Group volunteering in Sri Lanka: elephants and turtles

Activities in Wasgamuwa take place in English. Training is provided on site and no previous experience is required. The programme is open to people aged 18 to 70. Young people aged 14 to 17 may take part with written parental consent and 1 or more accompanying adults. Be prepared to walk on uneven ground and spend several hours outdoors in hot, humid conditions.

Days 1 to 6: Wasgamuwa

Day 1. Arrival, transfer, settling in and dinner.

Day 2. Welcome, safety briefing, responsible wildlife observation and training in GPS use, field surveys and camera traps. Welcome dinner with the team.

Day 3. Interviews with farmers and crop damage surveys, elephant monitoring in the national park, then data entry.

Day 4. Nest monitoring or wetland bird surveys, depending on the season, followed by elephant observation and an identification workshop.

Day 5. Dung surveys, diet and habitat studies, and an awareness-raising activity with schoolchildren. Optional night watch over crops.

Day 6. Butterfly or small mammal surveys, or camera trap monitoring. Elephant observation and a review of the week.

Days 7 and 8: Sigiriya and Kandy

Day 7. Climb Sigiriya Rock and stay overnight at a hotel in Kandy.

Day 8. Visit Kandy, the Temple of the Tooth and a village. Transfer to Induruwa.

Days 9 to 14: Induruwa and Galle

From Monday to Friday, the group helps the conservation centre according to its needs. Tasks include maintaining the site and beach, and helping with daily turtle care under supervision.

Day 9. Turtle project and a Sri Lankan cooking class.

Day 10. Turtle project and a visit to a Buddhist temple.

Day 11. Turtle project and free time at the beach.

Day 12. Turtle project, a visit to Galle and time to shop for souvenirs.

Day 13. Turtle project, final review, certificates and farewell dinner.

Day 14. Breakfast and departure.

Shared accommodation near the project in Wasgamuwa, one night at a hotel in Kandy, then accommodation in Induruwa.

Meals

All meals are included during the volunteering placement. During the adventure tour week, some meals are not included. These will be clearly specified when your group’s personalised itinerary is prepared.

Supervision

In Wasgamuwa, the local team trains the group in monitoring methods, equipment use, responsible wildlife observation and safety procedures. They accompany field surveys and village activities. In Induruwa, activities are supervised by the turtle conservation centre team.

Arrival is scheduled for Sunday, with a transfer from Colombo airport to the accommodation in Wasgamuwa. Training starts on Monday morning at the elephant reserve.

The trip includes visits to Sigiriya fortress, Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth. On the coast, the group takes part in a Sri Lankan cooking class, visits a Buddhist temple, enjoys free time at the beach and explores Galle.

In Wasgamuwa, meeting farmers helps you understand daily life in villages close to wild elephants. An awareness-raising activity with schoolchildren is planned. In villages, wear clothing that covers your legs and ask permission before photographing people. In Kandy and on the coast, temple visits and the cooking class offer further opportunities to learn about local customs.

In Wasgamuwa, the group is hosted by the local Ecosphere Travel team. Researchers, conservation specialists and field assistants work with farmers and local communities to monitor wild elephants and better understand the challenges of coexistence. In Induruwa, the group joins a sea turtle conservation team.