Voluntourism: Travel That Makes You Feel Good

Combining travel and volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways to experience a new destination, be it in your home country or abroad. There are so many different ways to participate in what is often dubbed “voluntourism” and these can differ from volunteering for a day working at an animal shelter in the Bahamas with homeless dogs to booking an entire trip specifically around volunteering. Here we explore three different options involving volunteering with animals.

3. Humane Society of Grand Bahama in the Bahamas

Smart, sweet and loyal. That’s a potcake dog in a nutshell. The name given to the stray street dogs hailing from The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, potcakes got their unique moniker from locals who fed the leftovers “caked” onto the bottom of cooking pots. Today, because of a limited selection of mates on the islands, a truly mixed breed dog has emerged that is found only here. Although they come in all shapes, colors and styles, in general potcakes are known for being compact, having big ears, high intelligence and often a laid back “island” personality — many love to just do the “potcake slouch” in the sun. Travelers coming to Freeport, on the island of Grand Bahama, can meet the potcakes by visiting the Humane Society of Grand Bahama (HSGB), which is the only shelter on the entire island. Volunteers are always welcome — be it for a day or a week. Just let the organization know via e-mail or Facebook message a week or two in advance, and they’ll be more than happy to let you hang with the potcakes, give baths and walk dogs. You can even take a potcake to the beach for the afternoon as long as you have your own transportation. And should you fall in love, it is not difficult to adopt the pups directly from the shelter and fly home with your new best friend when the vacation ends.

2. Orangutan Rehabilitation in Indonesia

Run by The Orangutan Foundation, this volunteerism experience lasts for six weeks, and has volunteers building a 2.5-mile boardwalk to the riverside orangutan rehabilitation camp, which is currently only accessible by boat. Note you will be working in a a hot and steamy rainforest, but the hard work is often made easier by two resident orangutans who like to tag along on building patrols.

1. Elephant Nature Park in Thailand

Another longer term volunteerism project can be undertaken at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand. During the two week experience you’ll get to feed and bath elephants as well as help with chores around the sanctuary and eat some top notch local Thai food. Accommodation is very simple – think bamboo hut with mosquito net and mattress on the floor, but the experience itself is very rewarding. It is also possible to visit for a day.