Israel – Desert Wildlife Program

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Join this unique wildlife conservation program in the spectacular, desert landscape of the Arabah, and help to re-populate the nature reserve with the region’s native species!

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 17-day 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 and rest in the evening before their first day of volunteering with the wildlife.

Days 3-4, Wednesday & Thursday: Make your way by public bus from Eilat to the reserve (about 30 minutes). Rewarding volunteer work at the reserve. Your volunteer day will start around 7:30 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 bus stop for your return journey to Eilat for some rest and relaxation.

Days 5-6, Friday – Saturday: All volunteers have Fridays and Saturdays off to rest or explore.

Days 7-11, Sunday – Thursday: Rewarding volunteer work at the reserve.

Days 12-13, Friday – Saturday: All volunteers have Fridays and Saturdays off to rest or explore.

Days 14-16, Sunday – Tuesday: Rewarding volunteer work at the reserve.

Day 17, Wednesday: Departure day.

Remaining Weeks for those extending: The remaining weeks will follow the schedule of working Sunday-Thursday and having Fridays and Saturdays free. Departures are on a Wednesday.

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Arabah Desert, 50km north of Eilat, Israel

Project length Project length: Min 3 weeks – Max 10 weeks (Minimum two-week commitment, plus three-day orientation):

Arrival Airport Arrival Airport: Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work:  Feeding animals and cleaning habitats, maintenance, observations and data collection

Age Age:  18 – 50 Due to project conditions, volunteers aged 40+ must provide medical clearance

Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteers: Up to 8 international volunteers. (This project requires a minimum of 2 participants, any less and the project will not take place.)

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Shared hostels in Tel Aviv and Eilat, and shared apartments on the reserve

Food Food: Breakfast on weekends

Airport Transfers Airport Transfers:  Volunteers make their own way to orientation, but a round-trip bus ticket between Tel Aviv and Eilat is included.

Orientation Orientation: Orientation, including a walking tour of Tel Aviv and lunch, is provided upon arrival.

Support 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), daily transportation to the project (budget around $10 per day), return 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 Arabah 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.

  • 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

 

A typical day: A typical day: Your volunteer day will start early, as you must arrive at the reserve by 7:30 AM. Upon arrival, you will 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 bus stop for your return journey to Eilat for some rest and relaxation. Fridays and Saturdays are free days.

Internet icon Internet: WiFi is available at the hostel.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: Volunteers will stay in shared, mixed-gender dormitory-style rooms in the center of Eilat. Female-only dorms may be available upon request.

Food icon Food: Breakfast is included on the weekends.

 

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

Your accommodations are located within the international beach resort of Eilat. During your free time, volunteers may want to enjoy some snorkeling, go to an Internet cafe or enjoy the vibrant nightlife. 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.

Volunteer Experiences

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