written by GreeceGiannitsochoriA on 17/09/2019
This was a bit of a gamble for me - I'd done nothing like this before, never traveled abroad alone, never justified spending quite so much money on such a relatively short experience. It wound up worth it (indeed, my main regret is not staying longer!) although I think were I not interested in conservation as a career I may have regretted the cost! As I am, though, it was brilliant. Situated in a campsite in a tiny, beautiful town on the Greek coast and getting to work closely with a species as cool as loggerheads is a great start to any experience, and to top it off the staff were incredibly kind and passionate and the project was well managed and ran without a hitch for the 4 weeks I spent there. We did work with clear impact (such as protecting nests with wire, and subsequently finding predator tracks unable to reach the eggs) and engaged locals/tourists in collaboration with the local turtle charity in order to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the beach. The project felt useful and fulfilling, and if you love wildlife, making close friends or even just HOT weather this is a great experience to have (especially if you aim to work in conservation or a related sector!). The most cost effective thing to do is a 6-week internship, I'd say, although if you're not a fan of camping it may not be so fun to stay that long! Several staff members also had rather glowing things to say of other GVI projects, so I imagine all of their work is of similarly good quality.
written by GreeceGiannitsochoriA on 17/09/2019
This was a bit of a gamble for me - I'd done nothing like this before, never traveled abroad alone, never justified spending quite so much money on such a relatively short experience. It wound up worth it (indeed, my main regret is not staying longer!) although I think were I not interested in conservation as a career I may have regretted the cost! As I am, though, it was brilliant. Situated in a campsite in a tiny, beautiful town on the Greek coast and getting to work closely with a species as cool as loggerheads is a great start to any experience, and to top it off the staff were incredibly kind and passionate and the project was well managed and ran without a hitch for the 4 weeks I spent there. We did work with clear impact (such as protecting nests with wire, and subsequently finding predator tracks unable to reach the eggs) and engaged locals/tourists in collaboration with the local turtle charity in order to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the beach. The project felt useful and fulfilling, and if you love wildlife, making close friends or even just HOT weather this is a great experience to have (especially if you aim to work in conservation or a related sector!). The most cost effective thing to do is a 6-week internship, I'd say, although if you're not a fan of camping it may not be so fun to stay that long! Several staff members also had rather glowing things to say of other GVI projects, so I imagine all of their work is of similarly good quality.
written by TC0795 on 21/05/2018
If you're looking for somewhere that boasts an abundance of wildlife, then this is the place to go. Considered one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, Costa Rica is home to the elusive jaguar, sea turtles, hundreds of species of birds and much more! Based in a coastal rain forest you are immersed in your surroundings, providing the perfect environment to learn. For somewhere so remote conditions on camp are good and its a great place to meet new people from across the world who share a passion for wildlife and the environment. The engaging nature of this course means you're rarely bored. GVI offers great support leading up to your trip and even after you've left they offer amazing alumni services. The experience provides you with new skills that can help boost your chances of employment and leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.
written by jg1894 on 13/09/2016
Going to another country and working with wildlife was a dream come true. But GVI is more than that. You learn new skills, meet new friends, and learn about different cultures. Costa Rica was a beautiful area and if you have the chance, go. The camp was comfortable enough, and you were rarely bored. Everyday you saw new things, like sloths, lizards, snakes, birds and more! A day did not go by without anything going on. The program gives you all the details you need and teaches you the skills to adapt to future jobs. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime!
