Follow us:    

Top
Image Alt

Wildlife solidarity trip

Learn about the lives of rescued wild animals and contribute to improving their quality of life.

Wildlife solidarity trip

from 690€ por persona
Open all year round
mkdf-tour-info-icon
Bolivia
Animals
Environment

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Bolivia is one of the 15 most biodiverse countries in the world. Despite representing only 0.2% of the world's land area, the country is home to almost 400 species of mammals, 1,415 species of birds, 317 species of reptiles, 254 species of amphibians and 700 species of fish. Unfortunately, this natural wealth is not protected: there are cases of mistreatment of animals, while their habitat is disappearing. In addition, illegal wildlife trafficking continues to grow, becoming the main threat to some species.

Faced with this reality, this project was born in 1992 and initially worked with young people of limited resources, developing their self-esteem through activities in defence of the environment. At the same time, it denounced illegal animal trafficking in order to raise awareness in Bolivian society. In 1996, the organisation created the first wildlife refuge in Bolivia, promoting ex situ conservation. Currently, the project has three refuge centres with different animals but in the Chapare centre from where most of the animals were transferred to the Rurrenabaque centre, they no longer need the support of volunteers, so to collaborate you can choose one of these two centres:

  • Santa María Centre: Felines (ocelots, pumas, jaguars), primates (howler monkeys, night monkeys, titi monkeys), tapirs, badgers and a diversity of birds. Recommended for stays of more than two weeks and for people who speak English, as they receive many volunteers from English-speaking countries. This is the centre that currently has the greatest need for volunteers.
  • Rurrenabaque Centre: located in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, for super adventurers. At the moment there is the spider monkey group, the albifron group, the squirrel monkey group and coatis. As more infrastructures are being built, more species will be added over the months following the relocation of the Chapare centre.

In this project you will live in the middle of nature, interacting with animals that have been rescued from mistreatment and trafficking. Surrounded by the jungle, you will also meet free animals that visit the centre.

This project works towards achieving the following Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible production and consumption
SDG 15 Life of terrestrial ecosystems
3 Reviews
  • Project Location
    Santa María or Rurrenabaque, Bolivia
  • Volunteer hours
    8-9 h per day from 7:00 until 18:00
  • Volunteer activities
    Preparing food for the animals, walking with them, helping with cleaning, maintenance and construction work.
  • Minimal collaboration
    2 weeks
  • Incluido
    Tumaini accompaniment
    Lunch
    Accommodation
    Local Coordinator
    Training course
    Volunteer liability insurance
  • No incluido
    Tourist activities
    Hot water
    Dinner
    Kitchen
    Breakfast
    Airport pick-up
    Travel insurance
    Flight
    WIFI

Galería

''It's a hard experience at times, but very nice and unique. Dealing with animals, feeling their affection, knowing that you help them, meeting people, travelling alone, getting to know yourself better, adapting to different conditions, getting to know a new place. Everything makes that when you leave, you really miss it''. Naiara Francone.

Bolivia Solidarity Trip

Volunteer Program

1
Voluntary activities
Depending on which centre you go to and how long you stay, the activities are:
  • Taking animals (monkeys, birds, badgers) out of their cages and putting them on the runner.
  • Take a hike with animals (monkeys, cats)
  • Prepare their feeding and put enrichment
  • Cleanliness of the facilities
  • Maintenance and construction support
2
Profiles required
To participate in this solidarity trip it is not necessary to have a specific profile, but it is necessary to have certain requirements. requirements which are:
  • Be of legal age.
  • Be in good physical shape.
  • That you like animals very much.
  • Be open-minded, tolerant, supportive and willing to learn. Flexibility is essential, as tasks may change depending on the needs of the NGO, similarly the ability to work in a team since volunteering is done in coordination with other people.
The project is particularly suitable for:
  • Wildlife lovers.
  • People who can do without comforts in exchange for living in the jungle.
  • Biologists, veterinarians. Also profiles from the fields of education and marketing.
3
A day in the project
I would get up at 6:30 in the morning to start at 7:00. First we would give the monkeys bananas for breakfast and clean their area. Then we would have breakfast ourselves, a delicious egg and cheese sandwich. From 9:00 to 12:30 I would go to the jungle to look for twigs to clean their cages and set up a small jungle inside them. I would prepare enrichments for them so that they could entertain themselves, and I would prepare their food and then give it to them. After lunch we would continue with the chores until 16:30, when the monkeys would have their dinner and we would give them their blankets to sleep on. It was the best time to groom and play with them, some of them were very sociable with people and really adorable when they asked you to scratch their back or wanted to give you a manicure. When I finished at 18:00 I usually took a motorbike to go to the village market to buy some things. Later I would go to my room, where a hot shower was appreciated. After a short rest, the volunteers would get together for dinner and a few laughs until bedtime. Throughout this routine, different things happened every day that made each day a special day. It was an incredible experience, I did and saw amazing things, met wonderful people and felt inexplicable things. A great adventure.
Naiara Francone, volunteer at the Chapare centre.

