Join this unique wildlife conservation program in the spectacular, desert landscape of the Arava, and help to re-populate the nature reserve with the region's native species!
Program Highlights:
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment):
Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV). Volunteers will make their own way to orientation in Tel Aviv, which includes a walking tour of the city and lunch. Overnight at a hostel in Tel Aviv.
Day 1, Monday: Volunteers will travel by bus from Tel Aviv to Eilat (bus ticket included in program cost).Volunteers will stay the night in a hostel in Eilat along with the coral reef volunteers and have the remainder of the evening to relax and get to know one another.
Day 2, Tuesday: Wildlife volunteers will visit the coral reef reserve on this day. After enjoying the sea and coral reef, volunteers will go by bus to the wildlife reserve. Upon arrival, volunteers will tidy up the accommodations with the field coordinator and rest before their first day of volunteering with the wildlife.
Days 3-4, Wednesday & Thursday: Rewarding volunteer work at the reserve. Your volunteer day will start around 6:00 AM 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 enclosure maintenance. Your work day will finish around 2:00 PM, at which point you will be taken back to the volunteer house for some rest and relaxation.
Days 5-6, Friday-Saturday: All volunteers have Fridays and Saturdays off to rest or explore.
Day 7, Sunday: Rewarding volunteer work at the reserve.
Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow the schedule of working Sunday-Thursday and having Fridays and Saturdays free. Departures are on a Monday.
Check out what our past volunteers had to say!
Program Highlights:
- Work with unique, desert wildlife species from tiny tortoises to leopards and oryxes
- Experience the beauty and sereneness of the Israeli desert
- Visit the local coral reef for a swim
- Gain experience in animal care by working alongside professional wildlife reserve rangers
- Ethical wildlife interactions and volunteer tasks
- Begin your Israel experience with a guided tour of vibrant Tel Aviv
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment):
Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV). Volunteers will make their own way to orientation in Tel Aviv, which includes a walking tour of the city and lunch. Overnight at a hostel in Tel Aviv.
Day 1, Monday: Volunteers will travel by bus from Tel Aviv to Eilat (bus ticket included in program cost).Volunteers will stay the night in a hostel in Eilat along with the coral reef volunteers and have the remainder of the evening to relax and get to know one another.
Day 2, Tuesday: Wildlife volunteers will visit the coral reef reserve on this day. After enjoying the sea and coral reef, volunteers will go by bus to the wildlife reserve. Upon arrival, volunteers will tidy up the accommodations with the field coordinator and rest before their first day of volunteering with the wildlife.
Days 3-4, Wednesday & Thursday: Rewarding volunteer work at the reserve. Your volunteer day will start around 6:00 AM 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 enclosure maintenance. Your work day will finish around 2:00 PM, at which point you will be taken back to the volunteer house for some rest and relaxation.
Days 5-6, Friday-Saturday: All volunteers have Fridays and Saturdays off to rest or explore.
Day 7, Sunday: Rewarding volunteer work at the reserve.
Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow the schedule of working Sunday-Thursday and having Fridays and Saturdays free. Departures are on a Monday.
Check out what our past volunteers had to say!
Location of the Project:
Arava Desert, 50km north of Eilat, Israel
Project length:
Min 2 weeks - Max 10 weeks
Arrival Airport:
Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)
Volunteer Work:
Feeding animals and cleaning habitats, maintenance, observations and data collection
Age:
18 - 50
Due to project conditions, volunteers aged 40+ must provide medical clearance
Number of Volunteers:
Up to 8 international volunteers
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.
What's Included
Accommodations:
Shared hostels in Tel Aviv and Eilat, and shared apartments on the reserve
Food:
Small stipend for meals is provided, but budget $80 per week for groceries.
Airport Transfers:
Volunteers make their own way to orientation, but a round-trip ticket to/from Tel Aviv and the project site is included.
Orientation:
Orientation, including a walking tour of Tel Aviv and lunch, is provided upon arrival.
Support:
Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.
What's not Included
Flights, travel health insurance, food (budget around $80 per week), airport transfer to Tel Aviv (budget around $20), personal expenses.
The Negev is a desert region that covers the southern half of Israel. The least populated area in Israel, it is home to a wide variety of people such as the nomadic, desert people known as the Bedouin, as well as unique Israeli wildlife. The wildlife reserve is located in the dramatically scenic Arava Valley, which is part of the Negev.
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 drive-through safari area for herbivores to roam in conditions similar to the wild. In addition, visitors can make their way to the reptiles, small desert animals, and large predators and the Desert Night Life Exhibition Hall to observe nocturnal animals during their active hours and feed the large carnivores after sunset if they desire.
Orientation (included): Orientation will take place in Tel Aviv on Sunday upon arrival.
During the project, you will become an integral part of the staff at the wildlife reserve.
Your volunteer tasks may include the following:
Orientation (included): Orientation will take place in Tel Aviv on Sunday upon arrival.
- Volunteer preparation and travel directions to the program
- Expert advice for traveling in Israel during and after your volunteer placement
- Walking tour of Tel Aviv
During the project, you will become an integral part of the staff at the wildlife reserve.
Your volunteer tasks may include the following:
- Preparing food and feeding animals
- Cleaning and maintaining reserve facilities
- Accompanying & assisting park rangers on daily rounds
- Assisting with construction of enclosures and enrichment activities for the animals
Internet:
WiFi is available at the volunteer house. All volunteers will receive a SIM card at orientation that includes 40 GB of data and unlimited calls to US, Canadian and Israeli phone numbers.
Laundry:
A washing machine is available for use at the volunteer house.
Accommodations:
You will stay on the reserve grounds in shared, single-gender rooms with 2 bunk-beds and a big closet. There is a shared bathroom with a hot water boiler and both the bedrooms and living room are equipped with air-conditioning. There is a TV as well.
Please note: The reserve and accommodations are located a 45-minute walk from the nearest bus stop.
Food:
You will have the opportunity to go grocery shopping once a week and cook for yourself. The house has two refrigerators and a fully functioning kitchen. There is also filtered water at the house. There is also a kiosk to buy snacks on the reserve (budget around $80 per week for food). A small stipend for groceries is provided, but please keep in mind that this is supplemental and will not cover the full cost of your meals.
Please take note of this project's minimum requirements:
- Min age 18 - Max age 50
- Volunteers 40+ must provide medical clearance
- High level of independence
- Basic level of English
- Good physical fitness
- Motivation to work with animals
- Able to handle extreme heat from June - September
The international beach resort of Eilat is only 50 kilometers away by bus (approximately $5 one-way), 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.
Check out a list of tours you can join for an additional fee, here.
Check out a list of tours you can join for an additional fee, here.
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