written by gentlel04 on 16/09/2014
I have always considered myself a traveller at heart and have tried multiple times to go on a big trip like this but unfortunatley i have been unable to go through with it. This time however i conjured up the guts and i booked up to go on the Marine Coastal Expedition in Phang Nga, Thailand and i can safely say i have not looked back! Upon arrival at GVI i was greeted with beautiful scenery and beautiful people. I quickly dived straight into Thai Culture even from the little things like trying troaditional Thai fruit like Mangosteens and Rambutans. These along with Thai language lessons, the village tour and much more helped me understand their culture and way of life. I had the opportunity to experience so much from Turtle cleaning, teaching English, beach cleaning, biodiversity surveys, trips to the local orphanage and so much more. Each one of these experiences had an effect on me, they made me realise how much i, myself can have an effect on the world. It also reminded me how lucky i am and to always appreciate my life and those within it. On a social note, i became friends with everyone almost immediatley. I have never been greeted with so many smiles in all my life! We would go on weekend trips away to local islands and resorts whilst also finding time to have a chat over a tub of ice-cream. Every other weekend we would go to the local Gecko bar about half an hour away and dance until the curfew allowed us to. We would have a weekly quiz night and a movie night, we would sit on the sofa in the evening after a busy day and chill watching programmes like Orange Is The New Black. Its safe to say i gained a whole other family within the GVI and its a family i am still in regular contact with. All together my experience of GVI and Thailand was unrelentingly positive. It was challenging because it was the first time i travelled on my own and it was scary being so far away from home. It also pushed me to unlock my full potential and the leadership course helped me to realise my leadership style. I learned an unimaginable amount, wether it be about ecology and environment or a different culture, its been amazing! My words to any future GVI volunteers, do it and do not look back, no regrets and take as much out the experience as possible. I cannot recommend GVI enough!
written by BuffieBiddle on 29/03/2014
This was one of the greatest experiences of my life. While here I learned so much about the wildlife and nature of this amazing land of Costa Rica. The staff were amazing, fun and very knowledgable, delighting in sharing their knowledge with us. We lived on a wonderful no frills base - if you want a posh 5 star resort - this experience is not for you, but if you love communing with the natural world and hiking in mud, seeing something new everyday, this is it! We contributed to research and experienced things that could not be experienced anywhere else. If you have a love of learning and the natural world and want to meet some great new people, this is by far the trip for you. You will have a great time, and will be sorry to leave as I was. I cannot wait to do it again!
written by on 19/10/2013
Expect the unexpected. My life of trinkets, hot showers and technology paled into insignificance when I arrived in Jalova, the Costa Rican jungle. Expecting to see only Green sea turtles, I found a scientific research and ecology base with highly educated staff. The training included theoretical and infield bird,mammal track identification, amphibian and reptile identification, marine turtle morning, night and excavation protocols,jaguar predation of marine turtles and camera trapping techniques, emergency first response training. Yes a long list and that was what was unexpected. Even more of a surprise was the bondind of people on base, like a close knit family. Had I known how intense the experience would be, I would not have gone. The unexpected surprise proved a challenge and would recommend this trip to anyone who is up for for a life changing experience.
written by georginaharbo on 06/09/2013
Upon leaving for Kenya, I knew I would either love it or hate; there would be no middle ground; no ifs, buts or maybes. I had never experienced the third world. I had grown up hearing crazy stories of my mother's experiences in Papua New Guinea and knew that one day I had to have a similar adventure but it is impossible to know how you are going to react until you are immersed in a place. The journey mirrored a journey away from civilisation: Leeds to Amsterdam (not much change), Amsterdam to Nairobi (significantly more haphazard airport security) and, finally, Nairobi to Mombasa. Luckily, I was on the same flight as another volunteer and so we took the taxi to the hotel together. The taxi ride was confronting. Traffic flew from all directions; men were pushing enormous carts loaded with petrol cans. However, even in the chaos, I could see the beauty of the place: the pure, raw humanity of it all. Kenya struck me as an odd mix of vivid, unshakeable cultural diversity but with misplaced splashes of Westernisation scarring the landscape. After spending an evening at a Mombasa hotel, we were collected by GVI staff and immediately made to feel welcome and an important part of their team. We travelled several hours down a dirt track to arrive in Shimoni, a tiny fishing village on the Kenyan coast. From there, I was told that I would be going to 'the island'. This both excited and terrified me at the same time. Whilst waiting for the boat, I met a girl who, by the end of the trip, had become one of my closest friends. Loading into a tiny tin boat, we crossed the channel and, as we approached the beach, I saw one of the most strangely beautiful sights I have ever seen. A chiseled coral shelf sheltered a procession of men and women transporting a delivery of food from the beach up to the local village. The island sustained a strict Muslim population. Women in hijabs carried weighty boxes of supplies on their heads and waded through the water and up to the sandy outcrop. Once all the supplies had been moved, several of the local men could be seen discussing who was going to take ownership of the few remaining cardboard boxes. Mkwiro village, on the island, was entirely serene. Apart from an antisocial donkey and the timely calls to prayer, only the noise of the ocean can be heard at night. The people live simply but abide by their faith and are very welcoming. I had never taught prior to embarking on this adventure but, having been trained by one of the most wonderful young women I have ever met, I felt fully prepared. The children like to laugh and joke but have a beautiful spirit and never stop smiling. I had the pleasure of reading with a girl who was close to my own age and was absolutely inspiring. She had so much responsibility and yet was so calm and polite; every single time she saw me after that she made a point of saying hello to me. To someone who has never visited Africa I would say, for goodness sake, go! It's like no other place I have ever experienced and volunteering with GVI was a wonderful way to see it. Seriously, don't second guess it; I didn't and it turned out to be one of the best things I've ever done.
