What volunteering with animals through HeyLocals actually looks like
Volunteering with animals through HeyLocals means joining active conservation projects run by local teams who work on the ground every day.
You'll get hands-on with wild or domestic animals, always with their wellbeing in mind and following clear guidelines.
Activities are mainly in the mornings and include:
- Caring for and feeding the animals,
- Supporting conservation and protection work,
- Maintaining facilities and monitoring the environment.
Afternoons are for exploring, connecting with other volunteers, and discovering the area.
Everything's set up so you can focus: accommodation included, local team support, clear roles, and carefully chosen projects.
The essentials
Real conservation projects
We only partner with established, active projects run by local teams focused on animal welfare and protection.
Ethics and animal welfare
No exploitation, no forced interactions. Clear guidelines, respect for the animals' needs.
Everything sorted
Meals, accommodation, essentials, all in. Zero hidden charges, clear and transparent.
A shared experience
You live the project alongside other volunteers and the local team, sharing work, daily life, and discovering the area.
Who's it for?
First-time animal volunteers
Goal: A real, guided first experience with animals, and learning what protecting them actually means.
Responsible animal lovers
Goal: Contribute to animal welfare and protection without exploitation, following ethical practices.
Environmentally conscious travellers
Goal: Get involved in conservation, live close to nature, and understand the human impact on ecosystems.
Travellers after something real
Goal: Skip conventional tourism for real fieldwork, community life, and discovering the area.
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What you get
Comfy shared accommodation, close to nature and the other volunteers.
Care, support, conservation. No tourist activities dressed up as volunteering.
Local team always on-site, clear guidelines, ongoing support throughout.
What's included
Not included
How it works
Intro call
We chat about what drives you, any relevant experience, and the project that fits.
Pick the project
We suggest an active animal project and walk you through activities, guidelines, and real-world impact.
Getting ready
We help you with docs, requirements, and what to expect in the field. Clear guide before you go.
Arrival and welcome
The local team meets you, explains the interaction rules, and eases you into the activities.
See projects in detail
Explore the projects available for this travel type
Live alongside elephants, discover responsible care and feeding practices, and take part in the daily activities of the centre. An immersive experience that combines learning, nature and community life on one of Thailand's most captivating islands.
Combine exploration and meaningful social projects with a group of like-minded new friends in Ho Chi Minh City. Choose your preferred project and spend your free time with people who share your values.
Join a unique conservation project in the Rift Valley! Work alongside rangers to protect the Rothschild’s giraffe, help plant trees with local communities and discover one of Kenya’s most fascinating regions through safaris, craters and forests.
Join our local team to protect endangered sea turtles! Work on a paradise island to care for these extraordinary animals, contribute to their recovery, and help safeguard their habitat.
Start your journey with a week in Kandy, among temples, local food and craft traditions, to discover the true soul of Sri Lanka. Then move to the coast at Ambalangoda and devote your days to caring for and releasing sea turtles.
Take part in protecting sea turtles in Makunduchi, an authentic village far from Zanzibar’s tourist routes. Contribute to conservation, learn from the local community and experience the energy of a unique pilot project up close.