Program Reviews

I am so glad that I went to a lunch talk at the OVC hosted by AEI, otherwise I never would have found out about this amazing organization or been able to plan my trip to Australia in January 2016! Both Heather and Nora were amazingly helpful in helping me plan my trip to work at Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and the local veterinary clinic, and tailor it to the needs of a final year veterinary student. I had an amazing time and got to work with so many incredible people and animals. Thanks AEI!!!

It's been three years since I traveled to Nepal, an experience that forever change my life. I have a lot more respect for everything and less of a need for material things. He sad thing is many of the sights I visited are now gone because of the horrible earthquake that took place this year.

Once my life calms down, I plan on another adventure through Animal Experience International.

Earlier this year I traveled to Mexico for a two week volunteer experience through Animal Experience International (AEI). From the very first email sent to AEI and throughout the entirety of my trip even up until today, I have kept in touch with AEI and all my new friends in Mexico! That alone says everything about the communication and open door policy for all parties involved. Two thumbs up! Everything about this trip was rewarding. It was wonderful being able to be a part of a team who share the same passion as you - animals. This amazing organization and all of their volunteers dedicate their lives to helping animals in need. I was able to take part in the preparation and recovery process of animals during their Spay and Neuter clinics and campaigns. I went on the road to experience several animal rescues first hand and attended city meetings regarding animal cruelty with the founders of this amazing rescue organization. Oh! And of course cuddling with animals. This is only to name a few! I was also able to experience their famous Feria de San Marcos, a variety of traditional Mexican cuisine, and visited famous landmarks. I even took a picture standing in the center of Mexico!!! Really cool! Another perfect example of why this was such an awesome life changing experience. I wouldn't change a thing about it!! In fact, I am currently planning another trip with AEI this coming March 2016 - I can't wait!!!!!

I was very lucky to find Animal Experience International and took a leap of faith and went to Thailand to work with Asian Elephants. This was easily one of the best experiences of my life. I volunteered for two months, and made a great number of friends and an incredible amount of life experience. The centre was huge! It was right in the forest by a big lake; the scenery was stunning. The staff were very friendly and helped with any concerns you had the best they could. My mother was very worried about safety while travelling, but it was VERY SAFE! AEI set up a driver to pick me up from the airport and drop me off right at the centre. The grounds that I stayed on was protected and always had precautionary security. Working with the animals was incredible. I got to bathe, walk, and feed the elephants, clean their enclosures, and collect the elephants' food in big banana fields. Some lucky volunteers even got to swim with the elephants! I also got to work with primates and bears. While you're there you learn a lot about the exploitation of these animals and how you, as an individual, can stop this type of cruelty. The centre is a sanctuary for animals who have been abused and exploited so they can live out the rest of their lives free from harm. These animals get huge enclosures and are treated with the upmost respect and tenderness. I am very glad I got to volunteer in Thailand with AEI and I will remember this experience for the rest of my life.

A year ago I took the best trip of my life. I was just about finished school that year and I found myself stuck on Animal Experience Internationals website, almost daily, dreaming about being able to volunteer on every single trip! I chose to do my volunteering in Peten Guatemala. I had never been to Guatemala before and honestly had never thought about going either, which is probably the reason why I chose that destination. Just the thought of it being a place that I didn’t know much about excited me. Nora at AEI was very helpful in the time leading up to the trip, I was more then prepared for my experience and couldn’t have been more relaxed when the day arrived.

I spent just over three weeks at ARCAs. Everyday spent there was hard work, preparing food and cleaning animal enclosures, I probably haven’t sweat so much in my life! I met so many amazing people, had the best time hanging out down by the lake, playing cards, exploring Flores, or just relaxing in the hammock enjoying the beautiful sounds and surroundings of the jungle. I would recommend this Guatemalan experience to anyone and everyone who’s been dreaming of an eye opening, heart warming and life changing experience. This trip was above and beyond my expectations and I can’t wait to return.

For my very first time travelling alone, I have to say AEI made my experience safe and fun all at the same time! Nora was very helpful and answered all of my questions as well as my many many emails haha. From the moment I got there to the day I left the staff at ARCAS were very welcoming and made you feel just at home! I do suggest brushing up a little on spanish, but thankfully many do speak English there! I am a student in the veterinary technician program and being able to work so closely with wildlife such as macaws, monkeys and so many more was such a great opportunity and definetly something I would have never experienced if I stayed close to home! As soon as I came back from my short 3 week experience I was already planning my next trip with AEI!

