Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Dreaming of volunteering with elephants in Sri Lanka? International Volunteer HQ’s Elephant Welfare project gives you the chance to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary in Randeniya. You will help local staff to care for domesticated elephants who have been subject to harsh working conditions. By helping feed, bathe, and treat the elephants, you’ll help boost their mental and physical wellbeing. You’ll also have an opportunity to teach English at a local school and raise awareness of elephant welfare with the students.
As a volunteer on the Elephant Welfare project, you’ll be helping local staff at an elephant sanctuary where the sole purpose is to care for the wellbeing of domesticated elephants. Located in Randeniya, the project creates an ethical space for elephants who have been subjected to harsh working conditions while being part of tourist attractions. The sanctuary also takes in ‘working elephants’ — these animals have been living in tough conditions, made to work long hours with limited food and water and often controlled by force.
The sanctuary provides as many elephants as they can with an ‘elephant vacation’ from their daily routine of hard work. Unfortunately in Sri Lanka the owners of the elephants are not willing to sell them due to the large profits they make so the sanctuary rents the elephants for an agreed amount of time to provide them a well-deserved rest, be cared for properly and be mentally and physically healed.
On this project, your main role will be to provide care for the elephants with tasks including:
On the program you will also learn about Elephant Conservation covering the following topics;
You will also be given the opportunity to teach English at the local school giving you the chance to discuss with the students the importance of domesticated elephant conservation.
Please note that the project is closed from the 10th-24th of August, 2024 due to the festival period.
When you volunteer with elephants in Sri Lanka you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Get personalized recommendations >
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
I am so happy that I could experience these two weeks in Sri Lanka. I met so many amazing people and started to think about how privileged my life is a lot more. I know, that you don’t choose your privilege, or lack thereof; you’re born with it. And that´s why I want to use my privilege for the greater good.
I loved to spend time with the local kids and families and was sad when I had to leave. Next time I will stay for longer, that´s for sure.
IVHQ made me feel comfortable within the first few weeks of getting mentally prepared for the trip. So much travel anxiety was reduced by the program coordinator and the online resources.
The local support team was amazing! They were more than hospitable and made me feel right at home. I couldn't have asked for a better start to my journey!
The volunteering itself made me realize how much more needs to be done, and that I wanted to be a part of it since I was only able to do so much. I will be doing another project in the near future.
The accommodation was more than comfortable and the food was SO GOOD!! I was so sad to go back home because all the local Sri Lankan dishes we had made for us every night weren't around.
I feel like I gained a sense of understanding a third world country and how many struggles they have to endure daily. It made me appreciate the things I take for granted sometimes, whether it's hot running water, a toilet, certain social programs or even just some constructs. This project opened my eyes to the world around me, and how much more I want to see and immerse myself into.
I feel I have gained a deeper insight into Sri Lankan culture and made a valuable contribution to the volunteer project by working with and supporting the turtles and the team who care for them. I would tell anyone who is hesitant to join that there is no need to be hesitant at all! You will have so much fun and learn so much, I cannot recommend it enough.
The pre-departure support and guidance was amazing, I felt well supported and all my questions were promptly answered.
The local team in Sri Lanka were absolutely wonderful. Warm, accommodating and they went above and beyond! I could not have hoped for a better experience.
The meals were healthy and they looked after me not being able to eat gluten. It is awful to have the need for dietary requirements and they didn’t make me feel bad about it. Overall, I am glad I took the leap of faith - it was the best way to experience the real culture and people of the country and to be able to give something back .
The Women's Education project in Sri Lanka needs volunteers. The organization & local people were very grateful to IVHQ. I gained knowledge about local Sri Lankan healthcare settings.
The program was rewarding and the local team were helpful to all volunteers when they needed support.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
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 credit
Known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, Sri Lanka is an island nation set off the south-east coast of India. Famous for its tea plantations, cinnamon exports and cricket rivalries, it also boasts a vast array of beaches, Buddhas and big wildlife like elephants and whales.
While Sri Lanka is a well-developed country which has made great strides towards making sure its residents don’t live in extreme poverty, there is still many places outside of the main centres where people struggle to access good quality education, healthcare and earn a decent living to support themselves and their families. Volunteers can help in these areas by providing important support to local initiatives that aim to improve the quality of life for people in these disadvantaged areas.
The Elephant Welfare project is based in Randeniya, which is around 90 minutes from our main volunteer center in Kandy.
The program orientation begins every Monday and volunteers need to arrive in Colombo on the Sunday before orientation between 5am and 8pm.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) on Sunday. Your airport pick-up on this day is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.
After you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Kandy. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the Sunday night before your program orientation.
If you are traveling in Sri Lanka prior to your volunteer program, you can meet the local team at the airport in Colombo on the Sunday before your program begins, or make your own way directly to the local team’s office in Kandy.