Project Location

Project

The project has 3 different locations.
  • Chapare: is located halfway between Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. Situated very close to a village and next to one of the most important roads in Bolivia that links Santa Cruz with Cochabamba.
  • Santa Maria: 7 hours north of Santa Cruz and located in the middle of the jungle. Here you will have to do without comforts such as a hot shower or bath with running water, but in exchange you will wake up to the sounds of howler monkeys.
  • Rurrenabaque: in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, the environment is wonderful. Especially recommended for very adventurous people who can collaborate for at least one month.

Climate

  • Chapare: The climate is quite hot and humid: the area is one of the wettest on Earth. Even in the dry season it rains a lot. The average temperature is 27°C.
  • Santa Maria: tropical climate, with higher temperatures (27ºC-32ºC) and more rainfall between November and March, and lower temperatures (18ºC-25ºC) and less rainfall between April and October.
  • Rurrenabaque: rainforest climate. The heaviest rains fall between November and March; however, even in the dry season (between June and September) it rains quite a lot. Temperatures range from 25ºC to 30ºC, with cooler temperatures between June and September (19ºC-25ºC).
The cost varies according to the duration of your solidarity trip. Prices are approximate as they depend on the exchange rate at the time of payment.

Shared room:

  • 680- 750 € for 15 days
  • 800 - 875 € for 21 days
  • 860 - 950 € for 30 days
  • 1.540 - 1.640 € for 3 months
  • 2.410 - 2.510 € per 6 months
What is included?

From Tumaini::
  • Search for the solidarity trip that best fits your profile and interests to provide an enriching beneficial experience for both travellers and NGOs.
  • A guide of the project with useful up-to-date information on the status and needs of the project.
  • Support during the preparation of your trip: visas, vaccinations, tips for buying your flight, advice on what to visit, essentials to carry in your backpack, practical information (money exchange, transport, timetables, culture, etc.).
  • Tumaini coordinator available by email or phone whenever you need to solve all your doubts. Sometimes, if possible, face-to-face meetings are also held.
  • Online course on solidarity travel and responsible tourism, mandatory for volunteers to get the most out of their experience.
  • Contact, if possible and on request, with volunteers who have already been in the project.
  • Contact, if possible and on request, with people who are going to travel on similar dates to chat before the solidarity trip, resolve doubts or organize it together.
  • Accident and liability insurance specialized in volunteering.
  • Follow-up during the solidarity trip.
  • Letter of reference or certificate of solidarity travel/volunteering on request.
  • CO2 compensation by planting a tree and monitoring it for three years on the island of Borneo in Indonesia.
On the part of the project:
  • Accommodation in shared dormitories.
  • Local Coordinator.
  • Full board (minus Saturday dinner)
  • Project T-shirt
What is not included?

  • International ticket
  • Travel insurance (compulsory)
  • Visa (free of charge for Spanish nationals for stays of less than 90 days)
  • Extras such as personal excursions, shopping, etc.
Your trip will contribute to the growth of the project. The total cost of your solidarity trip is divided into two parts:
  • A contribution to Tumaini for the efforts and assistance of the volunteers.
  • A contribution to the project for board and lodging.
Your stay generates a direct benefit for the NGO, with your solidarity trip, you are directly contributing to making the project self-sustainable.

Services

  • Sheets and pillow
  • Ecological toilets
  • Shower with unheated water
You don't have permission to register