Volunteer at an Elephant Sanctuary in India

We had a fab 2 weeks working the team. A great team who know how to look after their elephants. We were made very welcome, some home work on our behalf would have helped us, like take a strong pair of DIY/Gardening gloves for picking up elephant poop, as the medical type just....don't do the job and there is no shovel!

I would love to do this again but would also like to understand more about the reserve while I was there, when we asked questions the answers were vague - our fault more home work required on our part. The accommodation we stayed in while in Jaipur was amazing the guys who where looking after use during our stay ensured we enjoyed the rest/sight seeing days they even organised a fantastic night out on the town, i thoroughly enjoyed myself

Had an amazing 4 weeks stay in Jaipur, helping to look after Elephants in the Elephant Village.

The host family I stayed with was so friendly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble for them. The same goes for the friendship of both my driver and my guide. They made my stay something special to remember.

Mr Sukret helped me so much, especially when I picked up an infection and also when I lost my bank card. I couldn't have been better looked after.

Working with the Mahouts in various stable was a pleasure. They're truly dedicated to the welfare of these beautiful creatures. The work with them included preparing food and feeding the Elephants as well as cleaning the stables and regularly washing and bathing them in the lake. Sometimes it was hard work, but I was more than happy to do anything to help with all aspects of their welfare.

All in all, an amazing and worthwhile experience, which I will be happy to do again in the future.

Everyone in the program was amazing and I really got to take care of elephants, the elephants are amazing. The program had all sorts of activities to do and most if not all were very fun. We went to see camels and monkeys, and so many cool temples. We learned about the culture and really got to experience Jaipur. We also got to learn a lot about the Hindu religion and they're beliefs. You can go anywhere with your driver, though at times it can cost more so be aware. Your coordinator will offer you a bunch of day trips and stuff, you should go. All in all it was a great experience and a good way to experience animals and culture.

We just had a memorable trip in India with VWI. Sukret is very responsive before and during the trip, which is extremely helpful. We didn't pick the best season to visit India, so it's pretty hot. But we didn't get any time spent in Inda wasted. The guides, drivers and the mahout for our giant girl 'Champa' are all very good. We spent decent time with the elephant and also did some sightseeing. India is definitely worth multiple visits. Will make another trip during Nov. to Mar when the weather is better.

The team of program coordinators in Jaipur are excellent. They go above and beyond in making sure that you get the best out of your chosen program, and do a lot to make sure everyone gets a true Rajasthan experience, including sites, food, and other unique events. They were always friendly and positive no matter what issues arose. Rajasthan is a great place with a distinct culture from the rest of India. I highly encourage anyone joining the program to had sometime to visit parts of the province outside of Jaipur.

It was an amazing and heart filling experience to be in contact with the enormous beautiful elephants, their committed caretakers and staying with the local family at Prity Guesthouse. I also enjoyed the tours with the Subhash and the tuktuk driver. Overall the guidance and communication was great and felt very safe at all times.

Taking care of the elephants is a very grateful job to be so close and connected to the elephants. We drank a lot of chai and had a lot of fun. They were very enthousiastic involving me and also connect me to the other animals.

The family is very caring and I felt very much at home. Also they took me places which was really nice to learn more about Indian and Jaipur life, including dancing at the Navatri festival! The food was super delicious too.
I even extended my stay!

This is a really fun project to get a chance to see and interact with elephants up close. The communication ahead of our arrival was all helpful/clear, and the train station pickup on arrival was really handy.
Our guesthouse was well located, clean, and the food was really tasty.
Working with the elephants we got the opportunity to get stuck in with feeding, washing, and mucking out, and the mahouts were all very supportive in guiding us and showing off the animals. They clearly know and care for them a lot.
The weekend's tourist trips around Jaipur were really nice and as a lot of the sights were spread out it was comforting to have our own driver for the morning so we didn't have to navigate finding our own transport. Would recommend a composite ticket from the Amer Fort which gives access to a number of additional sights close the guesthouse to visit on foot.
My only significant complaint with the process was that on a couple of occasions we were asked for tips by the mahouts, after being given a ride on an elephant, and at the end of the project. While we didn't have an issue with paying for the ride, it would have been good if the guidance we had been given had made this clear from the outset, and given us a reasonable figure or some advice on what tips are expected/unnecessary.

Hi All. This was my first time. I chose to volunteer here because I wanted to work with animals and be in a familiar country.
The communication was handled seamless by Sukret much before I travelled. All responses were prompt and Sukret was quite considerate as he took extra care to highlight, the weather, the need to carry water on the day denoted for sightseeing.
I chose to stay out on my own however was picked up and dropped off every day , on time.
Shekhar, the driver was a very nice person. Not only did he drive safely, he bargained for me at local fruit stalls without me even asking for it. He took me sightseeing being mindful of what I would enjoy which he picked up on his own. He would give the little children in the village a few bucks to buy candy for themselves and always spoke respectfully and patiently. I’m glad I got to meet him.
Now, the elephants. The mahouts involved with the elephants. It’s was a wonderful experience to be in such close contact of such a big animal having no previous experience under the supervision of the staff, Rohit and the mahouts.
I never felt unsafe, as a woman, as the only volunteer in a village.
They are all individuals, in their own person and to observe their interaction with the elephants was actually quite cool.
The elephants I worked with were gentle, except for one. She was playful too. As with animals, one must respect their boundaries.
All in all, the one week that I spent there was very well planned with enough work, enough opportunities to take initiative and enough free time to do your own thing.
The people I worked with were wonderful and I am glad to have met them.
I am an Hindi speaking person so please do note that language was not a barrier for me. The staff of VWI do speak English though.
I urge one to visit with an open mind as it is a developing country and the sights of the city’s historical grandeur juxtaposed with the current reality can take a while to digest.

I would want to go back again sometime and am grateful for this experience