GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

I absolutely loved my time volunteering here. It was way more than learning about sea turtle conservation or marine life. The trip was a full immersion in the Indonesian culture where I got to meet locals, other volunteers from all over the world and make friendships to cherish for many years. Beyond grateful for the experience. I recommend this to anyone who wishes to travel in a lively place and get to see the real Indonesia, not just the IG hotspots. I have also done the introduction week which is a great way to get onboarded and learn more about this land’s customs and traditions.

I was excited when I read that I could expect to do 4-6 hours of archaeology Monday- Friday. And all the different tasks it would entail, such as excavation, artefact classification, etc. There was a warning about weeding, but I didn't expect to do it 10 days out of 12. Furthermore, the 'archaeology' was only for 2 hours a day. On one occasion it was only one hour. The people I stayed with were lovely and it's not their fault, it's the bureaucracy in Peru which you aren't warned about until you're already there! Basically because you're not qualified, you can only weed. There was no consistency, nearly everyday was somewhere different so there was no measure of progress. The only benefit was getting to see archaeological sites off the beaten track that tours don't cover. But every afternoon I was having to be creative to find something to do because I had 5 hours free time. There is only so much you can do in the middle of nowhere. This project was wildly missold and needs to be reevaluated.

I absolutely loved my time on this project. You get to be so close to wild animals, in their natural environment. the ecosystem is thriving in the Maasai Mara so you can expect to see lots of them, all the time. My favourite wildlife encounters, ranked: Cheetah successful hunt, 2 male giraffes fighting over a female, lion pride taking a morning walk and cubs playing. Of course there are many more but these were the most special. On top, the local team staff was amazing, I really bonded with the project coordinator and can proudly say we are now friends. :)