written by MattHopkins on 29/08/2013
From the moment i stepped off the plane in Johannesburg I was met by smiling, friendly GVI staff, along with the other volunteers who would also be joining me on the program. After a few hours drive and a lot of very nervous conversation between everyone we arrived at our base camp in Karongwe Game Reserve. As soon as we stepped off the mini bus though everyone's nerves soon disappeared. Greeted by fellow volunteers who even took our bags from the bus and made us feel right at home straight away. Instantly i was impressed by the organisation and the friendly manner of everyone. The facility itself also surprised me for the good. It had been described as basic, but it had everything someone would need to be happy. A bed, hot shower (apart from a couple of days), lovely food, friendly people and a view to die for looking into the African Wilderness. After a week of training learning about the area, the animals, and how the research will help with future development of these wonderful creatures, we got underway with the reason I went out there. Going out on two game drives a day provided me with some sightings i will never forget. A particular highlight was a Brown Hyena, only the third to be spotted in a year, and also a sighting of the rare honey badger. However the best part of the entire program was helping when 'Tsavo', a big male leopard was darted and operated on as he was implanted to help with research. Getting that close to these amazing creatures was mind blowing! Of course as I was doing the Lion Research program I had side projects to help with the understanding of them. For example collecting data on movement patterns, and learning about track sizes and calling/roaring etc. Knowing my research was helping these animals was a brilliant feeling. I also found a new found love of birds and the little creatures. It was a memorable time and I wish i was there for longer. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable and I am still in contact with many of them now! GVI were superb throughout and i would thoroughly recommend doing a program like this if you are interested in this field of work or just fancy getting an amazing insight on some amazing animals.
written by sarinapacifici on 27/08/2013
This trip is beyond spectacular. It is unique in the fact that volunteers live in a village setting amongst villagers. It is both inspiring and refreshing to live such a simplistic life (e.g. bucket showers, mats instead of beds, no make up, bugs everywhere, waking up to the sound of rooster calls, etc.); I felt that I truly learned to live in unity with nature. Furthermore, the interactions between volunteers and elephants are candid and natural, and are typically initiated by the elephant, unlike the forced interactions in an elephant camp or zoo. We were advised not to walk up to the elephants in the forest (except for during health checks), but instead appreciated simply watching the elephants forage and, well, act the way elephants should act! I would definitely recommend this trip with all my heart. The only thing I wish I did differently was stay longer than 1 month! :)
written by JamesCunning on 27/08/2013
The four weeks that I spent with GVI in Costa Rica was a fantastic summer experience I would highly recommend to others. I got to see and learn so much going out on the numerous different surveys available for volunteers through this programme. It was such a great experience getting to work hands on with endangered sea turtles and knowing that the work I did will help to contribute towards the preservation of this iconic species. I also got to work on surveys that involved noting jaguar tracks, entry/exit points onto and off of the beach and setting up cams to monitor the jaguars. The staff were all friendly and a great group of people to work with.
