I had a great time in Lisbon! I went in not knowing what to expect but the shelter was lovely and the dogs were super sweet, it really changed my view on animal shelters in general. For anyone hesitant about joining I say go for it! It was an experience I will never forget and I got to help the dogs but what I didn’t expect is how much they helped me.
Wolf Conservation Volunteer Project in Portugal - Mafra
Purpose
Support wildlife protection efforts
Start dates
Program starts on set dates
Duration
Choose from 2-4 weeks
Volunteer hours
Up to 8 hours a day
Age
Volunteers aged 20+
Accommodation
On-site volunteer house
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
This program is ideal for:
Volunteers who have a high level of physical fitness, who love animals and are looking to join conservation efforts while spending time in quiet, natural surroundings, often only interrupted by the howling of wolves. Most of all, you’ll be contributing to a greater environmental and animal protection mission.
Project details
Want to join a pack of Wolf Conservation volunteers in Portugal? International Volunteer HQ’s Wolf Conservation project is an exciting opportunity for volunteers to help at centres for wolves rescued from zoos, illegal trapping or human captivity. In a forested valley in Mafra, wolves live outdoors in large enclosures with the aim of providing them a life as similar as possible to what they would experience in their natural habitat.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Wolves, known for their wild nature, often find themselves unable to thrive in their natural habitats in Portugal due to them becoming dependent on human care. Wolf conservation centers take in these wolves from zoos, illegal traps, or other forms of captivity, nurturing them back to health and ensuring they lead active and fulfilling lives. These centers feature expansive outdoor enclosures carefully designed to mimic their natural habitat as closely as possible.
As a Wolf Conservation volunteer, you will be guided by knowledgeable local staff. It’s important to note that for safety and welfare reasons, you will not engage in direct contact with the wolves. Your tasks will include:
- Feeding the wolves
- Monitoring and observing animal behavior
- Removing non-native Eucalyptus trees and replanting with indigenous species
- Maintaining and improving facility infrastructure
This project offers a unique opportunity for those interested in animal conservation, allowing you to assist with species that are rare or nonexistent in many volunteers’ home countries.
A significant amount of physical effort is essential; for example, volunteers are often required to carry weights up to approximately 17lb/8kg. The center is located in a forested valley with rugged terrain and steep slopes, requiring volunteers to have a good level of physical fitness to effectively handle these conditions.
The project is available for durations of either two or four weeks and is not available in December or January, as the center is closed to the public.
Why do Wolf Conservation volunteering in Mafra with IVHQ?
When you volunteer with wolves in Portugal you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Improving the lives of wolves rescued from captivity
- Supporting local animal welfare initiatives
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining wolf conservation experience
- Immersing yourself in Portuguese culture
- Exploring Portugal’s remote wilderness
Volunteer requirements
Volunteers need to be 20 years or older to participate in this program. If you are under 20, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad to explore these options.
Volunteers need to have a high level of physical health and fitness to join the Wolf Conservation project, as many tasks involve moderate to heavy physical effort, such as carrying 17lb/8kg weights over steep and uneven terrain.
Volunteers aged over 18 on their start date are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.
