Project Fact File
Project Duration: Minimum 1 week stay up to 4 weeks. Coming for shorter period Join our 3 Days Volunteer Elephants + Jaipur Tour Program.
Program Dates: Dates are flexible you can choose your own start and finish date. However we recommend you to arrive on Sunday. To check the available program dates click here :Start Dates.
Location: Jaipur, India.
Project Fees: $350 for 1 Week and thereafter $250 weekly. No Application fees required. For more information about our fees please visit Volunteer Program Fees Page.
Project Activities: Feeding the elephant, Bathing them, Massage of elephant, cleaning the area, making bundles of hay, go for a walk with them and help mahouts in making chapattis( Indian Bread ).
Working Hours: 28 Hours Weekly Monday to Friday. Weekends are Off - We bring you for the sightseeing tour of famous tourist spots in Jaipur and other cities nearby.
Special Festival Dates: : Camel Festival Bikaner 12-14 Jan 2025, Kite Festival Jaipur 14 Jan 2025, Holi Festival of Colors 13-14 Mar 2025, Teej Festival 27 July 2025, Sister’s Festival 9 Aug 2025, Dusshera Festival 1 Oct 2025, Diwali Festival of Lights 20 Oct 2025, Pushkar Camel Fair 28 Oct - 30 Nov 2025.
What is included: Arranging your Programme, Pre-departure information and support by email/phone, Arrival pickup from Jaipur, Program relevant materials, Accommodation with Indian Host Family, 3 Meals ( Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner ), Transportation facility for project site, Weekend Sightseeing’s Tours and 24 hours of admin support.
What is not included: Visa, Flights, Internet, Mineral Water Bottle, Monuments/Sightseeing Entry Fees, Telephone Calls, Insurance Cover, and Airport Drop off.
Requirements: We don’t need any qualification for this project. Doing Voluntary Work India you must have lots of love & enthusiasm for the project.
Visa Type: Tourist Visa. Coming for short period upto 30 days apply for On Arrival Visa by the India Visa Site.
Flexible Accomodation: If requested you can book your own Hotel Accommodation before coming here if not comfortable with Indian Host Family. We will help you in booking it.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Are you planning for Volunteer With Elephants in India? Looking to get Hands on Experience, want to get close with Elephants and assist in their care ? Perfect! You are in the right place. The program is located in the village near Amber Fort which is also known as Elephant Village where elephants get care by their mahouts everyday. It is also one of Elephant Sanctuary in India in India. Elephant Village Jaipur is India’s first and the world’s third elephant village also known as “Haathi Gaon“. Government of Rajasthan, India has allotted this place in the area of 30 hectares of land which has stable blocks for each elephants with attached housing; it has also a big man-made lake where the elephants can swim and gets thoroughly washed down. Elephant mahouts are living with their families at the project site and are responsible to give right care, fed properly & keep them healthy and fit. The Elephants in Jaipur are part of Indian festivals, Cultural Ceremonies and for the Elephant Safari/Ride in Jaipur at Royal Amber fort. The total population of Elephants in city is 115 out of which 52 have facilities for the accommodation at the village & 63 Elephants are still living out of the Zone Area due to the Project site is still in under-construction by the Government. The Program has created to give care to the elephants and help their mahouts. Many people around the world have dream in their life to spend some time with Elephants, live like a local and want to immerse in Indian culture. This project is something which make your dream come together in one place. We offer everyone around the world to Visit our Elephants in Jaipur by getting you close to them, get involved in Day Care Activity help you to know more about them and make your dream true to Work With Elephants.
WORK FOR VOLUNTEERS
Your work will be feeding the elephants, bathing them, cleaning the area, bringing water, oil massaging the elephants head, trimming their nails, taking elephants for walk, make bundles of hay and chapati(Indian Roti) for elephants in a mud stove to eat. You need to wake early as the elephant starts early to give a ride for the tourists of Amber Fort. As per our Program Volunteers can also be take part in caring for Elephants which have shelters out of the Zone area. Program schedule works Monday to Friday 5:00 a.m to 8:30 p.m and twice a week in afternoon from 1:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m. Every Saturday we organize sightseeing tour to famous tourist spots in Jaipur. Sunday is free & rest day but you can also plan for the Same Day tours from Jaipur like Agra Taj Mahal, Ranthambore Tiger Safari, Pushkar and many more places near around.
REVIEWS/TESTIMONIALS
Past Volunteers have wonderful time with us in the program. Volunteers join this program all over from the world. Most of our volunteers come from U.S, Canada, U.K, Australia & European Countries; if you come from these region you can also ask us our previous volunteers contact addresses. Doing a volunteer project with animals in India is special. Every year many participants came to India for Volunteer Abroad in social and wildlife projects. Elephant Sanctuary India program made my trip here rewarding and fun with cultural shock, “ says Jessica Consoli from Switzerland our past volunteer.” Read Our –Volunteers Stories & Reviews about the Program.
EMPLOYEES
The local mahouts at Elephant Sanctuary Jaipur are working with elephants to take care of them. There is a project coordinator with volunteers at theElephant Village site which helps volunteers and guides them with work & also translates if volunteers have any questions for the mahouts about the life of elephants.