written by Suzy135 on 20/08/2013
For two months I was living at GVI base Jalova and had the most amazing time taking part in the Wildlife expedition in Costa Rica. The base is located in the middle of a coconut plantation on the edge of Tortugero National park an hour’s boat ride to the closest town, in other words, I was in the middle of nowhere! All the staff and volunteers I met had their own unique background with a different story on every lip. Which definitely made life 'in the jungle' that much more interesting! I was taking part in bird and monkey surveys, BASs, and turtle night walks -as Leatherback nesting season had officially started within a week of me being there. My averaged day would start before 7am with breakfast being as early as 4:30am and, depending on if I was on a turtle night walk, wouldn't finish until 3:00 am the next day! There is wildlife in every corner from birds to sloughs in trees, to the different species of snakes on base. It was tiring but great fun! There wasn't a day that went by where I didn't laugh or smile, and when it came to the end of my two months I was very tempted to stay on and never go back!
written by Lilly3xx on 14/08/2013
Choosing this trip was one of the best desicions i have ever made . I am not usualy one for waking up early and i thought that would get to me but wakeing up at 5 am was one of the most exciting and fun things iv done ! Knowing that just doen the beach there would be lots of baby turtle tracks and maybe, if i was lucky a hatchling or two. I have met some of the nicest people on this trip (our little GVI family) . Greek people are some of the nicest people in europe . I thought we would always be working but we normaly had about 3-4 hours free time a day that we could all go to the beach and sun bath or go swimming . Its un believable how much i miss the group . I will defonatly be going on another GVI trip
written by on 09/08/2013
I spent two months on a game reserve in South Africa with GVI and I had the best time of my life! I had some amazing experiences while I was on the program and being able to get so close to the animals is astonishing! I loved being able to go and study these animals everyday for two months. though the water for our showers were cold a lot of the time and the Elephants did rip out the water pipe so we had no water the experience was amazing and I would 100% recommend this program to anyone who loves wildlife and conservation! I cant wait to go back in the next couple of years! Thanks GVI and Staff at Karongwe for an awesome and once in a life time experience!
written by rl26 on 08/08/2013
I decided to join this expedition to help get some work experience as I have always wanted to do field work. I had always had an idea of what I wanted to do professionally, but I had no idea what jobs would allow me to live and work surrounded by wild animals. This trip, apart from being the most rewarding and exciting experience, helped me realize that field guiding professionally is exactly what I want to after University. The shared, basic accommodation and the mainly vegetarian menu was difficult to get used to, but seeing leopards mating in the wild, cheetahs on kills, and (best of all) the occasional honey badger more than made up for it! I loved every moment of the trip so much that I am already planning my next trip to South Africa and my training to become a field guide. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in the wildlife of Southern Africa and conservation – going is the best decision I’ve ever made!
written by G_trickett on 07/08/2013
What words could express the absolute pleasure and amazement that this program gave me. I was a first time traveller so I wanted tostay close to home, for my own state of mind. The education program was an amazing experience to see the work that the GVI company was doing with the community to help the local community thrive and grow into the future. I have a background in child care so I was able to recall on my teaching ability to try and help the children with their english and maths. I had a friend from home come with me on the trip, she had no teaching experience at all, but she thoroughly enjoyed the program and kernt alot. We were apart of a 8 member group, that all had different backgrounds back home a few teachers, a few uni students and some people with no experience at all. Being able to help a child or a family, just by doing a little bit of extra homework help, or even talking to them in English, this helped the children further their development in the English language and broaden their futures.
Written on: 10/08/2013
Hello, i am planning on joining the dawasamu project in some weeks , but I've read some pretty nasty reviews regarding how filthy the facilities are in the Yasawas islands. What can you say about the living conditions there? Thank you so much for your answer!
written by jesography on 02/08/2013
This was my first volunteer trip ever and it was something I had been wanting to do for a very long time. There were many challenges during my 3 week stay, but, do you know what the hardest thing about it was? Not the candle lit cold showers because the electricity randomly goes off, nor the carrying of bucket loads of cement back and forth for my construction project. Not even the fact I had to use squattie potties when I struggle enough just trying to pee in the bush. No, these were all challenges. Definitely challenges. But, the hardest thing… was coming home. Saying goodbye and leaving behind what now felt like a part of me. GVI and the other volunteers I lived with became my family. My home-stay family treated me like a daughter and took amazing care of each volunteer they hosted (even when there was 11 of us living there!). The projects I was on were amazing experiences where I got to work alongside locals and really feel like a part of the community. All in all I cannot wait to go back and see how much my projects have progressed and say hello to all the amazing people I was so privileged to meet.