All volunteers must speak English and have adequate volunteer travel insurance.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Portugal photo gallery
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Community Support project
IVHQ Ecological Surf project
IVHQ Environmental Scuba Diving project
IVHQ Food Rescue project
IVHQ Homeless Support project
IVHQ Horse Caretakers project
IVHQ Wolf Conservation project
IVHQ Youth Support project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Community Support project
IVHQ Ecological Surf project
IVHQ Environmental Scuba Diving project
IVHQ Food Rescue project
IVHQ Forest Conservation project
IVHQ Homeless Support project
IVHQ Horse Caretakers project
IVHQ Wolf Conservation project
IVHQ Youth Support project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Community Support project
IVHQ Ecological Surf project
IVHQ Environmental Scuba Diving project
IVHQ Food Rescue project
IVHQ Forest Conservation project
IVHQ Homeless Support project
IVHQ Horse Caretakers project
IVHQ Youth Support project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Community Support project
IVHQ Environmental Scuba Diving project
IVHQ Food Rescue project
IVHQ Forest Conservation project
IVHQ Homeless Support project
IVHQ Horse Caretakers project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Community Support project
IVHQ Environmental Scuba Diving project
IVHQ Food Rescue project
IVHQ Forest Conservation project
IVHQ Homeless Support project
IVHQ Horse Caretakers project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Community Support project
IVHQ Environmental Scuba Diving project
IVHQ Food Rescue project
IVHQ Forest Conservation project
IVHQ Homeless Support project
IVHQ Horse Caretakers project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Community Support project
IVHQ Environmental Scuba Diving project
IVHQ Food Rescue project
IVHQ Forest Conservation project
IVHQ Horse Caretakers project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Community Support project
IVHQ Environmental Scuba Diving project
IVHQ Food Rescue project
IVHQ Forest Conservation project
IVHQ Horse Caretakers project
IVHQ Animal Care project
IVHQ Community Support project
IVHQ Food Rescue project
IVHQ Forest Conservation project
IVHQ volunteer orientation
Exploring Portugal during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Portugal during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Portugal during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Portugal during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Portugal during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Portugal during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Portugal during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Portugal during an IVHQ weekend
Academic course credit
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course creditLocation
Location
IVHQ’s Wolf Conservation project is based near the small town of Mafra. Mafra has plenty to offer visitors including the Royal Building of Mafra which includes a palace, basilica, convent, garden and hunting reserve all of which was built for King D. João V in the 18th century. The palace alone boasts hundreds of rooms and the buildings are stunning with their impressive Baroque architecture. The Hunting Park is now home to a wide variety of wildlife and is open to the public for a range of outdoor activities including walking, mountain biking, horse riding, archery and crossbow shooting.
The wolf conservation centre is set in a steep forest valley out of town.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of every month, and volunteers need to arrive in Lisbon the day before their orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Lisbon Airport (LIS). Your airport pick-up is included in your program fee. Volunteers under the age of 18 are required to travel with written consent from both parents or guardians in order to enter Portugal. Volunteers under the age of 18 who require a pre-arranged visa will also need their visa application to be signed by a parent or guardian.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Lisbon for orientation. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are travelling in Portugal prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up from a prearranged location in Lisbon on the day before your program orientation.
Orientation is hosted by our Portugal team at the accommodation. It begins the morning of your chosen start date and lasts for a full day. The orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Portugal – an introduction to Portugal, culture and customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities, and an introduction to your project and placement.
After orientation on Monday, you will have Tuesday free to explore Lisbon and then will be transported to your accommodation in Mafra on the Wednesday.
Volunteer schedule example
Weekdays
Volunteers on the Wolf Conservation Project will start volunteering on Thursday following their arrival in Mafra on Wednesday. Start times and daily workload will vary.
A typical schedule:
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:00 AM | Project activities begin |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch |
| 3:00 PM | Project work continues |
| 7:00 PM | Dinner. After dinner, you can use your free time to relax or as you wish. |
Please note that the schedule may occasionally change due to weather, public or school holidays, or other unforeseen events that could affect your placement. We recommend checking in advance whether your intended travel dates coincide with any public or school holidays.
Weekends
You’ll have your weekends free on the Wolf Conservation project. As well as being able to fully explore and enjoy the Royal Building of Mafra you can also relax in the town’s beautiful parks, on its excellent beaches, take a short trip to Ericeira which is a world-renowned paradise for surfers, or take a bus back to Lisbon.
Looking for more ideas of things to do in Portugal? Check out our Portugal Tours & Experiences!
Accommodation and WiFi
Upon arrival in Lisbon, volunteers will begin their experience by staying in a vibrant, dormitory-style hostel located in Estoril, just a short five-minute walk from the beach. Rooms are shared with 3 to 13 volunteers of the same gender, creating a social and welcoming environment. During busier periods, if male dormitories are fully occupied, male volunteers may be accommodated in mixed-gender rooms alongside other guests.
After this initial stay, volunteers participating in the Wolf Conservation project will travel to Mafra, where they will be based for the remainder of their program. Here, accommodation offers a more immersive, on-site experience within a protected natural area. Volunteers stay in comfortable, fully equipped houses, sharing mixed-gender rooms with up to four other volunteers.
