I had a very nice and interesting experience with wonderful and welcoming people, and of course, with beautiful elephants! I chose VWI because I wanted to do an elephant project while traveling in India, and I found this one online. It seemed trustworthy, well-organized, and located in a great place. Jaipur is a beautiful city to explore in the afternoons and on weekends.

The pick-up service was punctual, the accommodation was perfect with a very nice room, and the food was good. The project staff members were very kind and helpful. I would rate my overall experience with VWI as 10 out of 8.

We are a husband and wife team and both of us truly enjoyed the project. Working with the elephants—feeding them, cleaning their living area, and assisting the mahouts in their daily tasks—was a fantastic and eye-opening experience on how to care for these magnificent animals.

The host family’s house was in an excellent location, and they were very welcoming and helpful. When we mentioned our bed was too hard, they kindly found a better one for us. Everyone involved in the project took great care of us and was very kind.

We’re already planning to come back next summer with our kids!

I really enjoyed the experience and wish I had a bit more time with the elephants. The mahouts were very friendly, our program coordinator was fantastic, and Totaram ji (the taxi driver) was great. I spent 3 weeks on the project, and on the weekends, I visited Jaipur, Agra, and went on the Ranthambore Tiger Safari. VWI arranged everything perfectly.

I especially loved the last day with the tigers. Thank you, Sukret! I highly recommend this project.

The Indian people I met were very friendly and always willing to help. Working with the elephants is hard but incredibly rewarding—these animals are truly amazing. I would love to come back and do this project again. They will always hold a special place in my heart.

VWI is the best volunteering organization in India. I would give them an A+ for all their services — from airport pick-up, accommodation and food, to transportation, the project itself, and the staff members. They also arranged sightseeing in Jaipur, which helped me learn more about Indian people, history, and culture.

Ane:
Our pick-up service was good. Before joining the program, we were traveling around India and were driven to the VWI office by our own driver. Then, a VWI team member picked us up from there. The accommodation was nice — a very welcoming family, especially their daughters. The food was okay, though during our stay there was a wedding at the host family’s home, which made the meals a bit irregular for a couple of days.

Our transportation service was good. The taxi driver was very kind and took great care of us. Our program coordinator was great — spoke good English and always had a happy face. I decided to volunteer with VWI because I wanted to work with elephants in India and found their website online. The information on the site was clear, and it seemed like a well-organized organization. Other volunteers had also written great reviews about the project.

I would give VWI 10 out of 9 marks — I deducted 1 mark because our breakfast was irregular for 2 days 🙂.

Our daily routine was good. We got up at 4:30 a.m., got dressed, and met the driver at 5:00 a.m. Then we drove to the elephant village. The first meeting with the elephants was exciting. They were sleeping when we arrived and lying down. When they got up, we realized how big they are — truly magnificent creatures. They have the kindest eyes and almost seem like people. They understand what you say to them.

After sorting out sugarcane and cleaning their areas, we washed them. Then they went to the fort, and we enjoyed chai 🙂. We reached home around 9 a.m., breakfast was at 9:15, and then the rest of the day was free. Lunch was around 1 p.m., and dinner at about 8 p.m. Two days a week, we returned to the elephants at 1 p.m. to prepare food and chapattis for them.

All the mahouts are funny and loud; a few speak English, but our program coordinator was always there to help. On weekends, we got to go sightseeing — the City Palace, Monkey Temple, forts, etc.

The other volunteers become your best friends, and there’s a great feeling of being at home! I would highly recommend the project, but make sure to stay longer than one week — it’s not enough time to fully enjoy being with these amazing animals.

Elise:
We were driven to the VWI office by our own driver, then picked up by a VWI team member. Throughout the week, our taxi driver Totaram was always on time. The food was good, and the host family was very nice. The project staff members were very helpful, and I had no complaints.

I decided to volunteer because I wanted to visit India and work with, and get to know, the beautiful elephants.

I give VWI 10 out of 8 marks. This is a great way to experience India from inside — living with an Indian family, contributing to Indian society, and making friends from all over the world.

Gail:
It was so comforting to find someone waiting for us at the airport with our names on a card. It completely eliminated any worries. Our host family was lovely, and getting to know them was a special part of our stay. The food was delicious.

The tuk-tuk rides gave us a unique chance to see the city waking up in the morning — sights we could never have experienced otherwise. Our driver was always prompt and had a smile on his face. The project staff members were great, and it felt very secure having someone with us at the worksite to explain and interpret things.

We chose to volunteer with VWI because we wanted to be part of the country, not just a tourist. We picked the elephant project because we love animals. I would give the experience a full 10 out of 10.

Stanley:
Our arrival pick-up service was great! Accommodation and food were excellent. They did a great job accommodating my special diet, and the host family was very helpful. Our driver was always punctual, and the project staff members were friendly and supportive.

