Ecological Reserve Balangoda, Sri Lanka

5.0
(25 reviews)25

Rainforest Restoration Project in Sri Lanka

Help a sustainable project
23 travelers confirmed that this host is actively contributing to a more sustainable future for everyone!
Higher chance of approval
This host has recently approved volunteers and is looking for more applications.
Connect with nature
24 travelers recommend this experience for reconnecting with nature
Connect with the locals
22 travelers recommend this host to have close contact with locals
Needs help immediately
Accepts couples and pairs of volunteers

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What you offer

25h

Hours per week
Help out and collaborate with your host only a few hours per week.
Farming
Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.
Building & Repairing
Help with a wide range of repairs or building.
Gardening
Help grow plants and cultivate gardens
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What you get

2

Days off per week
Have some time off for yourself, go explore the city or rest for a while.
Private Room
You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Shared Dorm
You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.
Team Dorm
You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other people.
Tent
You will sleep in a tent at a camping site.
Breakfast
You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.
Lunch
You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.
Dinner
You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.
Basic Internet Access
Basic speed internet for you to work remotely
Dedicated Workspace
Specific space for you to work remotely
Use our equipped kitchen
Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
Free Laundry
You can use our laundry room freely.
Discounts on Tours
Get discounts for tours and excursions around town.
Discounts on Accommodation
Get discounts for your stay in other hostels.
Free Tours
We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!
Free Hiking Tours
We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!
Language lessons
Take free language classes at our place.
Holistic Therapies
You can take part in any of our therapeutic activities for free.
Pick Up
We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.
Certificate
Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.
Support
Get help from the Worldpackers support team in case you need it, at any point of your trip.
Verified Host
This host has been verified by our team before joining the community.
WP Safeguard
Did something not go as planned? Contact our team.
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Learn more

Availability

Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Stay at least
1 week
Stay up to
12 weeks

The Experience

You are helping to restore a 50 acre degraded mountain that was burnt for many years. You will be planting native endemic trees and removing invasive species in a very beautiful part of the country in order to make sure that this catchment forest/mountain is restored to its former glory to increase water discharge, support biodiversity and make the area greener. You will contribute your time here both for a worthy cause while having lot of fun :)

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Requirements

  • Beginner English
  • Between 18 and 60 years old
  • Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

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Talk to those who have lived the experience

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  • a) How was your experience with this host?
  • b) How was your day-to-day routine?
  • c) How much did you spend on this trip?

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25 Reviews

5.0

Host & Team

4.5

Hours & Tasks

5.0

Ecological Reserve

4.5

Learning & Fun

5.0

How this experience will transform you

  • 24 Get in touch with nature
  • 22 Meeting locals
  • 22 Developing environmental awareness
  • 20 Learning about sustainability
  • 18 Immersing in the local culture
  • 17 Meeting international travelers

This host contributes to Sustainable Development Goals

  • 23 15. Life on land
  • 19 13. Climate action
  • 10 6. Clean water and sanitation
Serena

Italy

5

This experience has helped me grow a lot, in many different ways! The host, is extremely knowledgeable, welcoming and smart, and he's taught me a lot about the plants and the local natural environment. The only downside is that he was often not at the camp (understandable) so sometimes the tasks weren't very clear when one of his local helper was in charge. Akka's cooking is fabulous and the place is really wonderful. We also visited a lot of beautiful places during free days! I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to connect fully with nature and building meaningful international friendships!

3 months ago

Jack

United Kingdom

5

Had a great experience living in the rainforest for a couple weeks. Enjoyed a very different style of living while contributing to a good cause.

4 months ago

Ronja

Germany

5

I had the Most amazing Time here and I will never forget the Great memories that now Connect me to this lovely Place. Everybody is so warm and welcoming. I had the Most amazing Food and we spent the Time together planting trees, removing invasive plants, playing Games and visiting different locals places. I would definitely come back and would recommend it to everybody who likes to disconnect and reconnect with nature while learning about the Local Culture.

5 months ago

Haggar

Germany

5

I was here only for a few days, since I cought the flu shortly before arriving. Saj , his son Akka and the other workers were extremely welcoming and understanding, fed me amazing food, we played together cards and some local games, showed me around and I had some facanating conversations here! I didn't feel for the slightest moment presure to get back to work since I felt under the weather which I'm so thankful for!
This Volonteering position gives the best of you can ask for to get to know the local cultur ,to connect with nature and doings something truly meaningful for the environment!

6 months ago


Saj replied

Thank you for Haggar for coming and helping although the stay was short. Loved having you there and the conversations and looking forward to having you here again :)

Jared

United States

5

I had an amazing time here. I got to really disconnect digitally and connect with nature, get my hands dirty, and eat some AMAZING food. Couldn't recommend this enough to those who really love an adventure and like to be in nature

8 months ago


Saj replied

Hey Jared. Love to have had you here. Thank you for everything, commitment, help and being okay with all the mess monkeys made to your stuff at the Bamboo house :)

I won't say this to all and I would say to you .. "come back" !

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About the host

  • • Recently Online

Hosted by Saj

Response Rate
This host usually answers to 100% of the messages
Response Time
This host usually writes back in Less than a day
2 published videos
This host has 2 published videos showing a little bit about their place

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