Each house includes a fully functional kitchen and inviting communal living spaces, ideal for relaxing after a day’s work and connecting with fellow volunteers. This setup fosters a strong sense of community while enhancing the overall experience of living and working closely with a team dedicated to wildlife conservation.
Meals
In Lisbon
Most volunteers enjoy three meals a day at the hostel during their nights in Lisbon, starting with a self-serve breakfast at the accommodation with a selection of tea, coffee, fresh bread, cheese, ham, spreads, cereal, yogurt, and fruit. For lunch and dinner, you’ll eat on local favorites like fish and chicken, complemented by rice, pasta, vegetables, and salad. We accommodate for vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free (not celiac) and peanut-free diets.
In Mafra
Meals are not provided, therefore self-catered on this program, meaning volunteers are responsible for purchasing and preparing their own food. A fully equipped kitchen is available at the accommodation for your use. Before heading to your placement in Mafra on Wednesday, you’ll be taken to a supermarket located just 10-15 minutes away, where you can stock up on groceries for your stay. Further visits to the supermarket can be arranged if required. The supermarkets offer a wide range of options, including gluten-free, vegan, and lactose-free products. While tap water in Portugal is safe to drink, bottled water is also readily available. If you prefer bottled water, budget approximately £7 a week for this.
IVHQ Wolf Conservation project volunteer house
Volunteer house living room
Volunteer house bedroom
Volunteer house kitchen
Pricing
Secure your place for just US$329 (approximately £261), pay your Program Fee later.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$329 (approximately £261) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
|
Duration
|
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,443 Equivalent to $103/day |
| 4 weeks | $2,503 Equivalent to $89/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately £261) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
-
- Airport pick-up
- Meals in Lisbon
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country emergency support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Comprehensive in-country day to day support and guidance
- Discounts on language lessons
- Discounts on travel, tours, and experiences
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- Meals in Mafra
- Transport to and from your placement each day
- Return to the airport when your program finishes
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular tours & experiences in Mafra
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular tours and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Mafra program.
7 day - Highlights of Portugal!
Take in the highlights of sun-kissed Portugal on a seven-day sightseeing adventure from Porto to Lisbon.
From £1999
Airport Drop-off
Enjoy a stress free ride from accommodation back to Lisbon airport arranged by our local team.
£81
Best of Spain & Portugal (14 days, 13 nights)
Dynamic culture, compelling history, to-die-for cuisine — the Iberian Peninsula really is a true example of riches for every sense and interest. On this adventure, you’ll soak up the Moorish history of Lisbon and Cordoba, be treated to a lively flamenco performance in Seville, explore the astounding red-clay fortress of the Alhambra, and witness Gaudí’s Barcelona with your own eyes. If that sounds like a lot, be prepared; we’ve only just begun.
From £3218
Check what's required to visit Portugal
Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important you monitor this right up until you depart for your trip.
Safety and support
Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
Essential country information
| Capital | Lisbon |
| Population | 10.46 million |
| Languages | Portuguese |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 |
Weather and climate: Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate with dry hot summers and mild winters. During winter, from December to February, temperatures are mild and vary from 8°C to 14°C (46°F to 57°F). Summer, from June to September, is dry and hot with temperatures ranging between 18°C and 29°C (64°F and 84°F). Rainfall is heaviest in December/January and driest in July/August.
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
EP
Eva Paulike
...
ES
Eve Scrivener
I gained valuable hands-on animal care experience, increased confidence, and a deeper understanding of how animal welfare and shelter work operates in a different cultural setting. As a veterinary student, the exposure to international practices and working alongside local professionals was incredibly beneficial and broadened my perspective.
For anyone hesitant about joining the programme, I would say it is a rewarding and supportive experience. You don’t need to have all the answers before you go — the local team provides guidance and you learn quickly on the job. If you’re passionate about animals and open to learning, this programme is well worth it.
...
KH
King Hirotoshi
I had an unparalleled environmental recycling education. I deeply experienced the role of environmental recycling.
...
SM
Shayara Mcleod-gayle
I gained independence, new friends, and an insight into the Portuguese culture.
The advice I would give is to just do it! Once you are there in the country, starting the program you will see that it is not as scary as you think it may be. And stepping out that comfort zone will not only improve your way of thinking but also give you a new fun experience that you will never forget.
...
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Apply to check if you're eligible!
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