We chose VWI because it sounded like a well-run organization with great programs. I would give 10 out of 10+++ for the experience. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I would recommend this program to everyone.

Brenda:
Excellent pick-up service. The host family was lovely, and the food was very good. Our transportation service was excellent, and the project staff members were very friendly.

I decided to join the program based on a recommendation from my friend Gail. I would also give 10 out of 10 for the experience. It was very interesting and rewarding to see and share in the care of the elephants alongside the hardworking mahouts.

The project coordinator, Mr. Raj Soni, was very attentive and ensured we were well taken care of. It was a pleasure working with this organization, and yes, I would recommend this program to everyone.

I was warmly welcomed at the airport upon arrival and promptly transported to the guest house. The host family was very humble and welcoming. The food was delicious, and the family was always happy to serve more if we wanted.

Transportation to the project each day was punctual and reliable, with a very friendly driver. The project staff were equally friendly and welcoming; each member was helpful in every way, which made my trip to India much more enjoyable.

I would give this experience a full 10 out of 10. The elephant project provided great insight into the different lives people lead. Working with the elephants was a truly enjoyable experience — they were very gentle, and the workers were friendly and supportive.

I would love to return and take part in this project again.

I spent 4 wonderful weeks working on the elephant project. My start was a bit tough due to some baggage problems at Delhi airport, but Sukret was incredibly helpful throughout the whole situation. No matter what happens, just take it easy—you’re in safe hands with VWI.

I’ll admit there were times when everything felt new and overwhelming because of the big cultural differences. Since I was here for 4 weeks, I used my first days to learn how to get around the city. Transportation in India is very affordable, and I managed to visit many tourist spots on weekend sightseeing tours and did a lot of shopping.

The staff members were very kind—they introduced me to their families and took me to various places, which made the experience even more special.

Working with the elephants was truly amazing. On a typical day, I was picked up from the host family at 5:00 a.m. and returned around 8:30 a.m. Most days, I cleaned the elephants’ area, washed and scrubbed the elephants, and prepared food for them. I also had the unique experience of bathing an elephant in the lake. The program coordinator was always with us at the project site, so I never felt alone and always had someone to talk to and answer my questions. This made me feel safe and comfortable.

Overall, I had an amazing time volunteering and would definitely love to visit again. It was hard work, but the elephants are incredible. Everyone I met was very welcoming and sweet.

I would give VWI a big 9 out of 10. The project staff members were fantastic—I couldn’t have wished for better support. It was great communicating with Sukret, who always responded quickly. I’m quite picky with food and don’t like spicy dishes, but the host family was very thoughtful and always made sure there was something I could eat.

My flight arrived early, but within 5 minutes, a VWI staff member was there to pick me up. Great service! The accommodation was very good — the guesthouse had everything I could need, including WiFi, laundry facilities, and a nearby shop with everything I might require. The food was delicious, always available on demand, and plentiful — they were happy to offer more whenever needed.

The taxi driver who took me around was awesome! Most of the time, I hopped into the tuk-tuk not knowing exactly where we were going, but it always turned out to be somewhere exciting. I will miss our samosa parties in the tuk-tuk a lot. He was punctual, a great driver, and his friendly greetings at 5:00 a.m. made the early starts much more pleasant.

Govind was my project supervisor and truly made my trip amazing. He was helpful with every question I had — and I still haven’t found one he couldn’t answer! He also included me in activities outside the project with his friends and family, and I loved every minute of it. Sukret was also extremely helpful, promptly answering all my questions and regularly checking in to make sure everything was okay.

I would give VWI a full 10/10. I had an awesome time and want to thank everyone involved. I highly recommend this company to future volunteers and will definitely come back next time I am in India.

I did the elephant project for 3 weeks. Every day, we left at 5:00 a.m. and started by cleaning the elephant enclosure — picking up after them with a shovel, washing and scrubbing the elephants, then dressing them to get ready for their walk to Amber Fort. Once the elephants left, we made bundles of food for them to eat later. Some afternoons, we made chapattis for the elephants. The mahouts were great fun, always involved in everything, and the elephants were truly amazing.

I was a bit nervous about going to India with VWI, but there was absolutely no need to be. The staff at VWI were professional, friendly, and couldn’t have been more accommodating. They were very inclusive, and I really enjoyed getting involved and learning about Indian culture firsthand. I was treated so well — I loved meeting the families and their friends. My sari will always remind me of the great times I spent with them.

The project itself was really enjoyable, with a highlight being washing the elephant in the elephant pool on my last morning. The weekend sightseeing trips were very well organized and included everything. Jaipur is a wonderful city to live in.

I got to experience all the projects offered by VWI, and this organization does a wonderful job. All projects are well-run, and because transportation, food, and accommodation are organized for you, all you have to do is enjoy every minute of the experience. The end of my time in India came a bit too fast!