from 1,590€

Good 4.2rating (69)
  • Life On Land

Wolf Conservation Experience

location
2 - 4 weeks  ·  Age 20 - 50+
rating  Good 4.2  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Aid in the survival of the endangered Iberian Wolf at a dedicated conservation center, focusing on protection and habitat preservation
  • Engage in diverse tasks such as animal feeding, maintenance, fire prevention, and reforestation, enhancing the wolves' enclosure to mimic wild conditions
  • Participate in clearing non-native Eucalyptus trees and contribute to reforestation efforts, vital for maintaining a balanced ecosystem for the wolves
  • Be part of a greater mission to educate about wolf conservation, understanding their behaviors and movements, and advocating for their protection in their natural habitat
  • Visit Ericeira and Mafra and get to know other areas around Portugal

Especially good for

Age 20+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Join our program to support the preservation of wolves, by participating in daily activities at the center, including feeding, monitoring, facility maintenance, and more

Wolves in Portugal face significant challenges due to habitat destruction and human persecution. Many wolves cannot survive in the wild after becoming dependent on humans. That’s where wolf conservation centers come in, by providing refuge for wolves from zoos, illegal trapping, or other ...

About the program

Wolves in Portugal face significant challenges due to habitat destruction and human persecution. Many wolves cannot survive in the wild after becoming dependent on humans. That’s where wolf conservation centers come in, by providing refuge for wolves from zoos, illegal trapping, or other captivity, helping them regain health and happiness in large outdoor enclosures designed to replicate their natural habitat.

What to Expect:

  • Hands-On Care: Assist with feeding the wolves and ensuring they have access to clean water.

  • Animal Monitoring: Observe and monitor wolf behavior to ensure their well-being.

  • Environmental Efforts: Participate in clearing invasive species, replanting native trees, and maintaining the forest environment.

  • Facility Maintenance: Help with the upkeep of the center’s infrastructure and contribute to fire prevention efforts.

Daily Tasks:

  • Feeding: Provide meals and check water for the wolves.

  • Observation and Monitoring: Watch and record wolf behaviors and health indicators.

  • Invasive Species Clearing: Remove non-native plants and replant native species.

  • Maintenance: Assist with the maintenance of the center’s facilities and infrastructure.

  • Forest Cleaning: Participate in activities to maintain a healthy forest environment.

Community Living:  You will be staying in comfortable wooden cabins at the center, with guidance and support from local staff, taking this experience to the next level!

Why Join?

  • Make a Difference: Play a crucial role in the preservation and care of wolves in Portugal.

  • Gain Experience: Learn about wildlife conservation and animal care.

  • Cultural Immersion: Experience life in Portugal while making a positive impact on the environment.

Ready to Help Wolves?

Typical day

A typical day would be:

After the initial orientation in Lisbon, you will be taken by van to the Natural Park in Mafra where you will stay for the rest of your program. You will volunteer for approximately 7 hours a day in the protection of the Wolves and its habitat. A typical morning schedule is as ...

Typical day

A typical day would be:

After the initial orientation in Lisbon, you will be taken by van to the Natural Park in Mafra where you will stay for the rest of your program. You will volunteer for approximately 7 hours a day in the protection of the Wolves and its habitat. A typical morning schedule is as follows:

08:00 | Breakfast begins at the volunteer house.

9:00 | Volunteer activities. 

13:00 | Cook lunch at your wooden house together with the other local and international volunteers.

15:00 | Volunteer activities.

19:00 | Cook dinner at your house with the other volunteers. After dinner, you can free to relax and use it as you wish.

Free-time activities

Lisbon is near the beach, near the mountain and is a great starting point to get to travel the rest of the country.

Enjoy climbing in Arrábida, festivals all summer, diving in Peniche, hiking in Monsanto, visit some of the best museums in Europe in Lisbon and Porto, join for a horse ride at the ...

Free-time activities

Lisbon is near the beach, near the mountain and is a great starting point to get to travel the rest of the country.

Enjoy climbing in Arrábida, festivals all summer, diving in Peniche, hiking in Monsanto, visit some of the best museums in Europe in Lisbon and Porto, join for a horse ride at the beach (like in the movies!), visit the fantastic zoo in the Capital, join a great variety of sports at your choice, enjoy swimming and water sports at the pool or at the beach (warning: the water is cold) or participate in yoga classes in relaxing places.

We can help you to discover anything you might want to do in your free time.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 20 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 20 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 09:00 - 17:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by ImpacTrip

What’s included?

  • Pick up at the international airport in Lisbon & transfer to the accommodation - on Sunday 

On Sunday, the ImpacTrip team will be at the airport waiting for you with a big sign and a smile on their face! :)

If you arrive prior to the Sunday, you will still be able to receive an airport pickup and our team can transport you to the accommodation, but you will need to pay an extra fee for this service.

  • Accommodation at a dormitory at an impactful hostel, female dormitory, or mixed dormitory in Lisbon for the first 2 nights
  • Transfer to the project site in Mafra
  • Accommodation in a wooden house in the park in Mafra, max. 4 bed dormitory, share use of living room, kitchen and free Wifi
  • Three meals a day everyday: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (Local style. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and meals for lactose-intolerant are also available upon request)
At the Center, you will be in charge of your own grocery shopping and preparing your meals. The staff is able to take volunteers shopping on Tuesdays and Fridays after lunch. However, they can only take two volunteers at a time so you should be aware that you might go shopping only once a week.

