📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
As part of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (NPA), the wildlife reserve's mission is to protect endangered desert animal populations, preserve the native wildlife, and educate the public about the desert and its inhabitants. This unique area encompasses a variety of arid terrains, including acacia groves, salt-flats, and sand. The reserve features a three-acre penned-in area for herbivores to roam in conditions similar to the wild. In addition, visitors can make their way to the Predators Center, with an impressive array of reptiles, small desert animals, and large predators, and the Desert Night Life Exhibition Hall to observe nocturnal animals during their active hours.
💼 What the programme involves
During the project, you will become an integral part of the staff at the wildlife reserve. Your duties may include the following:
Preparing food and feeding animals;
Cleaning and maintaining reserve facilities;
Accompanying & assisting park rangers;
Constructing enrichment facilities.
A typical day: Your volunteer day will start around 7am as you prepare food for the animals and ensure that each is fed appropriately. Afterwards, you will work on a special project which could range from a game drive through the park to maintenance on an enclosure. Your work day will finish around 2pm at which point you will be taken back to the volunteer house for some rest and relaxation.Fridays and Saturdays are free days.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodations: you will stay in a basic house on the reserve grounds in shared, single sex rooms. The house has a fridge and fully functioning kitchen plus a tv, computer and WiFI for your use. There is also filtered water at the house and a washing machine.
Food: Although food is not provided, you will have the chance to go grocery shopping once a week and cook for yourself in the kitchen of the volunteer house. There is also a kiosk to buy snacks on the reserve (budget around $50 per week for food).
Internet: WiFi is available at the volunteer house.
Laundry: A washing machine is available at the volunteer house.
Important note: the reserve and accommodations are located a 45 minute walk from the nearest bus stop. Occasionally, rangers and park employees can give you a lift to the bus stop but you should not expect this on a regular basis. The reserve is quite isolated so you will be spending a lot of your free time with the rangers and other volunteers. However, there is an opportunity for you to go with the staff to Eilat every Sunday where you can shop tax-free and buy your groceries.
📍 About the location
The international beach resort of Eilat is only 50 kilometers away (price to / from Eilat by bus is about $5), if volunteers want to enjoy some snorkeling, go to an internet cafe, or enjoy the vibrant night life. For those that want to see the rest of the country, it is easy to use public transportation and explore Tel Aviv or the north of Israel and no trip would be complete without a mud bath and float in the Dead Sea.
ℹ️ Additional information
Volunteers can join for a minimum of 3 weeks up to 8 weeks