Wildlife Volunteer Conservation Projects: Top 10 Volunteer Questions

Posted by Connor Whelan on 25th Sep 2015

At The Great Projects we are often asked similar questions by a lot of our wildlife volunteer such as “what would be the best project for me?” and “how do I book a place on a project?” so we have decided to help you out by answering some of the most popular questions below.

If you do have any other questions, you are always welcome to give our team a call on +44 (0) 208 885 4987!

1. How do I pay?

For all projects there will be an initial deposit payment (usually £195, though there are a couple of options that differ such as The Great Gorilla Project, and The Indian Tiger Trails), and then the remaining balance will be due 60 days prior to departure. All payments are made through an account on our website, which you can create yourself or if you would like to contact us then we can create it for you.

2. What vaccinations will I need?

This will vary from person to person, depending on where you live, your travel history/previous vaccinations, and your overall travel plans.

We are not medically qualified to advise on what vaccinations may be necessary, so we advise that you speak to your GP or a travel nurse about this – please allow 2 months before travel where possible, as some vaccines require multiple doses/a course prior to travel.

3. How will I know what to take with me?

All volunteers are provided with a suggested kit list which can be found within the “Pre-departure Information” document which is downloadable from your project account following your confirmation of booking.

4. Can I book insurance through you?

Yes, we offer a tailored policy from Endsleigh designed specifically for our volunteer projects and tours which you are able to purchase through your project account (most travel insurance does not cover volunteer work with wild animals as standard).

If you would like to read the basic cover details please follow this link: http://www.thegreatprojects.com/travel-insurance

5. How do I get money exchanged for my project?

You are usually able to get money exchanged at a bank in your home country (we usually suggest budgeting for £150-£200 per week to allow for any expenses, as it is better to come home with money left over than to be caught short whilst travelling).

If not, which may be the case with what are considered more exotic currencies, such as with Namibian dollars, you should always be able to exchange money on arrival in the airport of your destination.

6. How do I contact you if there is a problem?

Within your “Pre-Departure Information” document, you will find emergency contact details on the final page and we do advise that you print off a copy of this page to take with you on your trip should you need it. Please bear in mind that internet access is not always as simply as you will find it at home, so it is best to be prepared.

You will have our UK 24 hour emergency line stated, but if you are already on route to your project and need to contact the in-country staff at all you will also have their details should you need them.

7. How do I get in touch with other volunteers?

We are not able to give out other volunteers contact details, so we recommend that you try contacting others through our Facebook page. Check our wall for comments that may have been left previously by others, and if you can’t spot any relevant messages then try leaving one yourself and hopefully one of our other friendly volunteers will reply!

8. Can I get help with booking my flights?

In short, yes! We have flight partners that are able to assist you with finding appropriate flights, and if you would like them to get in contact with you, you simply need to complete the brief form on our website which can be found at http://www.thegreatprojects.com/flights

9. Will I be met at the airport?

Nearly all projects include airport transfers to and from the project site and usually this will mean that you are met by someone with your name on a board at arrivals, however, there are some projects where this is not the case so please ensure that you check the “Details” tab of your chosen project, which can be found on the project page, for confirmation on what is and isn’t included in the cost of your project.

10. How do I know that this is the right project for me?

This question is asked fairly often and there is information displayed on each project page on our website which can help. For example, you can find a tab titled “Is this for you?” which describes the accommodation, meals and fitness level required for each project.

However, should you have any further questions or are still unsure then we recommend giving us a call to discuss the projects and we can help you find the best project for you! Of course if it’s more convenient for you to communicate via email then feel free to enquire online. Get in touch and we look forward to hearing from you!

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Has this blog inspired you to volunteer? If so, why not enquire today? Simply fill out an enquiry form, and allow a member of our travel team to assist with your query! Please note that blog comments are not monitored by the travel team, so any questions related to bookings may be missed.

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