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Volunteering with rescued chimps in Spain

COUNTRY:
Spain
DEPARTURES:
Volunteer placements are available throughout the year
PRICE:
From 240 - €440 (2 days) excluding flights
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MORE INFO:
Volunteer placements are available from Tuesday to Sunday (2 or 4 day options) with a maximum of 2 guests at a time
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Volunteering with rescued chimps in Spain

Volunteering with rescued chimps in Spain

Volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world.
Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.

How this holiday makes a difference

We ensure that more than 90% of the funds generated through our volunteer placements go directly back into our primate rescue and rehabilitation project. We employ local people at the sanctuary who work as caregivers for the primates. The rest of our team are volunteers. We promote local restaurants and hotels through our website and we also email our guests an information pack with local accommodation, restaurants in the nearby medieval city of Girona. We use local produce to feed the primates and staff. We also use local building materials and equipment and local builders.

We recycle paper, cans, bottles and plastic. We also actively promote recycling of printer cartridges and mobile phones to our staff and supporters. We use recycled paper for administration purposes. We email information and our newsletter to our supporters who have access to email. In the UK office we use energy efficient light bulbs and turn off lights, computers etc.

We previously collaborated with a local NGO called Fundacio Natura and we have planted 6500 young trees of different species to improve the biodiversity of the area of land within the sanctuary. We do recycle waste at the sanctuary and we (and our volunteers) are aware of minimising our water and energy consumption.

Our education department was specifically set up to introduce local children to the amazing world of primates and to promote respect and understanding of these magnificent animals. We give lectures and interactive workshops to children aged 3 – 14 years. One of our main aims is to help children realise that our lives and the lives of other primates are not so disconnected and that everything we do has a direct effect on all other animals. We want to help children recognise that our behaviour and lifestyle is directly linked to nature even though we often forget that it is.

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Volunteering with rescued chimps in Spain

Reviewed 14 Aug 2011 by Patricia Thomas4 star rating

Being so close to the chimps and helping with the everyday upkeep. Hard work but really rewarding...The experience of a lifetime. For me - a dream come true. (read full review)

Reviewed 26 Oct 2010 by Joanne Horton4 star rating

Feeding the chimps in the morning was the most exciting part...It was great to have time to observe the chimps while helping out with their care. We got plenty of time and opportunity to contribute to the work. (read full review)

Reviewed 01 Oct 2010 by Antje Müller4 star rating

Without expectations, I arrived there. And the 4 days I spent there went by way too fast. I met wonderful, friendly, helpful people. The work there has given me a lot of fun. The people there do everything for the well-being of the animals. Each animal has its own sad story and each day was again exciting...(read full review)

Reviewed 25 Feb 2010 by Krystyna Gajda4 star rating

I enjoyed preparing their food and enrichment activities, designed to make their lives more interesting. Each primate has a character and a story, and is now receiving the care towards a better life, although that life can never be in the wild.(read full review)

Reviewed 19 Oct 2009 by Jane Perry5 star rating

Excellent, I plan to go again and to send regular donations toward then running of the sanctuary. I have wonderful memories to share new friends. The staff and volunteers are very warm, welcoming and so very dedicated.(read full review)

Reviewed 21 Oct 2009 by Helen Jones4 star rating

Seeing the way the volunteers and keepers obviously enjoy the great work they do with the chimps and macaques.(read full review)

Reviewed 30 Sep 2009 by Emma Fairlamb4 star rating

The most memorable part was having the opportunity to spend so much time in close proximity to the chimps and getting to know their individual characters.(read full review)

Reviewed 13 Aug 2009 by Hedda Walker4 star rating

It was all a fantastic experience and we've come home with so many great memories and photographs. The best part was having the time to observe the chimps - their individual personalities really do become apparent.(read full review)

Reviewed 05 Dec 2008 by Thien-Ly Ngo5 star rating

The volunteers and staff are very wonderful people who really do care about the chimps and would do anything for their well-being. It was a great feeling to come home tired, dirty, and sore for the sake of the chimpanzees and macaus.(read full review)

Reviewed 29 Aug 2008 by Claire Murray5 star rating

One of the most amazing experiences I have had. To be that close to such wonderful animals and have the chance to observe their behaviour was incredible.(read full review)

Reviewed 27 Oct 2008 by Fiona Buck4 star rating

The most memorable aspects of the trip were spending time watching the animals especially when they have their evening meal, getting to know their individual characters and hearing about the journeys they were on before they arrived at the centre.(read full review)

Reviewed 07 Jan 2008 by Marjolein Alting4 star rating

It was a great short term volunteer holiday and I can recommend it to everyone.(read full review)

Reviewed 24 Oct 2007 by Julie Macdonald4 star rating

Getting the opportunity to spend two days so close to the chimps. Two days was enough to get to know the names and personalities of the 14 chimps and for them to accept my presence. It was incredible to look into the eyes of the chimps and watch their behaviour.(read full review)
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Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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