helpful and fellow interns/volunteers are supportive.

I got to live in the rainforest for a month volunteering with GVI in Kekoldi, Costa Rica. Everyday we could see various exotic birds just from the base. Toucans were more common to see than pigeons in the city. We surveyed different trails in the rainforest (during the day and night), listening to bird calls and looking for specific physical traits and behaviors of the species encountered to identify and record them. Getting to see these creatures in their natural habitat was such a gift. Nothing could compare to the feeling of joy and excitement when I encountered a Red-Eyed Tree Frog for the first time on a night survey. Overall it was the experience of a lifetime. I definitely plan on volunteering with GVI again someday.

My time at GVI Ghana was absolutely fantastic! The integration was seamless, the projects were interesting, and the people I met, including participants, staff, and community members, were truly incredible. I highly recommend this experience to anyone seeking to make a positive impact and gain deeper insights into Ghana and its culture. Despite my brief two-week stay in Kokrobite, I had a chance to explore other historically rich regions, eat local food, immerse myself in the culture, and overall grew as a person and broaden my perspective. Given my professional background, in the chocolate industry this opportunity was particularly valuable to me. It provided an incredible chance to expand my knowledge of Ghana's agriculture and the challenges posed by climate change. I am grateful to everyone involved for making this journey so memorable. Many Thanks! Nathalie.

I was a Participant in the marine conservation programme in Tenerife and made a lot of amazing experiences. Even though I was only staying there for two weeks, I learned a lot about whales and dolphins, how to collect data about them and how to identify individuals. The boat days were amazing and you can see pilot whales and other dolphins on every trip. When we were not on the boats, we did beach cleans, land surveys or entered the collected data. On hot days the work can be exhausting but in the end it is all worth it. I would recommend this programm to everyone who wants to make an impact and take part in helping marine wildlife.

I volunteered for a month in April 2023 in Mahé on the marine conservation programme and for me the staff and volunteers on base really made the month extremely special. I got my diving qualifications and experienced some absolutely amazing marine life. The staff on base are so lovely but the equipment they have isn’t sustainable for amount of daily dives we did. The compressor breaks on a regular basis and there isn’t enough staff/ field assistants to run smoothly - especially if any of them become ill however whilst I was on base the staff did do everything they could to find replacement tanks.

I've volunteered with GVI 3 separate times now, and each trip has been a fantastic experience! I most recently volunteered with GVI Kekoldi in Costa Rica for 2 weeks on their turtle programme. The base team are amazing at bringing you up to speed when you arrive with lots of training and then supporting you as you get to grips with the surveys in the field. All the other volunteers are always amazing and it's so great to meet other likeminded people from around the world. The GVI main office team provide you with lots of information before you go on what to expect and pack and are super helpful if you have any questions.

A little bit more about the Kekoldi base: 4 days a week the turtle volunteers support Cahuita Turtle Rescue (a local organisation of some of the most inspirational people I've ever met) with night surveys, protecting eggs from poachers, and supporting efforts to protect the local leatherback sea turtle population. For the other 2 days of the week, the volunteers get involved with the jungle based biodiversity surveys involving bird, amphibian and reptile surveys. It's great to be able to experience both types of survey that the base offers as they're very different!

The programmes GVI offer are a fantastic way to travel and experience a country in a completely different way to normal. I would have loved to spend more time on the Costa Rica programme and can't recommend the experience more highly!

I chose to do a GVI Program because it sounded like a once in a lifetime experience. I had never been to Thailand nor had I ever interacted with turtles before, so this sounded like an exceptionally unique opportunity. In the program we cleaned and medicated turtles, conducted biodiversity surveys and did beach profiling among other things. The staff were lovely and everyone felt like family which created a really nice environment at base. Volunteering with GVI increased my knowledge on conservation tenfold, and I have been able to tell my friends and family so much about how to be more environmentally conscious. I loved the programme and extended my stay for two more weeks! My GVI experience definitely improved my team working skills and my ability to thrive in new environments. Overall I would highly recommend GVI, especially the Thailand turtle conservation programme as I had a wonderful time!