Wolf Conservation

In this exciting program, you will be helping out at the Iberian Wolf Recovery Centre, ensuring that these wolf species have a comfortable place to live!

Did you know that the Iberian Wolf is an endangered species?
Especially due to the destruction of the habitats and the persecution by humans, there aren’t many of those mysterious creatures left in our forests.
Volunteers will contribute to the preservation of the wolves by participating in a wide range of day-to-day activities at the centre, which include assisting with the feeding of the animals, checking the water, maintenance of the centre’s infrastructure, fire prevention, forest cleaning and the observation of the wolves to ensure their good health and well-being.
All the volunteers will be accommodated in very comfortable and cool wooden houses at the center itself, where the local staff will be able to provide guidance at all times and help with anything volunteers need!

Except for December and January, the program is running all year round, but we really recommend you booking in advance to guarantee availability!

This is a lifetime experience that neither the animals nor nature lovers would want to miss!

Price

  • 2 weeks 1289€
    4 weeks 1939€

Included

– Pick up at the international airport in Lisbon & transfer to the accommodation – 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 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 reach out to you by WhatsApp a few days before your start date to connect 🙂
– Accommodation at a dormitory at an impactful hostel, female dormitory, or mixed dormitory for the first two days
– Three meals a day everyday: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (Local style. Vegetarian, gluten-free and meals for lactose-intolerant are also available upon request)
– Shared use of common room, outdoor area, garden, and free WIFI
– Orientation event on arrival (including an introduction to Portugal and its culture, volunteer experience,
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
– 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
– Ongoing support throughout the stay
– 24h/7 emergency support
– Limited coverage civil liability insurance.

Not Included

  • Flights
  • Pick-up at the airport on other dates
  • Drop-off at the airport
  • Personal expenses
  • Personal insurance (health or accidents)
  • Meals (However, you will have access to a fully-equipped kitchen where you can store food and prepare your meals.)
Wolf Conservation
Wolf Conservation
Wolf Conservation
Wolf Conservation
Wolf Conservation
Wolf Conservation
Wolf Conservation

More about this program

How is a typical day in this volunteer program?

After the initial orientation in Lisbon, you will be taken to the Wolf Centre in Mafra by van, where you will stay throughout the rest of your program. You will volunteer with the protection of the wolves and their habitat.

A typical morning schedule looks as follows:

8:00 am | Breakfast begins at the volunteer house.

9:00 am | Volunteer activities.

1:00 pm | Cook lunch at your wooden house together with the other local and international volunteers.

3:00 pm | Volunteer activities.

7:00 pm | Cook dinner at your house with the other volunteers. After dinner, you can use your free time to relax or as you wish.

Please note that the actual schedule can change according to the shifts volunteers participate in. 

Am I provided with insurance during my stay?

Your program fee includes civil liability insurance with limited coverage, that only covers accidents that may happen during your volunteering shift.

We highly recommend you to get full health, travel and accidents insurance in your home country!

Are the meals included in my volunteer program fee?

In all our destinations, the volunteer program fees include three (breakfast, lunch and dinner) home-made and delicious meals a day!

In Mafra (where the Wolf Conservation program is located), the volunteer program fees do not include meals, but you will have access to a fully-equipped kitchen to prepare your own meals at either location!

Find more detailed program and location-specific information in our program description and pricing details! And if you have any more specific questions or want to make any special requests, feel free to get in touch with us!

Can I change the dates of my volunteer placement with ImpacTrip?

Yes, that is generally possible! In most cases, we are quite flexible with making changes to your original booking period as per your wish, as we know how challenging it can be to plan such a big trip far in advance. However, please keep in mind that all of our programs are subject to availability, and therefore, we might not be able to accommodate last-minute changes anymore. Therefore, we recommend that you early on try to organize your plans concretely and get in touch with us as quickly as possible if alterations become necessary so that we are left with a higher chance of managing to change your reservation to cater your new situation!

Can I volunteer along with a friend of family member of mine?

Yes, of course you can! We regularly receive little groups of friends or family that come to participate in our programs together. 

Do I have to pay money for volunteering?