written by fabrecar on 01/08/2013
On July 2012 my perspective of life changed completely. I was completely blinded about the conditions most people live in. When I signed up to go to Mombasa, Kenya with GVI I knew it would be an experience of a lifetime, but never in a million years did I imagine it would be a life changing experience. As soon as I landed in Mombasa, GVI made me feel as part of the family, and it just got better from there. Every moment was so special in its own way, from meeting the volunteers to teaching my first lesson. It was a big reality check but it also made me realize how little one needs to be happy. My first day teaching gave me goose bumps, I had 40 kids to teach and names to learn, but just realizing how eager every single kid was to learn made me want to try harder and harder. Not a day went by of the two months I was there that I did not want to get up to go teach. I saw the brightest smiles that will stay with me forever, I heard the most contagious and euphoric laughs I have ever heard, and I met the most grateful people I believe I ever will. After two moths of the best experience of my life I knew I wanted to go back soon it was just a matter of finding the right time. Less than one year later they asked me to go back as a staff member, so on May 2013 I got the chance to go back to Mombasa for 9 weeks. I just came back 4 days ago and I still cannot wrap my head around the amazing experiences I had. Each and every day was so unique and full of life in its very own way that there was no chance of having an “ordinary” day. Hopefully I will have the chance to go back in the near future because not only is it fulfilling and life changing, but it really is impressive noticing the improvement one can make over a short period of time.
written by veronica.wilson on 26/07/2013
Through a funny term of events, I booked a trip to Greece to volunteer with turtles in Mavrovouni, 4 hours south of Athens. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made! Every day something new and unexpected happened, the location was absolutely picturesque, and the people were unforgettable. It was unquestionably one of the hardest and best trips I have been on. Each morning we would go for morning expeditions, where we walked up and down local beaches looking for evidence of nests, hatchlings and any other turtle tracks. The two weeks were spent walking along beaches, building nests, excavating nests, watching hatchlings scurry to the ocean, helping educate locals about how to treat and look after turtles, and relaxing on the beach, enjoying the amazing people's company. It was personally one of the most self-satisfying experiences of my life - words cannot express the feeling you get from knowing the work you did made an impact on what could be hundreds of animal's lives. It changed my perspective on life, and led me to the decision to start studying towards one day working in the eco-tourism industry. My 2 weeks in Greece literally changed my life! I would recommend it to anyone who wants to experience happiness and personal satisfaction.
written by MaeKLD on 10/07/2013
Best damn thing I ever decided to do. The marine conservation base was amazing. Remote location and basic living added to the magic of it. The goal was to work towards being able to monitor the coral reef and once you got to that status, after learning the target species) you could collect data for the partners of GVI. The Dive Master internship was a great experience. Working in a dive shop, taking people out on dives and showing them all the creatures, it was all amazing. And at the end of it got my DM qualification! Best way to do your DM course, for sure. Totally Brilliant expedition. Would do it again and again.
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Familypotts's Response to georginaharbo's Review
Written on: 07/11/2013
Hi - we are thinking of doing the Mombasa opportunity. - can you tell us anything about the conditions -some reviewers seem to say the facilities are awful and staff not helpful. Any advice gratefully received
Georginaharbo's reply to Familypotts's Comment
Written on: 07/11/2013
Hello; I didn't actually stay in Mombasa, as I was on Mkwiro island. However, many of the staff on Mkwiro had spent time in Mombasa. The facilities are a lot less basic than Shimoni or Mkwiro - there is running water and electricity. In terms of staff, I can only go from my experience; the staff I worked with in Shimoni and on Mkwiro were great, very friendly and helpful. Mombasa is a city of contrasts. I personally preferred Shimoni, but it depends what kind of experience you are looking for. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.