With the days shorter and the winter chill setting in, many of us feel the familiar pull of the “winter blues.” But what if this winter, instead of settling in, you set out? What if you swapped grey skies for golden savannahs, turquoise coastlines, misty rainforests and unforgettable wildlife encounters?
At The Great Projects, we believe winter is one of the best times of year to volunteer abroad. From December to February, many of our conservation projects are at their most exciting, wildlife is active, the weather is ideal, and volunteers are in high demand.
Whether you're craving sunshine, adventure, or meaningful conservation work, here are the best wildlife volunteer projects to join this winter. Beat the winter blues and make this season one you’ll never forget.
Why Volunteer With Wildlife Abroad This Winter?
While winter is underway across the UK and much of Europe, many of our project destinations enjoy warm temperatures, thriving ecosystems, and crucial conservation work needing hands-on support. Winter is also an ideal time for wildlife activity, from orangutans foraging in Bornean forests to sea turtles nesting on stunning beaches.
Volunteering during December–February means:
- Supporting projects at peak-need times: Many wildlife sanctuaries and research initiatives rely on extra help during the winter months.
- Escaping the cold for a sunnier climate, nature, and adventure!
- Ethical travel during holiday downtime: Turning winter breaks into a meaningful experience.
- Contributing to long-term conservation: Even short-term volunteering makes a real impact!
- Creating authentic memories instead of enduring winter monotony
- Ending a year or starting a new one in the most uplifting way possible!
Top Wildlife Volunteer Projects to Join This Winter
Each project below is run in partnership with exceptional foundations and sanctuaries committed to global wildlife protection. Whether you're seeking rainforest immersion, marine conservation, or big-cat encounters, these winter-friendly projects deliver a life-changing experience.
1. The Great Orangutan Project – Borneo
If you want to trade morning frost for rainforest mist, The Great Orangutan Project is one of the most inspiring winter escapes imaginable. Based in Sarawak, this award-winning experience gives you the rare opportunity to support rescued orangutans, alongside an incredible variety of other wildlife, as they move through rehabilitation and inch closer to life back in the wild.
Why It’s Perfect for Winter
While December–February falls during Borneo’s rainy season, it's part of its atmospheric magic. Expect warm, humid days with short, sharp bursts of afternoon rain that make the forest feel incredibly alive. This time of year is the most authentic rainforest experience you'll get; it is called the rainforest after all! Most importantly, with fewer travellers during the winter months, your contribution becomes even more valuable and hands-on. Help with creating enrichment to keep the wildlife active and stimulated, assisting with enclosure cleaning and maintenance, preparing food and supporting daily animal care, and experiencing Borneo in all its tropical glory!
Winter Highlights
- Trade European winter for tropical warmth and jungle scenery
- Benefit from more one-on-one time with conservation staff thanks to fewer volunteers.
- Watch the rainforest come alive with animals, often more active after rainfall.
- Dramatic skies: Think mystical jungle fog, rainbow-lit skies, and dramatic sunsets perfect for the photographers in you.
2. The Great Turtle Project – Sri Lanka
For those wanting both cultural immersion and marine conservation, The Great Turtle Project in Sri Lanka is an enriching and rewarding way to spend the winter months. Set along the island’s picturesque west coast, this project allows volunteers to help protect endangered sea turtles at a long-running and deeply impactful coastal sanctuary.
Why It’s Perfect for Winter
December–February is Sri Lanka’s dry season, bringing warm sunshine, calm seas, and ideal conditions for conservation work on the beach! It’s also a key transitional period in the turtle calendar, as the nesting season shifts into hatchling season, meaning your support directly contributes to the protection of nesting beaches and the safe release of newborn turtles. This is also a family-run project providing a touch of family warmth and a welcoming atmosphere that makes every volunteer feel right at home!
Winter Highlights
- Take part in essential hatchery duties during a peak turtle season
- Support nesting beach protection and potential rescue work
- Soak up Sri Lanka’s beautiful beaches, lively culture, and warm hospitality
- Make a genuine contribution to sea turtle conservation while enjoying ideal winter weather
3. Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary – Namibia
If you crave an adventure packed with purpose, look no further than the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary. As one of our most popular projects year-round, it offers the chance to work closely with African wildlife while enjoying Namibia’s dramatic desert scenery.
Why It’s Perfect for Winter
From December to February, expect warm temperatures, dramatic skies, and green scenery rarely seen outside the rainy months. These conditions make it an ideal time to support the sanctuary team as they care for orphaned and injured animals, including cheetahs, baboons, caracals, and many other species that rely on the sanctuary for safety and rehabilitation.
Winter Highlights
- Trade icy mornings for warm African days, where even brief rains leave the landscape glowing and alive
- Swap grey winter skies for vibrant desert horizons, dramatic cloud formations, and colourful sunsets after rainfall
- Exchange winter isolation for a welcoming volunteer community, filled with like-minded people working toward a shared conservation goal
- Replace winter monotony with meaningful wildlife encounters, caring for cheetahs, caracals, baboons, and many more species
4. Sloth Conservation & Wildlife Experience - Costa Rica
Dreaming of escaping grey, cold concrete for wild, warm jungles and adorable wildlife? The Sloth Conservation & Wildlife Experience is a magical winter escape. Located in the verdant Costa Rican rainforest, volunteers support the rehabilitation and release of sloths and other native wildlife.
Why It’s Perfect for Winter
December–February marks Costa Rica’s dry season, bringing warm, sunny days and ideal conditions for fieldwork. This is the perfect time to be outdoors, observing wildlife, trekking trails, maintaining habitats, and assisting the team in conservation efforts. While the world back home shivers, you’ll be exploring the great outdoors in an exotic setting, assisting with animal care, and making a real impact. With fewer volunteers in this period, your contribution makes all the difference!
Winter Highlights
- Trade winter chill for tropical warmth, gorgeous greenery, and amazing wildlife all around
- Help when help is needed most! Fewer volunteers in this period makes your help extra valuable
- Spend your days with two-fingered and three-fingered sloths
- Engage in hands-on conservation work that directly contributes to the protection and release of endangered species
5. Mozambican Marine Conservation Project - Mozambique
Trade winter blues for the azul blue waters of Mozambique. The Mozambican Marine Conservation Project offers an off-the-beaten-track adventure, where volunteers encounter whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, and other marine megafauna while collecting meaningful data.
Why It’s Perfect for Winter
December–February is Mozambique’s summer season, bringing warm, sunny days and calm seas, perfect for marine research, diving, and fieldwork. This period also coincides with peak whale shark season, meaning volunteers have the best opportunity to observe, monitor, and collect vital data on these gentle giants!
Winter Highlights
- Swap winter chills for warm ocean adventures, conducting surveys alongside marine biologists
- Get up close with whale sharks in their peak visiting season
- Trade passing cars on your commute to work for extensive marine megafauna on your way to dive sites!
- Make a real impact on marine conservation while enjoying sun, sea, and adventure
Make This Winter Unforgettable
Why stick to the same routine when you can start your new year with adventure, or throw in one last plot twist to end 2025 with a bang? This winter, escape the cold, leave the ordinary behind, and step into a world of rainforests, deserts, and turquoise seas, all while making a real difference for wildlife.
Explore our winter wildlife volunteer projects and turn this season into your most extraordinary yet. Book your winter volunteer trip today!
