———— The Surin Project ————
In addition to the volunteer opportunities at Elephant Nature Park described below, we also have a new volunteer program: the Surin Project. This is a new park in the Surin province, east of Bangkok. Here we will continue our efforts to save the Asian elephant from extinction and give them a life worth living for generations to come. Find out how you can volunteer with the Surin project today!
Whether you are a day visitor who has fallen in love with the Park and would like to stay longer or a first time visitor who is already committed to a lengthier stay, volunteering at Elephant Nature Park is a truly rewarding experience. In addition to following a day visitor's schedule on your first day, you will have a more in-depth look at the Park's resident elephants and learn even more about the life of an elephant.
Maintaining Elephant Nature Park is a huge task and one that's made more manageable by the dedication and hard work of our volunteers. Whether it's helping to take care of our rescued cows, building a new fence or a new house, or preparing fruit each morning for the elephants, no two days will be alike during your time as a volunteer. You can expect to be tired at the end of each day, but to also feel satisfied that your work is making a difference.
For those who have difficulties with certain physical tasks, rest assured there are still many ways to pitch in. Helping with general tidying, tending to the Park's cats, or assisting the mahouts in the mountains when they go to pick medicinal plants for the elephants are all tasks that might occur from week to week.
One of the truly special events for our volunteers is an overnight trip to Elephant Haven (weather permitting). Located a few hours walk at an elephant's pace from the Park, Elephant Haven is a beautiful, rustic retreat in the nearby mountains. An overnight visit to Elephant Haven will mean good food, elephant stories around the campfire, and the occasional song about elephants. Early the next morning you will go with the mahouts to find the elephants who have been allowed to wander through the mountainous area overnight.
(We currently offer 1-week, 2-week, and 3-week long volunteer stays. Once you begin the reservation process below, you will be able to choose the number of weeks you would like to stay.)
Cost: 12,000 Thai Baht ($361.56 or £231.63)* for 7 days/6 nights
*Currency conversions are based on the rates published by the European Central Bank and are updated continuously throughout the day. The exchange rate used by your bank or credit card may vary slightly.
How To Volunteer: You can sign up to volunteer at Elephant Nature Park by visiting our office in Chiang Mai, or you can book online by clicking below. A 30% deposit is required to book online.
If you have any questions regarding our volunteer program, please email us at Volunteer@ElephantNatureFoundation.org.
What's Provided: The cost of volunteering at Elephant Nature Park includes all of the amenities provided to our overnight visitors for the duration of your stay.
What To Bring: In addition to the items recommended for an overnight stay, volunteers should bring comfortable clothes that they won't mind getting dirty. Depending on the time of year, rain gear and mud boots might also be useful.
For more information, please see Elephant Nature Foundation UK Trustee Phyl Kirkland's Open Letter to Future Park Volunteers.