You are not paying for your volunteer work itself but for your stay with us overall! The costs for your program further include various elements that are part of your stay here! Respective to your program, those elements can, for example, include your accommodation, food, transportation from and to the airport, insurance, guided tours, professional guides, supervisors or instructors, placement coordination and 24/7 support!

Please have a look at the pricing details of your program to find an accurate overview of all aspects included in each program and location. 

Do I need to book my stay well in advance?

No, not necessarily! Depending on the current availability of the program of your choice, we may even be able to accommodate your stay and participation for the upcoming week! However, both in our responsible travel experiences and our volunteer programs as well as regarding our available beds in the hostel, we do sometimes reach our full capacity and therefore recommend booking your stay with us as early as possible to secure your spot!  

Do I need to speak the local language?

No, you don't need to have any previous skills in the local language! All of our programs are run entirely in English and our guides and staff are all comfortable speaking English as well! But we always encourage our participants to get acquainted with some of the most basic terms and expressions, as even just a simple "Good morning!" in the local language can be a great icebreaker to start interacting with the locals! 

There are also language lessons available for volunteers. The language lessons can be booked before or on the arrival. Lessons are taught by a professional teacher and tailored to each volunteer’s current language level.

 

Does the Wolf Conservation program require a high level of physical fitness?

Yes. Most of the tasks in the Wolf Conservation program require medium to heavy physical effort (for example, to carry weights around 8kg/17lb). Additionally, as the Centre is in a forested valley, the ground is irregular and with steep slopes, the volunteers must be able to do this physical effort while walking on those conditions.
If there is any specific detail about your overall health that you think could interfere with your participation in this program and in performing such tasks, let us know, so we can arrange the best way for you to come to Portugal and help us with tasks suitable for you.

How and when do I need to pay for my volunteer program with ImpacTrip?

You can pay us through Paypal or bank transfer. We will kindly ask you to pay 50% of your bill at the time of your booking to secure your spot! The other 50% will be due at least one month before your arrival! 

Shall I bring special clothes to participate in the Wolf Conservation program?

Please bring clothes to spoil and to work in the forest, such as boots and work gloves, for the Wolf Conservation program in Mafra. 

What do I need to pack for my trip?

Are you already excited about your stay with us? We prepared a little list of essentials which can assist you with your packing:

  • Basics (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner…)
  • Medication contact lenses, glasses
  • Clothes according to the local weather and the project you applied for
  • Plug adapters and power converters
  • Unlocked mobile phone – we will give you a Portuguese SIM card that you can charge according to your needs
  • Laptop, tablet or smartphone so you have access to Wi-Fi almost everywhere
  • Camera (if you want to capture all the unforgettable moments.)

What is ImpacTrip's Cancellation and Refund Policy?

Impactrip deposit fees are designed to be as affordable as possible to allow everyone to join our programs. Therefore, considering its limited capacity and the expectations of everyone involved, ImpacTrip is unable to provide a total refund policy.

Deposit Fee

The payment of the deposit fees confirms a volunteer’s acceptance onto one of ImpacTrip's volunteer programs. Deposit fees are not transferable to other people but may be transferable to another program.

The deposit fee is refundable until sixty days before the start date of the volunteer’s chosen program. Requests for deposit fee refunds must be made via an email to your ImpacTrip Booking Manager, clearly detailing the reasons for cancellation.

Cancellations are subject to the following policies:

  • The notice period is based on the earliest start date the volunteer has ever been registered for.
  • If a volunteer cancels sixty days or more before their earliest program start date, they can request a refund of the deposit fee, which will be provided minus the transaction costs of the refund. Alternatively, they may ask for a deposit fee credit to be held in their name for future use on any ImpacTrip program, subject to availability, for a period of twelve months from their earliest registered start date. This credit may be issued minus the value of any change fees the volunteer has incurred.
  • If a volunteer cancels between fifty-nine and thirty days before their program’s start date, no refund of the deposit fee is available. A deposit fee credit may be held in their name for a period of twelve months from their earliest registered start date, for future use on another ImpacTrip program, subject to program availability and at the discretion of the Impactrip Booking Manager.
  • If a volunteer cancels less than thirty days before their programs start date, no refund of any fees is available. A deposit fee credit may be held in their name for twelve months from their earliest registered start date, subject to availability, provided deposit fees have been paid in full by their due date.

