Thailand Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs
Thailand's climate is tropical, high both in temperature and humidity, and dominated by monsoons.
April and May are the hottest months of the year. June sees the beginning of the South West Monsoon, and brings with it the rainy season, which continues intermittently until the end of October.
The monsoon season can see weeks without rain, but occasionally a strong storm arrives, raining heavily for an hour in the afternoon.
From November to the end of February the climate is much less trying with a cooling North East breeze and a reduction in the humidity level.
Yes, in fact we actively encourage it! Thailand is a beautiful country and we wish you to experience it's culture, history and people.
You could go on a night safari into the National Park with other volunteers.
Hua Hin and Cha Am are less than an hour away and have beautiful beaches, bars and restaurants.
Days off can be accumulated so you can venture on a camping trip into the National Park.
The animals wake at sunrise so work starts at 6.30am. The last jobs are finished by 5.00pm but you will have free periods during the day where you can relax or catch up on sleep.
The centre is continually growing so the work is varied and you will be assigned duties that suit your skills.
You will work 6 days a week and arrange your day off with the project coordinator.
The atmosphere at the centre is friendly and relaxed, so with consultation with the staff, most requests are possible although the project coordinator must ensure that all duties are fulfilled daily for the benefit of the animals.
You need to be able to speak English as this will be the common language at the project.
The majority of volunteers are from the UK, United States, Canada and Australia. We also place volunteers from Holland, Germany, Ireland, Japan and New Zealand although all nationalities are welcome. The majority of volunteers travel alone to the projects, although we also accommodate couples and groups.
Yes of course, here is a sample of stories from our volunteer blogs.
Most volunteers these days use social media, email and Skype to stay in contact with home.
Free use of Wi-Fi is available at the Elephant Kitchen to check emails, social media and for booking flights or hotels. We politely ask that this facility not be used to download large files such as movies or games.
Thailand SIM cards with data are easily available to use during your trip.
Yes of course, in fact we have a page all about how you can fund raise for your trip here.
The accommodation at the centre is in clean but basic bungalows, rooms are shared. The bungalows have comfortable beds, fans, western style toilets and cold showers.
At the front of the centre is a communal area and kitchen. Evenings can be spent watching satellite TV or DVD's, relaxing with a book or socializing with fellow volunteers.
Two main meals are prepared by the cook, Thai and occasionally western meals also catering to vegetarians.
Volunteers have access to free hot drinks, filtered water, bread, jam and other essentials.
In the main towns are a variety of restaurants catering to all tastes and shops selling some home comforts.
Of course, but we request that you use common sense, and excessive drinking that puts yourself, other volunteers, or the animals in danger or in discomfort will not be accepted. Alcohol is also not permitted to be drank before 5pm at the centre out of respect of the volunteers still working!
There are designated smoking areas in the volunteers communal area.
The local town and resorts have bars and clubs.
The currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht. Many ATMs are available throughout Thailand for all major credit cards. Credit cards are accepted in higher end businesses.
Thailand is a very safe and friendly, as always when travelling you must take the usual precautions to make sure you stay safe. Common sense and knowledge is the key phrase, and on arrival you will have an orientation meeting to advise you of any precautions you need to take.
Millions of tourists visit Thailand every year and have no problems whatsoever, so don't be paranoid. Just take the basic precautions and you will have an amazing and trouble free trip.
For more information, visit our International Travel Advice Page
We recommend that you let your health professional know that you will be volunteering in a wildlife rescue centre and discuss the various vaccination options.
For more information, visit our International Travel Advice Page
Finding the right insurance to cover your travels can be daunting, confusing and time-consuming, however – travel insurance is a must. You never know what could happen, and if you are unlucky enough to get ill or find yourself in a sticky situation, being uninsured can be really expensive and downright dangerous. This is why we strongly recommend that all our volunteers take out suitable travel insurance. We also recommend that your purchase your insurance and soon as you book your trip to cover you for all up-front costs in the event of cancellation due to any unforeseen circumstances. Globalteer has formed a partnership with a leading travel insurance provider to help you through this process.
Please visit our page about visas for information about entry visas.
Yes, Thailand is a conservative country and we ask that you respect them by dressing accordingly especially as you will be working on temple grounds.
The basic rule is to cover your knees, shoulders and belly.
T-shirts, sandals and anything that covers the knees and belly are all acceptable.
Woman must wear bras, as doing otherwise could cause offence to the local Thais.
Thais are very friendly and a smile will go a long way.
Be respectful to elders. Shouting, or public displays of over emotion are impolite.
Remove shoes before entering a temple or someone's home. Dress respectfully, especially when visiting temples.
Do not point at someone with your finger or naked foot, do not touch people's heads.
Thai's love their royal family so, however you feel about monarchies, do not say bad things about the Thai Royals. This would be seen as a great insult to the Thais and is also illegal. Do not disrespect the image of the king by standing on bank notes.
No, you will be given guidance and training and will work with experienced staff.
Yes, on arrival you will receive orientation from the project coordinator, giving local information and advise. Basic training will be given to ensure you achieve the project objectives. You will continually be learning from the professional staff.
Globalteer can arrange pickup from the airport or your hotel in Bangkok, Cha-Am or Hua Hin for transfer to the Elephant Sanctuary for GBP£58 / USD$70. Or if you wish to make your own way to the project we will provide you with the necessary instructions prior to your arrival.
Globalteer is fully committed to ensuring that your volunteer placement is responsible. More information can be found on our Responsible Volunteering Page.
As a UK registered Charity, Globalteer is financially transparent, our accounts are independently audited and posted online. You can read a full report on where your money goes here.
We understand what motivates volunteers and what makes a memorable volunteer experience. We have been placing volunteers at our projects since 2006 and have built up a wealth of knowledge in those years about what makes volunteering rewarding for volunteers as well as impactful for the fantastic projects we work with.
You can read here why we think you should choose Globalteer.
You can read more about this project on our blogs page.