Volunteer Work With Elephants

I had a wonderful time in Jaipur with Elephants. During my 4 weeks of project with VWI i also go to visit some of the beautiful places in Jaipur, Agra, Pushkar & Delhi. Here people are so friendly.

My work with the elephants starts everyday in morning; VWI has dedicated driver which pick me up in time and drop at the project site; there is project coordinator always there which assist me all the work to help mahouts and to care elephants. My work was there to everyday clean the area, wash the elephants, feed them and also go to afternoon to made chapati's. The work environment with the elephants and mahouts is so happy and fun.

The host family is so nice, my room was nice, food was great. I definitely recommend this project for future volunteers.

I went to Jaipur to work with the elephants and what a great experience it was.

If you are looking for an authentic experience then this is the project for you. From the family to the transport it is the real deal.

I was worried as a lone slightly older traveller about how safe I would be. I need not have worried at all, at every stage the organisation exceeded expectations leaving me free to enjoy the experience.

The day starts early and so if you are working with the elephants you have a lot of downtime. It is worth noting here it may be better to do this trip with a friend since I did get a little bored at the house.

Whilst on the trip it was the Holie festival and what fun be aware that you are not told to oil your body before playing so that the powder does not stain. I was bright pink for almost a week!!! Thanks Sukret.

Live a little and go for this adventure.

I would highly recommend this organization. I did the Volunteer With Elephants program and had a truly amazing experience. I really can't express how it changed my life.

From the moment I got there, and even before arriving, I had support from their staff. They always made sure I had what I needed and was safe..which was very valuable being a woman traveling alone.

They really set you up to be comfortable and the value of having a driver was very nice. The manager/owner of this organization always took the time to take me and see things I would have never known how to find, explain where to go for shopping.

The tour you get at the end is also worth it in itself. I loved spending time with the elephants and everything was hands on.

The town was beautiful and so full of history and character. Lots of sight seeing! Everyday was a new unique experience and I met a lot of really nice people.

The family I stayed with was very hospitable, although the food was a little oily and vegetarian it was really tasty. I had my own room with a shower and always felt welcome. The girls there did Henna for me and even helped me shop for a Sari and local attire.

All in all I had an incredible experience, I would highly recommend this organization as it has a personable and human aspect to it. If you are thinking of going, and have more questions feel free to contact me at thowrey@live.com.

Never stop travelling :-)

Ms by Michele
on December 16, 2012
I would like to pass on what an amazing experience it is in Jaipur with the awesome elephants. I was made to be so welcome by all, from the coordinators to the fab mahouts. Tutarum ji who picked us up from our guest house was a real character and always made sure we found plenty of drinking holes for a lovely cup of real Indian chai, we had chance to go to teach the children at a school. They were such a great bunch of kids, and very clever.I was invited to two weddings and they were very colourful and lively. I didn't have to worry about anything accommodation was seen to and All I had to worry about was getting up on time!!
If I could I would do it all again.
If you love history Jaipur has lots to offer. Thanks Sukret and Govind and Tutarum Ji for making it the best experience ever.....

Most insane crazy fun filled week of my life! This project is great way to enhance the travel experience- turning it from a self indulge holiday to something where you actually have make a difference in someone life.

Not to mention the amazing side activities like riding elephants, the extreme consumption of chai, feeding monkeys and riding on motorcycles to midnight temples, and attending a 12 hour Indian wedding (If you're lucky!)

If this is your first experience volunteering in another country, VWI is great way to get you started.

I spent only one week on the volunteer programme with elephants in Jaipur. However, this proved the most life changing week I think I'll ever experience.

On arrival in Jaipur I was greeted by Sukret at the airport, and transported to the guest house. The host family were so welcoming, and all the food provided was amazing, it was absolutely impossible to go hungry!

Staff at VWI were so friendly and willing to help, and the mahouts despite language barriers were also friendly and supportive, so the whole working experience was made very comfortable.
Myself and another volunteer worked between two villages of elephants, and we also experienced a day at one of VWI's other projects (Children project), which was great and the children were so lovely!

India is a beautiful country, VWI workers were more than happy to show the wonders of the amazing pink city once work was over. At the weekend we visited a traditional Rajasthani village resort called 'Chokhi Dhani'

This project was fun, different and educating. I have recommended this project to many friends, and I hope to return soon to work with VWI again.

I spend 4 wonderful weeks working on the elephant project. I had a tough start because there were some problems with my baggage in Delhi airport, But Sukret was very helpful through it all, so no matter what happens, just take it easy, and you are in safe hands. I will admit that I Had times when I just thought that everything was new for me here, it such a big culture difference. I come here for 4 weeks so on my beginning days I learned how to get around the city. The transportation is really cheap in India. I saw the entire tourist place on weekend sightseeing and did a lot of shopping. The staff members were really nice to introduce me for their families and taking me to different places. The work with elephants is amazing. On a normal day I got pick up from the host family at 4:30 a,m and was home again at about 9 p.m. Most of the days I cleaned the elephants area, washed and scrubbed the elephants and made food for them to eat. But I also experience to bath the elephant in the lake ride. Every day you have the program coordinator with you to the project, so you are never alone there is always someone to talk with and to answer your entire question. And that makes feel really safe and comfortable. I had an amazing time volunteering. Definitely a place I would love to visit again. Hard Work but really amazing elephants. All the people whom I met here is very welcoming and sweet. I like to give A Big 9 mark from 10 to VWI. The project Staff members Really great! Could not wished any better. It was great to write with Sukret, and he always answered really fast. I am really picky with food and I don’t like anything spicy, but the family was very nice to make sure there always something I could eat.