World Animal Day is on October 4.
What’s this all about? World Animal Day unites the animal welfare movement, mobilizing it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals.
How can you play a part in this?
With Hands Up Holidays, the good news is that you can experience a luxury family vacation, and on that trip, you can spend a few days on a hands-on wildlife conservation project.
Examples include:
- Elephant Conservation in Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka. You and your family can help prepare meals, walk with the elephants, watch them bathe and socialize, and learn an enormous amount about these gentle giants. This volunteer project is suitable from age 5.
- Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica, Greece, and Turkey. Depending on your chosen destination, your contributions may vary, from protecting turtle eggs from predators, clearing beaches of fishing nets, patrolling beaches and guiding baby turtles to the sea who are disoriented by man-made lights. This volunteer project is suitable from age 10, but can involve late nights.
- Bear Conservation in Romania. Near Dracula’s castle, you can help maintain the enclosures of bears, create enrichments to stimulate them, and prepare their meals. This volunteer project is suitable from age 12, and can be combined with spotting bears in the wild.
- Penguin Conservation in New Zealand. You can head to the South Island and protect penguins from predators by building special nests for them.
You and your family will leave New Zealand with a treasure trove of memories, and the knowledge that you have helped secure the future of New Zealand’s iconic bird life. This volunteer project is suitable from age 15. Whilst in New Zealand, you can see kiwi, albatross, tuatara, as well as the world’s only mountain parrot: the cheeky kea.
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Bird Conservation in Hungary . You can help build bird boxes to house and protect native birds. Lake Balaton is a haven for birdlife, and you can see many on a visit to this beautiful spot. This volunteer project is suitable from age 10.
- Rhino Conservation in South Africa. You have the rare opportunity to help in the conservation of the critically endangered black and white rhino by participating in a rhino- darting and notching program under the supervision of a veterinarian and Conservation Manager.
Once the rhino is sedated, you get to assist the team by helping to administer medication as well as taking measurements for scientific and medical purposes.
The minimum age is 12 and the best time to take part in this program is between the months of May and September, but this can be done at any time.
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Monkey and Parrot Conservation in Costa Rica. Prepare meals at a wildlife rescue center, maintain their enclosures, create enrichments to stimulate them, and learn loads about the various animals. Your kids can help from age 5. Costa Rica is fantastic for wildlife spotting, monkeys are prolific, sloths are common, and jaguars are rare, but are out there.
The team here at Hands Up Holidays is passionate about creating incredible itineraries for your luxury family vacation.
Are you feeling inspired to conserve animals on your next luxury family vacation?
Get in touch for a no-obligation chat (or email exchange, whatever you prefer) to see if we are a good fit for you.