  • Shared use of a common room, outdoor area, garden, and free WIFI
  • Orientation event on arrival (including an introduction to Portugal and culture, volunteer experience, an overview of programs, practical information, safety guidelines)
  • SIM card
  • Guided city tour
  • The best tips to discover the city!
  • Allocation and coordination of a work placement in an impactful non-profit project
  • Introduction on the first day of volunteering
  • Ongoing support throughout the stay
  • 24h/7 emergency support
  • Limited coverage civil liability insurance.

Airport Pickup at Lisbon Portela Airport

On Sunday, the ImpacTrip team will be at the airport waiting for you with a big sign and a smile on our face! :)


If you arrive prior to the Sunday, you will still be able to receive an airport pickup and our team can transport you to the accommodation, but you will need to pay an extra fee for this service.

We will send a message on whatsapp close to the arrival date, to connect :)

Accommodation

Accommodation for volunteers is in wooden houses at the Park located in Mafra. 

These are small and cozy houses with all the equipment necessary to cook and live comfortably.  The house is equipped with washing machine, oven, fridge/freezer, cooking utensils and cutlery but there is no TV in the house.

Please note that there are no women/men separation bedroom and both kitchen and bathroom are shared with all occupants. 

A house can house up to 6 people.

Food & Beverages

Meals are provided on the first 2 days of the program, while you are in Lisbon.

At the Center, you will be in charge of your own grocery shopping and preparing your meals. The staff is able to take volunteers shopping on Tuesdays and Fridays after lunch. However, they can only take two volunteers at a time so you should be aware that you might go shopping only once a week.

Internet Access

Limited access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) in Lisbon. We assist you to find cheap flights to Portugal. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Portugal provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Portugal you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Portugal. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

This program starts every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. There are special start dates for this program, please confirm our availability.

There is very limited availability for this program during the summer.

This program only accepts bookings for 2 or 4 weeks. 


Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 1,590€
3 weeks 1,965€
4 weeks (max. stay) 2,340€
Average fees 690€/week

Program fees

690€ per week 2 - 4 weeks Age 20 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

2 - 4 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with ImpacTrip during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

ImpacTrip

Good 4.2 rating (69 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2015

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Cristiana

Spoken languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese

About the project

ImpacTrip is a social enterprise that promotes Responsible Travel Experiences in Portugal, Spain and Croatia.

Meet your organization

ImpacTrip is a social business internationally certified as B-Corp that promotes Responsible Travel Experiences in Portugal, Spain and Croatia.

Founded in 2015 by two dedicated social entrepreneurs that want to change the way people travel, ImpacTrip aims at combining the best of travel with a positive social and environmental impact.

We really want travelers to have the most unique and meaningful travel experiences.

We offer short-term Travel Experiences across our country that allow you and other Responsible Travelers to connect with the locals, experience the culture and contribute in a positive way to the local communities.

We also offer long-term volunteer programs in which you can dedicate 1 to 12 weeks volunteering for local non-profits for a specific cause while meeting people from all over the world.

Since 2015 we've received people from over 50+ different nationalities that contributed with over 30.000 hours of volunteer work to support over 300 non-profits.

69 reviews · rating4.2

Anneleen Olbrechts rating3.6

2023 at Wolf Conservation Experience

I had an amazing time during my two weeks of volunteering at the wolf conservation. The terrain was steep, the work was hard, and the sun shone unbearlingly hot all day, but: the views were amazing, seeing the wolves in real life was a dream and I am glad that my greatest wish of hearing them howl ...
Melanie Conlon rating5

2022 at Wolf Conservation Experience

Absolutely loved the program!! Had such a wonderful 2 weeks and met lots of lovely people!! Wish I had stayed longer! The only problem I did find was the lack of information before arriving, but once I got there it was fine. ...
Alba Gala Torrero rating5

2024 at Youth Supporter

I recommend this experience to absolutely anyone, it was the best of my life. The first week my placement was in a Skatepark in Cascais, so I had to catch a train and then a bus. Although it was good and the commute was fine, I didn't feel comfortable at the beggining so I asked to switch to a ...
Martin Hag rating3.6

2024 at Environmental Scuba Diving

The people working there were really supportive and genuinely wish for you to have a good experience. My first day was an introduction to the area, possibility to get help with the tickets for the public transports and a guided tour of Lisbon. They also have communication chats for you to contact ...
Thomas Payne rating3.2

2024 at Animal Care and Protection

Honestly, I was surprised, when on the website it shows photos of so many dogs, animals, it turned out I was working at a cat sanctuary. It's not that I was disappointed by the cats, it was just a shock, and also, at points of the sanctuary I feel like I wasn't apart of it massively, there wasn't ...
Isabel Hager rating2.6

2024 at Environmental Scuba Diving

Here’s a more formal and assertive version of your feedback: After months of requesting a detailed schedule for our diving experience, we only received the information after all payments had already been made. To pay €1,500 for a week, only to end up with just four dives, is completely ...

Location

Europe > Southern Europe > Portugal > Mafra - Lisboa

You might also be interested in

Volunteer Abroad  >  Animals  >  Wildlife Conservation in Portugal
Contact Cristiana
  Very high response rate
English, Spanish, Portuguese

Most volunteers ask about

Do you have any more questions? Send a message to Cristiana
Please don't share personal contact details for your privacy