Nepal had always been on my 'must-see' list of countries and I knew that when I was finally going to plan a trip to go there that I wanted to get more than just the 'tourist view' of this country. I wanted to meet the people that live there and experience their culture. After finding out about AEI and their placements in Nepal and speaking with Nora it seemed an amazing opportunity to experience the side of Nepal I was looking for. As a veterinary technician the added opportunity to work with dogs and actually make a difference while I was there made it perfect.
Everyone I met was so warm and welcoming. They were all so eager to show me their city, to treat me to little cups of sweet masala tea and to talk about their lives and culture. Everyday I spent in the clinic was interesting, to see different surgical techniques, different treatment methods and of course to spend time with all the sweet dogs who will sit with you for hours in exchange for an ear scratch.
The added bonus of not having to worry about the details like accommodation, airport pick ups, meal planning etc makes for a very easy going trip. AEI has all of these things organized for you and knowing that they have been there and experienced the placement themselves in order to make it suitable for their volunteers is more than reassuring. They even provide you with information about the country you are going to before you leave so that you arrive prepared and are always available if you should need to get in touch with them.
This was a great experience for me and I would absolutely do it again without a second thought. AEI is an amazing organization with a big heart, their placements are exactly what they promise they will be and I would recommend volunteering with them to anyone.

I travelled to Guatemala in 2014 to participate in AEI's wildlife rehabilitation placement. From start to finish, the entire process was smooth, and Nora was supportive and helpful in answering all of my questions and preparing me for my adventure. The rehabilitation centre was a wonderful place. We worked hard each day, but every drop of sweat was worth it! I came home feeling as though I had participated in making a difference for wild animals in need -- it was a rewarding experience to say the least. I would highly recommend AEI to fellow travellers.

When I began researching wildlife rehabilitation programs abroad, I read many horror stories about travellers who turned up at so-called "wildlife sanctuaries" or "rehabilitation centres" -- places that were unregulated and whose interests were only in making money, rather than helping animals. That's why I chose to travel with AEI. I was relieved to see that their values aligned with mine. They visit each facility themselves and experience the placements just as their volunteers would. So I knew I would be investing in an adventure that would take me to a legitimate rehabilitation centre, where I would be making a difference. Nora prepped me on what to expect and how to thrive and get the most out of the experience.

If you're planning an adventure working with animals abroad, I absolutely recommend travelling with AEI. They saved me a lot of headaches, and the experience exceeded my expectations.

We don't really have turtles where I live, so this was an amazing experience for me. I work in veterinary medicine at home and was in between jobs, and since I'd always wanted to volunteer abroad but couldn't b/c of my work schedule, this was the perfect time. Working with a different species that I never get to see and learning about them was such a joy for me, and working with any kind of wildlife and being able to get close to these animals is a privilege and an honor. I fell in love with the turtles, and I still think of them every day. I dreamed about turtles for days after I got home!

I was treated wonderfully during my volunteer time at the turtle center--I was made to feel included, like an important part of the organization. My personal needs were accommodated, and my work was appreciated and celebrated. Further, I was given the opportunity to do "real" work that made a visible difference to the animals--i.e., they didn't just stick me in a back room filing papers or something boring like that. I was handling turtles from the first day and was helping the animals in direct and meaningful ways. It was also a great opportunity to learn about the local area, about its ecosystem, and about the incredible work the turtle center is doing for the environment and the animals.

The people at AEI and the people at the turtle center were absolutely awesome to me from start to finish. They made me feel that my safety and comfort was important to them and that they wanted me to enjoy my experience. You need to be flexible about details; things at your destination may not be the way you were told to expect, and you may not know in advance what your housing and transportation situation will be and so forth, so you have to roll with that. But you can trust that they will be looking out for you and they'll make sure you are always safe and taken care of.

EVERYONE should volunteer at some point in his/her life. Beyond the direct impact it has on the souls that you help, it also expands your own heart and soul in a way that nothing else ever will. No matter what your skills are or what your personal situation is in life, there is always, always something you can do to make a difference to someone. I've been volunteering at home for many years, but traveling abroad alone to do it was a huge confidence builder and a big "reset" in my day-to-day life. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again!

AEI are fantastic! When I signed up to go to Somali-Kenya for two months to learn about and participate in anti-poaching and long term conservation measures in rural tribal Africa they spared no effort throughout the entire planning process or time that I was there to make sure my stay was informative, comfortable, and fun! I was set up in a beautifully large tent with my own personal kitchen hut and toiletry facilities, the rangers I was working with were just a shout away from where I was staying, and I was kept in good supply of my own personal food and water, although I was also welcome to dine with the rangers at breakfast before we went out for morning patrol, lunch when we got back, and an evening meal after evening patrol, which was a nicety I whole-heartedly accepted. The rangers I was working with were incredibly friendly and went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable and felt safe, I have very fond memories of long talks into the night over a fire with some newly made very close friends who I will never forget! The AEI team did absolutely fabulously in setting up this experience for me and I strongly urge anybody who wants to break into the field of conservation ecological management to take a look at the long list of experiences that AEI offers, based on the trip I took they're all incredible!!