The Great Projects Avaliações 116

I gave been on two projects, samboji lestari volunteering with orangs and sun bears in September 2023, Uganda wildlife safari in February 2026.
Both have been awesome inspiring, especially Uganda for me, as since the famous Attenborough gorilla filming way back in 1978 I have wanted to see these magnificent beings in the wild, and this trip did not disappoint on any level, my bucket list complete
If it wasn't for The Great Projects I would not have had the most exhilarating time of my life. I have found with this company, the staff here and abroad go above and beyond. Communication , organisation, accommodation and experiences are second to none.
I would thoroughly recommend to go with this company, I myself am looking for my third trip with them
Don't procrastinate, book, have a wonderful time and even though it's a tiny bit you're putting back in, remember even a tiny bit makes a difference to our planet and the creatures we share it with.

What a great experience The great projects where there for all my questions, prompt answers and always helpful
That good I’m looking to book another trip with them next year

Many thanks to „the great projects“ team. I am very grateful and happy that I was able to take part in the Koskoda Turtle Conservation project together with my children. This experience exceeded all our expectations. We had the unique opportunity to witness baby turtles hatching up close. We were able to feed the sea turtles, help clean water tanks and collect litter from the beach.
Our absolute highlight was the release into the sea. Watching these tiny creatures every evening was a very special and deeply moving moment for all of us.
The moment when a green mother turtle came ashore to lay her eggs was at least just as magical.
A special thank also goes to Dudley and his entire team. You could really feel how much passion and dedication each individual puts into this project.
The food was plentiful, varied and absolutely delicious. We took part in this volunteer program for the first time, but definitely not for the last. As soon as the children Are old enough, we will join more projects! Next we would Like to combine the whale shark project with the Big Five…. Already looking forward.

The project that was recommended was superior. Divers Azores went way beyond expectations. I would highly recommend them at every turn. Please keep representing them and sending them business.

I appreciated everything with the Great Projects as a referral, but it would’ve been very helpful to have closed the gap sooner with Dive Azores so that all of the information was synced between your organization and their business and delivered to the client well in advance so they can make the proper preparations.

I always believe with agency referrals that the companies are not only reliant on your services, but appreciate your services. There’s definitely a proper percentage/referral fee to be made. I think just be mindful to not feel jeopardized because that puts the client in the middle. I feel this definitely will build loyalty at a greater rate. My gut feeling is when a potential client feels or senses that disconnect they feel dismissed. It may be a factor that you’re actually losing business because of that.

Quick replies effortless..

Kate is a great bos!!I enjoied really much my time in semboja Lestari,i met Wonderfull people there and i appriciated the big work of so many people to make the Orango and bears life much better

Great support before, during and after my stay at BOS Nyaru Menteng in Borneo. I would recommend this organization to everyone who wants to go on an adventure!

The organization itself is great and I liked the communication before booking. How they shared their information online of the project wasn't fully correct. It really depends on the season when you're going and they didn't share that with me while booking. I specifically shared my wishes of work, but during my time in South Africa we did none of that.

They are also quite expensive. Please check the organization you want to volunteer at first, I paid around a thousand euros more for a month than I would've had at the organization itself.

When I shared my complaint with them they kind of waved it off with only a "We're sorry to hear that".

An amazing holiday of a lifetime and excellent organisation and communication

Very organised and professional helpful with the travel arrangements and booking was straight forward would recommend anyone wanting to travel stress free

Very good communication. Lot of information. Smooth booking process.
Could be some more distinctive info per project per season. As tasks can be different one season to the other.

Both Kanha and Pench reserves were great but I couldn’t give a 5 star because our itinerary wasn’t given to us until after we had reached Kanha which wasn’t great for us or the management team at Kanha.

The projects and the activities made the tour great
The management and going from a group of six to a group of 12 was not so great
We were told we were all gonna be treated equal, and that was not true. We were separated and sent to different accommodations that weren’t even in our itinerary.
The manager and the guide kept saying one thing and then the next day it would be another plan. They would just say stuff to keep us quiet if we complained or laugh at us it was pathetic the way we were treated.
Looking past that one gentleman, it was a good program and I’m glad I went.
I’m also glad that I stood up to the manager and told him how I felt even though he laughed in my face and told me that I was not communicating and listening properly. All I wanted was what I paid for what was on black-and-white on paper that I had with me and he ignored it.

The staff of the great projects was a big help with booking my volunteering. They gave great advice and the booking process went smoothly.

Had an amazing time at the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary!! I was supposed to stay for 3 weeks but ended up staying 5 weeks! Also got the amazing opportunity to go to Timbilla and Harnas. Highly recommend visiting timbilla to explore more wildlife on game counts, animal tracking and more. You could see the love for the animals from all coordinators and the owners. Some of my favorite activities included: game drives, carnivore feeding and cheetah walks

I spent a wonderful two weeks at the Laos Conservation Centre for Wildlife. Everyone was friendly and kind, and I felt part of the family. I am a mature volunteer (70) and I found some of the work challenging due to the steep terrain and heavy loads. That said, there was always plenty of work I could do! I loved working with the animals, especially the bears. The centre is quite remote - a drive to the nearest village - but the team arranged activities on site and locally. I was never bored! The centre is on the edge of an eco resort and we could make welcome use of the swimming pool at the end of each day. The accommodation is fine: quite spacious sleeping cabins, a cosy kitchen/rest area and clean shower/loo block. We were a small team and it worked well. Food is delivered twice daily from the resort restaurant. I soon got to know which meals tasted best and the food was plentiful, On Wednesday afternoons we had 'volunteer enrichment', taken somewhere locally to see sights or experience local crafts; Sunday was our rest day to chill and swim. The centre is new, very well designed and a joy to work in. The management team and staff are all professional, helpful and passionate about their work. It was a wonderful experience that I will always treasure.

