Program Reviews

I had the best time in Guatemala at ARCAS, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation group, and it's all thanks to Animal Experiences International!

I spent a lot of time working hard - those animals won't clean up after themselves! But I also was able to learn about much of Guatemala's wildlife, the dangers posed to it by the illegal pet trade, and how to care for the animals that came through our doors.

My trip also included time at national parks with my group. We were able to climb bridges above the canopy at Ixpanpajul, and see Mayan pyramids.

All in all, this trip blew me away!

Working with the elephants in Thailand was way more than I had imagined, they are such an amazing species, gentle giants who have feelings just like us. Unfortunately their numbers are dropping significantly for many reasons. The good news is AEI has this wonderfull volunteer program in which they set you up to head over to Thailand to work hands on with elephants at a rescue center in which they are living the rest of their lives in peace. When I first showed up to the center I was greeted by so many lovely people, I felt really welcome. I received a tour of the center which is huge. They have other animals from monkeys to bears also. A tipical day with the elephants begins in the early morning. They receive food 3-4 times a day which we prepare. We bath them, walk them and clean their fenced area. My favorite part was defintely giving them a bath because you could tell they loved it so much! Of course we would take breaks in the day to eat lunch and rest a bit. The food was so tasty, thai food is so flavourful! I would say what made the experience even better was meeting new people from all over. Learning about them & where they are from. And of course connecting with them because they are at the center for the exact same reason you are. To help the elephants ! If You want a fun & exciting experience while making a positive impact then this is what you need to do!! I will never forget my time in Thailand & the people I met. And most certainly
Won't forget the elephants. I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to work so close with them. It was truly life changing, & most certainly thankful for AEI's help at getting me ready for this trip! & I'm looking forward to my next :)

Dr. Heather and Ms. Nora are both wonderful dedicated people. They are always there to answer any questions. I love how this is a B-Corp organization. Really though, what you put into the experience is what you get out of it. This is about getting out there, having fun, and making an impact. Yes, you will get to take pictures of cute animals, but this isn't just about selfies. AEI is about the experience itself, which is something I love about the company. You are immersed in the culture, not apart from it, and though it would be great to be able to go in and just experience everything, AEI is sensitive to the needs and placement experiences needed for the local vets - something you have to respect AEI for doing. Not every company realizes that the local vets have to do placements as well, and going in and taking all those placements from them would be harmful to the local area. AEI works with the placement partners to make sure this doesn't happen, and that the AEI volunteers get a wonderful experience while working in balance with the needs of the local area. I really think this company is just amazing for the work they do.

I volunteered through AEI about one year ago in Guatemala. This was the first real volunteer trip I have taken and I was extremely impressed with how wonderful they were to deal with. Everything was arranged for me from travel insurance, to airport pickup to accommodations. I felt totally prepared going into this trip having spoken to people who had done the exact trip that I was taking and giving me advice and tips for when I was there. I was so impressed with not only AEI but also the amazing wildlife center I got to volunteer at. This was a life changing experience for me and has changed the way I view the world. Volunteering is such an amazing way to spend your time, meet likeminded people and also to take time for yourself. I would recommend AEI to anyone looking to volunteer and especially to people who have not volunteered of traveled much before. You will not be disappointed and you will likely become addicted to travelling and volunteering, as I myself have!

I had the pleasure for volunteering at Playa Blanca in Costa Rica last December for about a month and it was the most memorable experience that i Have had. The people were wonderful and it was so much fun staying at the beach. I made incredible friends and working with the turtles is definitely unforgettable. I thank the team at Animal Experience International for being so open, warm, transparent and reliable. They helped me with everything from before I booked the trip until well after I came back. I can't wait until I can do another experience!