Where a group of ten or more people is volunteering with ImpacTrip, the group leader must register ahead of other group members in order to secure the group’s dates and plans. Group members must then register no less than sixty days before the program starts. Group members who register less than sixty days before the program start date may be excluded from the program unless approved by ImpacTrip.

ImpacTrip reserves the right to revise its program fees at any time. All program fees revisions will be made via the ImpacTrip website. Program fee revisions are not applicable to volunteers who have already submitted their payment before the revisions are due to take effect. A volunteer’s placement on a program is not confirmed until the deposit fee has been paid in full and the availability has been confirmed by their ImpacTrip Booking Manager.

What is the minimum age to participate in this program? 18

The minimum age to participate in this program is 18 years!

What is the minimum and maximum volunteer duration?

In general, you can choose any duration between a minimum of 1 week and a maximum of 12 weeks for your stay with us, depending on your personal plans and availability! 

The exception in Portugal is the Wolf Conservation program in Mafra, which is only available for a duration of either 2 weeks or 4 weeks.

Exceptions is Barcelona and Split are the Special Needs Support and Youth Support programs that have a minimum duration of 2 weeks. And the Teaching program that have a minimum duration of 3 weeks in Split and 4 weeks in Barcelona.

The Marine Conservation program in every location  is available for any period between a minimum of 1 week and a maximum of 4 weeks.

When and for how long can I volunteer for in the Wolf Conservation program?

In contrast to most of our other volunteer periods, the Wolf Conservation program in Mafra has some more specific duration requirements. Your volunteer period can last for either 2 weeks or 4 weeks as per your preference. 

This program has specific start and end dates as well! Please take note of the start and end dates for 2020 below:

Start Date
(Sunday)
End date
(Monday)
9 February 24 February
23 February 9 March
8 March 23 March
22 March 6 April
5 April 20 April
19 April 4 May
3 May 18 May
17 May 1 June
31 May 15 June
14 June 29 June
28 June 13 July
12 July 27 July
26 July 10 August
9 August 24 August
23 August 7 September
6 September 21 September
20 September 5 October
4 October 19 October
18 October 2 November
1 November 16 November
15 November 30 November

When can I start my volunteer period on the Wolf Conservation program?

The Wolf Conservation Program in Mafra is available between February and November of every year. In contrast to our other volunteer programs, specific volunteer periods apply to this program.

Check out the following list for an overview of all available periods for 2020! You can participate in this program for either 2 or 4 weeks.

Start Date
(Sunday)
End date
(Monday)
9 February 24 February
23 February 9 March
8 March 23 March
22 March 6 April
5 April 20 April
19 April 4 May
3 May 18 May
17 May 1 June
31 May 15 June
14 June 29 June
28 June 13 July
12 July 27 July
26 July 10 August
9 August 24 August
23 August 7 September
6 September 21 September
20 September 5 October
4 October 19 October
18 October 2 November
1 November 16 November
15 November 30 November

 

Please keep in mind that all of our programs are always subject to availability as the number of spots is limited! 

When should I go ahead and book my flights?

We highly recommend you to wait and do not book your flights until you have received our official booking email confirming your stay with us! Once your booking is confirmed, it is in most cases advisable to get your tickets early to catch the cheapest fares! 

Will I be able to enjoy the experience even though I do not speak a word in the local language?

Yes, of course! All of our programs are held entirely in English! 

And... you can book language classes with us before or on arrival.

Will I have time for some sight-seeing as well?

Of course! We want you to really get to know your natural and cultural surroundings and will provide you with useful tips and tricks that will help you discover the location of your stay like a local!

Your shifts will generally last between 3 and 5 hours per day and will take place either in the morning, in the afternoon or in the evening, which will leave you with plenty of free time to go explore, take a stroll around your surroundings, catch the most important sites, interact with the locals or simply go and relax! And of course, you will have your weekends off as well!

Are children allowed to take part in this volunteer program?

No, unfortunately, children are not suitable for this program!