I have just returned home after an amazing 2 weeks volunteering at The Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project. Dudley, his family and their team were brilliant, so welcoming, friendly and helpful - from helping arrange trips during our down time to lifts to ATM and supermarket and the odd beer run. As volunteers we worked closely with them - preparing the hatchery, burying eggs, releasing turtles, feeding and caring for turtles, tank cleaning and site tidying, beach cleans, visitor tours and education. We were well looked after with 3 hearty meals a day aswell as tea and biscuits twice a day - what more could you ask. Being able to interact and get hands on with the turtles was an absolute bonus for me and the other volunteers - to see how much turtles enjoyed getting a back rub and actually doing it was incredible. Overall I had a wonderful time and would thoroughly recommend to anyone even remotely thinking about it to go and take part - you will not regret it.

Just book it! Namibia is the best country ever - you really will not regret it. At the sanctuary 2 weeks is enough time there to experience all of the activities on offer - my favourite being the baboon walk! Make sure you book onto other off site projects though, as these are where you get a taste of other places. I done 2 weeks at the sanctuary and then 1 week at Timbila. Make sure you do Timbila! (Book in advance as it was sold out for a month when I was there). Everyone says it’s the best of all the projects.. and it didnt disappoint!

Received From: Warren Smith
Date: 12th January 2026
Review:

Just WOW! I've travelled to many places around the world, and I don't think any experience I have had so far surpasses Namibia. The friendships alone that I made with people from around the World was incredible. Like-minded people in such a wonderful place with breathtaking experiences is hard to match. The entire team here was fabulous, every single one of them! Then there's the interaction with wildlife, camaraderie around preparing food, feeding, and looking after the resident animals was everything I ever wanted. During my arrival, a huge Giraffe was just wandering around close to the place I was staying. That set the scene/theme of what was to come. The food was amazing, and I was even presented with a beautiful, massive Birthday cake while I was there, which I shared with my fellow travelers. I went there alone, yet came away with such strong bonds. I rarely cry, but on my final day, just before leaving, I couldn't help myself; it just happened while saying goodbye. This experience has definitely helped to shape who I am and give me purpose. What they're doing here is absolutely fantastic, and I will NEVER forget the experience I had and the friendships made. How often do you get to walk alongside Cheetas, hand feed baby orphaned Baboons, walk Baboons for their enrichment (great characters, they will climb on you! haha), Ride by horseback through the savannah, coming across everything from Zebra, Ostrich, Empala, Giraffe, and more. Then tracking and finding Elephants and Rhinos on foot! All this is just scratching the surface. I cannot recommend this trip enough. It's life-defining. Don't think about it, just do it! :)

My time in Borneo was so much more than a volunteering trip. It was a complete immersion into a different way of living, a chance to understand wildlife on a deeper level, and an opportunity to build bonds with people who very quickly felt like family. Living in the cabin with the group was simple, communal, and grounding. We cooked dinners together, shared stories at the end of long days, laughed until we cried, and supported one another through every challenge the work brought. Those evenings in the cabin became one of my favourite parts of the whole experience because they reminded me how easy it is to connect when life is stripped back to what truly matters. Working with the team and the locals was incredibly special. The kindness and patience they showed us was unbelievable, and I felt so honoured to learn their culture and way of life. They welcomed us into their routines, taught us new skills, and helped us understand the land and the animals in a way only they could. The bonds we built were strong and meaningful, and I will always remember how much they shared with us and how much they cared about the work we were doing together. Every day brought something new. I learned how to mix cement in the heat, carry river stones, repair and strengthen enclosures, and take on physical work I never imagined myself doing. We made all kinds of enrichment for the orangutans, using coconuts, magazines, leaves, natural materials, puzzle feeders, and anything we could find to keep their minds active and stimulated. It felt amazing to know that something you created with your own hands could bring an orangutan focus, curiosity, and joy. Seeing them interact with what we made was one of the most rewarding parts of the entire experience. The animals themselves changed me. Every orangutan has a story, and many of those stories are heartbreaking. Some lost their mothers, some were kept illegally, and some were rescued from land that is no longer safe for them. They are all in rehabilitation and cared for with an incredible level of dedication, patience, and respect. Not all will be able to return to the wild, and learning why they are here in the first place gives you a completely different understanding of how important this work is. The same goes for the sun bears and the pangolin we were lucky enough to meet. Each of them is living proof of why conservation matters. This experience opened my eyes to so much. It showed me how resilient animals are, how deeply humans can connect across culture and language, and how powerful it is to step outside your comfort zone. It made me appreciate the simple things in life, the value of community, and the importance of protecting the natural world. I came home with more than memories. I came home with new friendships, new skills, a new understanding of myself, and a heart full of gratitude. Borneo changed me in the best way, and I will carry this experience with me forever.

The project was everything I hoped for. From booking the trip, customer service and provision of all relevant information before thew trip to the very well organised Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary. Their staff was very friendly and helpful, excellent food and even some entertainment at the weekends was available. Some volunteers didn't realise that there is some physical work involved, which is needed to keep the place running. I actually enjoyed it and it gave me a good insight of what is involved in the day to day tasks of a sanctuary. I loved, loved, loved the animals. My favourites were the baboon babies and the horses, as it was very hands-on with them. Being close to the cheetahs was also an experience not to be missed. The Rhino Rangers experience was unbelievable and the K9 unit is a must. I had the chance to be teacher in the N/a'an ku sê Primary School for one day and I was delighted to see how respectful, happy and energetic the children were, despite their challenging circumstances. I really enjoyed their Friday assemblies with music and dance. I was sad to leave after 3 weeks.