Exotic and domestic vacations with a 'purr'pose

Sandy Robins • E-mail

As 2008 gets into gear, if you’re an animal lover and still stuck for a terrific new year’s resolution, here’s a great idea: resolve to book a vacation. However, not the usual two weeks in Mexico or Hawaii, but an itinerary that will benefit your furry, feathered or finned friends — and is guaranteed to be good for your soul. That’s what the latest travel trend, volunteer vacations, is all about.

Voluntourism as it's being dubbed by the travel industry, offers people from all walks of life, the opportunity to visit interesting places in the U.S. as well as remote and exotic destinations, and volunteer their time or specific skills for the benefit of a cause of their choosing — and animal welfare and related environmental issues top the list.

“It’s travel and adventure with a purpose”, explains Erin McCloskey, Operations Manager for North America Biosphere Expeditions an organization that  offers volunteers the opportunity to work with scientists on real hands-on wildlife and conservation expeditions in such diverse destinations such as Brazil, Namibia, Spain, Honduras and the Altai Republic in Central Asia. The focus of their pet projects includes saving snow leopards, cheetahs, dolphins, whales, coral reefs, wolves and bears.

“The best part is that you don’t have to any special skills to come along,” says McCloskey. “And you can never be too old or not fit enough. It’s a matter of looking at the experiences we offer and picking one that you think is realistically achievable for you. To date our oldest expedition team member was 87 years old. Trips vary in length from what we call taster weekends to expeditions lasting up to several weeks.”

“Most people know what cause they would like to get involved with, but are stuck how to put it all together,” says Michael Organ Executive Director of

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Charity Guide a Web-based volunteer directory that puts it all on a plate for potential volunteer vacationers.

The Web site lists some of the best volunteer vacation possibilities offered worldwide by reputable organizations and links potential travelers directly to them so that they can efficiently glean all the information they need to put their travel arrangements in motion.

The extensive catalog of animal and environmental-related causes listed includes whale tracking vacations in such diverse places as Oregon, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica and the Azores. Or you can get involved in sea turtle rehabilitation programs in Kenya, Thailand or the Greek Islands. Other vacations focus on elephants in Africa and Asia and saving chimpanzees from extinction.

“There are so many personal benefits to be gained from this kind of giving experience too,” says Organ. “It’s a great way to bring families together as well as great learning experiences for children. And it’s nice to know that the fun you are having is simultaneously benefiting a particular cause.

According to Organ, there are a few agencies that will actually pay a stipend to volunteering vacationers, but usually it can cost the benevolent traveler up to $3,000 as they have to pay all their own expenses and often need to reimburse the agencies involved for training programs and other expenses.

(c) Keepers of the Wild The birdhouse at Keepers of the Wild Sanctuary

“Some of the program fees on the more expensive trips usually include extensive pre-travel reading materials as well as someone to escort you from the airport, security when using public transportation in high risk areas, on-site training, hotel accommodation and meals. However because these vacations have a purpose, U.S. residents can claim part or all their expenses as a tax deduction.”

When it comes to volunteering around wildlife, exotic cats are always a popular choice, and the Keepers of the Wild Sanctuary in Valentine, Ariz., offer a perennial welcome to volunteers.

Founder and director Jonathan Kraft, began his career as a magician with two tigers working on the Las Vegas strip. On realizing he’d bought them for all the wrong reasons, he switched lanes, left the city of neon lights and opened his sanctuary for big cats nearly 20 years ago.

(c) Keepers of the Wild As a magician working with two tigers on the Las Vegas strip, Jonathan Kraft realized he’d bought them for all the wrong reasons, and opened his sanctuary for big cats, Keepers of the Wild Sanctuary in Valentine, Ariz., nearly 20 years ago.

The tigers are still his pride and joy. These days, they enjoy a huge grassed habitat and a true wildlife lifestyle along with many other exotic big cats at the sanctuary.

“A lot of families love to include us in their general travel plans,” says Kraft. “Although we don’t have accommodation on site, there are hotels and RV parks nearby.”

“I read about the Sanctuary in the Smithsonian magazine,” says Mike Carter an occupation therapist from Carey, N.C. Back in 2003-2004 my wife Anna and I decided to take a year off. So we bought an RV, took our kids Kayla and Nick, then aged nine and 13, out of school and traveled across America.

“The time we spent volunteering at Keepers of the Wild was definitely a highlight. Together with the kids, we prepared food for the animals, cleaned out cages and did a lot of maintenance chores to take the pressure off the regular volunteers. Being able to get so close to these wonderful creatures was a very special personal experience and a great hands-on learning for the kids.”

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