📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
GREENLION SRI LANKA
💼 What the programme involves
NB : this programme will not be available from the 15th Of July until end of August due to Festival season in Kandy -----
Sri Lanka plays host to a sizeable population of elephants whose importance is magnified by the fact that the native elephants comprise a wholly separate sub species. The Sri Lankan authorities recognise the cultural and natural significance of the elephant and are working assiduously to ensure the survival and health of both wild and domesticated elephants on the island.
You will provide hands on assistance to the professional elephant keepers to ensure these beautiful animals live a life as close as possible to their wild relatives. You will bathe and wash the elephants daily, walk them through the forests to forage, clean their enclosure and learn all about these magnificent animals.
The Elephant Experience enables you to spend time working with elephants and their handlers in their day to day activities. You will help the mahouts (elephant handlers) with their daily routines. This includes feeding the elephants, cleaning the elephants at the river, cleaning the elephant enclosures, find food for the elephants in the forest, assist the veterinary doctor to treat whenever elephants fall sick.
You will also learn about elephants and learn some of elephant commands the mahout's use on a regular basis.
The objective is the enormous satisfaction of directly helping to improve the quality of life of elephants by working hands-on with them, and knowing that you made a difference to them.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will be accommodated in our center which is located 2 kilometers away from Kandy center. Our rooms allocate 4-6 people based on a single-gender basis and shared toilet with your roommates. There is a beautiful garden by the river to relax in and dining and lounge areas where you can hang out with fellow participants. Furthermore, there is a refrigerator which you are welcome to use to store food and beverages. Safety lockers are available to store your belongings. We do not have Wi-Fi at the centre. You will be provided with three meals a day on weekdays and two meals per day on weekends. The meals are a mix of Western and Sri Lankan food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can also eat out at any of the local restaurants.
📍 About the location
Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka is a major tourist destination. About 115 km from Colombo at 465 meters above sea level. Famous for the Temple of the Tooth and many other temples the city could be called the cultural capital of the island. This bustling market town is rich in cultural diversity has plenty to offer to the tourists from songs dances and handicrafts to ancient temples and adventure activities.Kandy was a royal capital and the last stronghold of the Kandyan kings against foreign power, holding out against them for about 300 years. The two main Buddhist Chapters are based here and formed the last centre of independent Buddhist thought during colonial times. Our house is located 2 kilometers away from the city center, where you can find anything you might need. The nearest ATM and supermarket are located a 15 minute walk away from our accommodation. The places to visit during your weekends or on your project holidays are the Royal Botanical Gardens, Knuckles mountain range, Udawatta kele sanctuary, Hortons plan national park and the railway museum.
ℹ️ Additional information
Open all year, starting on Mondays, see starting dates in the description, participation fee 350€ for 1 week, culture week mandatory to start the programme: 245 €.