"LEO... large enough to care about the big issues... small enough to care about the individual"Elephant mahout training – Sri Lanka
Help care for Asian elephants and learn elephant management skills. Experience the warm Sri Lankan culture, learn how to cook a curry and get to know the local people. Support a local orphanage by teaching English and work on our Eco-farm producing eggs, fruit and vegetables.
Project overview
Project days:Project activities:
Project fee:Project location:Accommodation:
What is includedAccommodation:Food:Airport Pickup:Orientation:Support:Internet:Drop off:
Not included
Real mahout elephant training in Sri Lanka
Not only an opportunity to learn and contribute to elephant conservation but also learn how to handle this amazing and gentle giant of the jungle. Our special elephant mahout training volunteer project, located in beautiful Sri Lanka, gives you this opportunity.
At the project
At LEO Project Foundation we believe in providing you a safe and secure volunteering experience which will be fun packed with many special and incredible moments, but also one where you are expected to contribute to the project.
The project needs you to keep it running. The elephants require your daily care and attention, love you to feed and wash them and equally enjoy a nicely made day and night bed.
Their food comes by truck and these huge 45kg bundles need placing in the food store. The elephants also need their food top-up. And that will be only the start of your day.
After lunch we need to think about our own food and can work either at the eco-farm, run after the chickens (or simply collect the eggs) or work on your mahout skills.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday there is either an elephant education session or you may head off to the nearby children’s orphanage to help out. English, maths, sports, music, drama and other activities are welcome, but most of all your being there is of unimaginable value to the children.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7am | The sun is up already! What an amazing start of the day! You are up, but what about your elephant? Time to go and say hello, clean its night bed and bring it down to the river. Don’t forget to feed and give water to the farm animals. |
| 7.30am | Did you have a nice shower this morning? No? Don’t worry as whilst bathing and scrubbing your elephant in the river there is a good change the elephant provides you with a morning shower And whilst you’re washing the elephant you will also be looking out for any health issues and treating these if needed |
| 8am | Hungry from all that hard work? Your elephant certainly is and it is time to prepare the day bed and its food |
| 8.30am | Time for your own, well earned breakfast! |
| 9-12pm | Time to gather eggs and vegatables from the eco-farm, clean the beds and check the fancing under guidance of our gardeners or an elephant education session. Elephant education session is about elephant body language, health signs or working with your mahout and elephant on your mahout skills |
| 12.30pm | Lunch time (for you, not the elephant) |
| 2-5pm | Monday and Friday you can continue mahout training after lunch whilst Tuesday to Thursday you can visit the nearby disadvantaged children centre to teach, play games and practise sports. |
| 5pm | Finish for the day and relax |
| 6.30pm | Dinner time |
| The elephant volunteer project runs from Monday to Friday leaving the weekends for you to explore the country |
Please note: Some activities may be affected during the rainy season. In the event of heavy rainfall indoor activities will be organised. Remember, the more flexible you are, the more you will get out of the project!
Touring Sri Lanka
Most volunteers at our elephant and other wildlife conservation projects love to explore Sri Lanka. We will gladly answer any questions you may have about touring the island and are happy to help you find out the best deals and give you a good indication of activities, quality, pricing and distance. Don’t hesitate to contact your in-country volunteer supervisor whose job and passion it is to help you enjoy your time in Sri Lanka.
Placement fee for this amazing project
£595 for 2 weeks, £145 for every week thereafter (why pay to volunteer?).
Book now, email bookings@leoproject.org
More information
For more information about Accommodation, flights, host family, local transport, project dates, project locations, sim cards, Sri Lanka itself, the first couple of days, the team behind LEO, travel & socializing, travel insurance, vaccinations, visa, volunteering in general and why you would pay to volunteer please visit our FAQ.