EXPECTATIONS
We expect volunteers to not act as if they are here as tourists, they must do the work they are here to do. They need to understand that they come for work and need to live like the people here live, respect the culture and get involved with all that is happening in India.
WHAT YOU WILL GAIN FROM THIS PROJECT
>A memorable Elephant Experience in India.
>An enormous satisfaction from inside as you worked who have your needs.
>An unforgettable memory by spending time in India.
>Opportunity to learn Indian culture, language and their traditions.
>An entry in your CV as you have worked in under-developed country that will boost your profile in job market.
>Life time member with VWE after completion of your project.
NOTE:-
The Elephants in Jaipur are taking care by Government of Rajasthan, mahouts and their owners. Elephants are also used for the Tourism purpose, Cultural Events & Religious ceremonies in India from centuries. For the protection sometimes during the day you can find them in chained too. Before applying for the Program you must need to aware by the situation and agree by VWE Terms conditions policy.
LANGUAGE BARRIER
Language is not a problem for the international participants joining the program. The host family, our staffs, taxi drivers and kids/women in the program can understand basics. However if you are un-comfortable with the language barrier you can join a week Hindi Lesson Class which run 90 minutes Monday to Friday costs $150 for a week. During submission of OnlinE application you can request in the form.
Arrangement of Room, Food & Transportation
Elefun makes arrangements for room, food and transportation for the volunteers, from the first day of the volunteer’s arrival in Jaipur, India. Volunteers will be living with the Indian Host Family. You will be having your own room at the host family house which can be shared by the same gender volunteer in the program. Participants coming with their friends, couples or family members live together at the same accommodation. Our host families are carefully screened and selected based on VWE requirements. Host families are experience in the realm of hosting international travelers from last 10 years. You will be getting 3 Meals per day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner), traditional but very nutritious. The meals serves at the accommodation are the everyday meals which are eaten by the Indian Families. This is how the program has made to make you feel and Live Like a Local.
However if you are not able to adjust with the Indian meals or need more nutrition/protein/special diet in your meals you can arrange by your own from the near by local market. Staying with Host family will give you the opportunity to learn about Indian Life, meet the locals, try local food, speak local language and make yourself to immerse in local customs and traditions. The host family members are able to communicate in English and are very friendly with volunteers. The accommodations are neat and clean and provide volunteers a home away from home experience. Our volunteers have private rooms at the host family house which can be shared by the same gender in the program. If you prefer to have your own room you can pay additional to have a private room.
The host family homes are equipped with wifi internet. You will have a very good access through computer & by Wi-Fi access. The house has filtered drinking water, geysers, air conditioning, satellite television, modern toilets, comfortable beds, fans and air conditioner. The homes are close to useful amenities like banks, ATMs, currency ex-changers, restaurants, cafes and shopping arcades. The program location is 20-30 minutes drive from the House. We also arrange transportation facility for volunteers which will everyday pick you to project site and drop to your home when you finish work. You will have everyday auto-rickshaw (tuk-tuk) or Car ride for Transportation.
Accommodation Option :-Please check our various accomodation options. Most of the participants prefer to choose Basic Accomodation Home which is shared by 2 participants.
- Basic Accommodation Home Stay [ Included in Price ] [ Shared by 2 Participants] [ Meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner ]
- Basic Accommodation Home Stay [ Private Room] [ Additional $100 weekly ] [ Meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner ]
- Luxury Accommodation Home Stay [Additional $350 per week ] [ Meals - Breakfast ]
- Hotel Accommodation [ Additional $450 per week ] [ Meals - Breakfast ]
- Own Accommodation [ Get Discount in Program Fees ]
Volunteer Week Detail
Day 1: Today you will arrive in Jaipur. Our VWE staff member will pick you up from your arrival destination & welcome you. After picking you up, we will transfer you to the Host Family accommodation. We will introduce you to the host family members and we will guide you through the accommodation facilities and the things which are near. You will also be introduce about the project, your everyday working schedule, rules and regulation of volunteering, what to do & dont’s. which can be useful to you throughout your trip & guide you to the facilities which a traveler needs in new place.
Day 2 to working days: Get ready to see your animals. You will be transfer to your project site. It’s time to get a wonderful ride by auto-rickshaw for the elephant village as it located near Royal Amber fort. Project site is covered by beautiful mountain valley. Our project coordinator will be with you there & he will tell you about how to care the elephants & help the mahouts. Your work will covered there every day by bathing elephants, feeding them, cleaning the area, making bundles of hay and massage them throughout your working days. Volunteers’ working days will be for 5 days per week Monday to Friday.
Weekends: The weekends are free for you to relax and enjoy Pinkcity. Every weekend we cover Sightseeing Tour’s of the Beautiful Historical places, Cultural places & programs with our VWE staff team. Volunteers have opportunity to meet with other volunteers also from other projects sites as everybody gets together on these days. However there are several other side trips that you can join which will greatly enhance your experience of Desert Place in Rajasthan, India. After finishing the Volunteering India program you can choose our Add on Tour package to explore India. Volunteers can join to visit Taj Mahal, Golden Triangle Tour, Wildlife Safari in National Park, New Delhi and more while taking part in it.