Orientation is run by the local team in Kandy, beginning on the Monday morning of your start date. Volunteers on the Elephant Welfare project spend their first week on the introduction week in Kandy and then will join the Elephant Welfare project from their second week onwards.
On Sunday you will be transferred to the Elephant Welfare project and as this transport is not included in your program fee, you will need to budget around £36 for a taxi or £28 for a Tuk Tuk.
Introduction Week Orientation: This is a fantastic way to start your volunteer experience in Sri Lanka and gives you the time to dive deeper into the culture and activities. It will include everything on the One-Day Orientation as well as the following activities:
Weekdays:
Volunteers can expect to work 5 hours a day with 3 hours in the morning followed by a lunch break then 2-3 hours in the afternoon.
A typical daily schedule is as follows:
| 7:00 - 8:00 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation |
| 8:45 AM | Volunteers are transported to the placement and begin work on their project |
| 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1:30 PM | Travel back to the volunteer placement and join local placement staff to begin afternoon shift |
| 3:30 PM | Transfer back to the volunteer accommodation |
| 7:00 - 8:00 PM | Dinner |
Weekends: On the weekends volunteers are free to explore the surrounding area or travel further afield. There are many activities to do nearby such as local waterfalls, museums, yoga retreats, hiking and visiting temples.
Volunteers on the Elephant Welfare project are accommodated in the hotel which is right across the road from the project coordinator’s house allowing you to have privacy but also allowing you to interact with his family during meal times.
Volunteers can expect to share rooms with up to five other volunteers of the same gender and all bedrooms are provided with fans. The hotel has electricity and western style bathrooms, however showers are usually cold/tepid. The hotel is around a 30 minute bus ride to the elephant project.
To access the internet during your program, we recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card when you arrive in Sri Lanka, as WiFi is not available in the hotel.
Bedding is provided which includes a pillow with pillow case and top and bottom sheets. You will need to bring a towel, toiletries including hand soap and toilet paper, and a mosquito net if you wish to sleep with one.
While you’re on the Introduction Week Orientation in Kandy you’ll be accommodated in a volunteer house. Bedrooms have bunk beds and you can expect to share a room with four to 12 other volunteers.
Living is comfortable and all accommodation has electricity and running water. Bathrooms in the volunteer houses and homestays are all western style with a shower that has warm water, a toilet and basin.
Private rooms are available in Kandy while on the introduction week and at the Elephant Welfare project. Private rooms are a popular option for couples or older volunteers. This option can be requested via the ‘Add ons and Tours’ section of your checklist and costs £72 per week/per person.
Families with younger children who wish to volunteer in Sri Lanka are required to book a private room at an additional cost of £72 per person, per week. If your family has more than four members, two rooms may be required to accommodate all family members.
Private rooms are available in the hotel and this can be requested via the ‘Add ons and Tours’ section of your checklist and costs £72 per week/per person.
Volunteers on the Sri Lanka program are provided with three meals a day during the week and brunch and dinner during the weekend. Breakfast includes toast, eggs, fruit, tea, coffee and milk. Sri Lankan foods served for lunch and dinner include roti bread, dhal, curries, vegetables and salads. Meat is rarely eaten except on festive occasions.Bottled water is readily available in Sri Lanka and volunteers should budget approximately $5 per week for 2 liters per day. There are also water filters in the volunteer houses. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can discuss this with you. However, you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. The local team will do their best to see that you are well taken care of, but as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible. If you wish to supplement some of your meals with home comforts, there are basic kitchen facilities available to use.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately £239) 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 FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,020 Equivalent to $73/day |
| 3 weeks | $1,505 Equivalent to $72/day |
| 4 weeks | $1,990 Equivalent to $71/day |
| 5 weeks | $2,475 Equivalent to $71/day |
| 6 weeks | $2,960 Equivalent to $70/day |
| 8 weeks | $3,930 Equivalent to $70/day |
| 10 weeks | $4,900 Equivalent to $70/day |
| 12 weeks | $5,870 Equivalent to $70/day |
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with IVHQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Sri Lanka! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Sri Lanka program.
Embark on an unforgettable weekend getaway to Sigiriya, where ancient history and breathtaking nature await.
Discover the best of Sri Lanka on this week-long tour. Enjoy the diverse flora and fauna, take in stunning hilltop views, and ride the world’s most scenic train. Climb Lion’s Rock to explore the ancient kingdom’s ruins from 500 AD.
Experience Sri Lanka’s rich history and natural beauty in a single day!
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
| Capital | Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte |
| Population | 21.8 million |
| Languages | Sinhala and Tamil |
| Currency | Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 |
Weather and climate
The climate is tropical and warm, due to the moderating effects of ocean winds. Mean temperature ranges from 17°C (62.6°F) in the central highlands, where frost may occur for several days in the winter, to a maximum of 33 °C (91.4°F) in other low-altitude areas.
Get exclusive offers, program opening updates, travel inspo, volunteer stories, scholarships and competitions… Straight to your inbox!
