Elephant Conservation
Cambodia

The sanctuary is a large area of forest which is home to 7 Asian elephants who have been rescued from working as tourist rides and in the logging industry. The sanctuary provides a safe haven for these elephants so they never have to work again and can live a natural jungle life. 

You will learn all about Asian elephants, their health and wellbeing. You will enjoy amazing guided hikes out to observe the elephants (walking 3-4km to see them) and spend time immersed in nature on guided jungle treks. 

Volunteer tasks may include:

• Observing the elephants as they wander freely in the forest - this helps the team to identify any issues and the data is used to monitor the elephants’ long-term welfare
• Assisting with elephant health checks
• Helping to grow and harvest extra food for the elephants - primarily bananas and bamboo
• Reforestation work - growing or planting endangered tree species (depending on season)
• Building / maintaining trails and bridges
• Maintaining the elephant treatment area and other parts of the sanctuary
• Helping on research projects, if being undertaken while you are there

Please note that because the elephants live happily in their natural habitat, none of the volunteer tasks will be hands on with the elephants.

If you are volunteering for 1 week, you will learn the basics of elephant health and welfare, take part in some volunteering sessions and join a jungle trek. If you are volunteering for 2 weeks or longer, you will get more deeply involved in the conservation work. 

Typical day

On your arrival day at the project you will meet the team, other volunteers and settle into your accommodation. During your first few days you will find out more about the conservation project and meet the families of elephants. You will learn about each elephant as well as gaining knowledge on the forest and the local Bunong community. 

Volunteers work a 5 day week, Monday to Friday. The day starts with breakfast at 7am overlooking the lush misty forest before starting work at 8.30am. There is a 2 hour lunch break and then work finishes around 5pm. 

If you are volunteering for 2 weeks or longer, you have weekends off and are transported to the town of Sen Monorom on Friday afternoon where you will stay until Sunday afternoon when you’ll return to the camp. There are plenty of free time activities to enjoy in town.

Other volunteers

There are usually 2-6 volunteers (with a maximum of 30 if there are groups visiting), numbers vary throughout the year.

Local support

Volunteers work alongside local and international staff. There is a volunteer coordinator based at the project site.

“When you come and volunteer it allows us to do what we do best: care for sick and abused elephants. Volunteer fees help us to provide vital jobs for the local population, care for their elephants and protect the forest.” Jack, Founder

There are two options for accommodation at the sanctuary during the week; shared rooms and private bungalows which are both located on site in the forest camp, within walking distance to the elephants! The accommodation is built mainly from recycled materials and is located on the jungle slopes with stunning views. Volunteers often wake up to the calls of the wild gibbons from the forest! 

The shared basic rooms are within a house set in the forest hillside and each room accommodates 1-3 volunteers, with communal bathrooms.

There are four secluded, self-contained private bungalows available, built in traditional Bunong style. The bungalows are simple, but comfortably furnished with a double bed, tables and a chair and have ensuite bathrooms. There is a supplement for this option.

The camp has a dining area where volunteers eat meals and a communal lounge area where you can relax and watch the sunset over the jungle. WIFI is not available at the forest camp.

During the weekends, volunteers stay in a guest house in the local town. If you are staying in a shared room during the week, you will be allocated a twin room and share with another volunteer (on a single sex basis) with an ensuite bathroom. If you have opted for the private bungalow option, you will be given a private room. WIFI is available at the guest house.

Meals

From Sunday dinner to Friday lunch, main meals are included and prepared for you by members of the local community. 

Here are typical examples of the food you will have: 

• Breakfast – bread, toast, cereals, spreads, fresh fruit and eggs
• Lunch and dinner – a selection of traditional Khmer dishes such as noodles, curries and stir fries. Rice is a staple part of Khmer cuisine and will be a feature of most meals!

On weekends volunteers are responsible for their own meals, there is a selection of local restaurants in town.

Vegetarians and vegans are welcomed and can be catered for.

Drinking water is provided at the volunteer accommodation for you to use. 

You will need to fly into Phnom Penh (PNH).

From Phnom Penh, you can travel independently to the project or we can arrange an arrivals and transfer package for you. The project is 5-6 hours from Phnom Penh by road.

Location and free time

The project is based in the east of Cambodia in the Moldulkiri province, near the Vietnamese border.

During the week you will be located in the forest camp. In your free time you can enjoy the quietness of the rural forest camp and spend time playing games, watching movies, reading and relaxing around the fire pit. 

If you are volunteering for 2 weeks or longer, you have weekends off which are spent in the local town of Sen Monorom. This is an opportunity for volunteers to experience life of the Bunong community, who use the town as a place to trade. 

Whilst Sen Monoron is the capital of the province, it feels much more like a small rural town! The town lies beyond most tourists’ itineraries, however it has been increasingly attracting visitors thanks to the spectacular Bousra waterfall, bird watching tours and zip-lining!

Climate 

The Mondulkiri region has a tropical climate that is hot and humid throughout the year with average temperatures ranging from around 22-30˚C. Temperatures peak in April and May and the coolest months are December to February, in the dry season. There can be tropical rain showers at any time of year, but the main rainy season is from May to November.

Travelling in Cambodia before or after your placement

Popular activities in Cambodia that you might like to combine with your project are:

• Visiting the sites of Phnom Penh such as the Royal Palace and National Museum
• Explore the stunning temples at Siem Reap including the iconic Angkor Wat
• Visiting the beautiful towns of Kampot and Kep and the islands off this coastline 
• Learning more about Cambodia’s turbulent history at the S-21 Prison and the Killing Fields

For more information on Cambodia and some of the things we loved when we visited there please see our Cambodia country page. 

Anastasia 

“My volunteering experience was amazing. I was volunteering for my first time and had no idea which volunteering organisation to go through, but I was glad I found Pod Volunteer because without them I don't think I would've had such a great and stress free time. They organised everything for me and everything ran smoothly. 

The project itself was also amazing, volunteering with elephants in the most ethical way. You don't just help the elephants but the community as well.

The people there are just as beautiful as the scenery, the mountains and the jungle. The project and the work you do is super rewarding and the food is just as good too!”

Gill 

“This is a brilliant experience being able to get up close with the elephants to carry out health checks & observe them in their natural habitat. The Bunong people are wonderful - the guides & mahouts providing insights into to the elephants & their local region, the ladies serving up delicious meals. 

There is also the volunteering which can stretch you, physically mainly due to the heat, but not more than you can personally handle.

The Elephant Conservation project team are a great crowd - providing a wealth of knowledge about the project, each elephant, other local wildlife & Bunong people, they are friendly, chilled group that make the whole experience one never to be forgotten. Thanks to everyone!”

Jill 

“Volunteering at the Elephant Conservation Project in Cambodia I found was very rewarding and came away with a real sense of achievement and felt like I'd really made a difference. The project is relaxed but run very efficiently by a great project team and they have a great ethos to ensure elephants and their natural habit are conserved. 

Whilst on the project the day was split in 2 sessions which was either seeing the elephants or volunteering around the site. This was a good mix and therefore not too strenuous, with time to relax in the evening. 

The project is in the jungle and supported by the local community and you get to see the real Cambodia.”

Carly 

“This placement far out lived all of my expectations and I would highly recommend it. I wanted to get close to and understand elephants in an ethical way without encroaching on their natural lifestyle and the Elephant Conservation project is the place to do that. 

I spent my time getting my hands dirty with hard manual labour as well as trekking in the jungle to learn about the elephants at the project. It was a perfect combinations for me.

Evenings were spent relaxing in a tranquil surrounding with beautiful food cooked by the local mountain people and a comfy bed to collapse into.”

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