About the placement

You will be based at our jungle research and conservation centre on the Madre de Dios River in the Amazon jungle. The first 2 weeks is an ‘Intro to the Jungle’ course designed to develop your understanding of the Amazon rainforest and to give you an up close and personal experience of the plant and animal life.

The two week jungle course

The placement starts in the ancient Inca capital city of Cusco with a day of orientation and preparation. During the day you’ll also do a tour of this fascinating city. The next morning is a journey through the high Andes from Cusco to the cloud forest on the edge of the Amazon. You stop in the town of Paucartambo on route to visit a mountain community and then in Acjanco Park Guard Station to learn about the high cloud forest. The next day completes the journey to the jungle centre. You’ll stop at a ‘Cock of the Rock’ lek (a display ground in the forest) and hopefully spot the national bird of Peru. Then the final part of the journey to the centre is by motorised canoe down the Madre de Dios River.

Once at the centre you will have six days of jungle courses and discovery. This is focused learning time and is a mix of time on the trails with guides and time at the centre in a more structured learning environment. During this time period you will find yourself immersed in all things rainforest and should find yourself learning a huge amount.

At the end of the first week the group visits the town of Salvacion – the capital town of the district. Whilst in Salvacion you will be involved in some community development volunteering for 2 days, which is a chance to give something to the local community as well as giving you a real insight into how people live in jungle towns.

The second week at the centre will give you more time out on the jungle trails and more of a chance to get involved with the on-going conservation and research work.

At the end of your fortnight you will receive a certificate confirming that you have completed a rainforest research and conservation course.

Volunteering after the two week course

If you stay on after the two week course, you will become much more involved in the on-going work of the jungle centre. Your main focus will be volunteering on the sustainability projects such as the bio-garden and reforestation. You can also get involved in the monitoring projects depending on the needs at the time. Current projects include:

• Fauna - wildlife monitoring and capacity building programme
• Mapping - using GPS to map the area and record areas of special interest
• Water purification - using local plants and biomass to filter and cleanse water
• Carbon initiative - offsetting greenhouse emissions through forest regeneration
• Reforestation - planting new forest to provide renewable commercial timber
• Education - educating local children in rainforest and sustainable development practices
• Field guide - producing an illustrated educational tool
• Night monkeys - studying the habits of the night monkey
• Jungle exploration - maintaining and expanding the trail system and exploring the area

Once every fortnight the group of volunteers will also spend 2 days in the local town of Salvacion to experience life in an Amazonian community and participate in a community project. Community projects in 2008 are likely to include some rebuilding and refurbishment of the local school.

The jungle expedition

A 4 day jungle expedition is included every month for volunteers at the centre. This takes you out into the rainforest away from the centre on small rarely travelled trails. You will visit a native community and will sleep out in the jungle. If you stay for 2 or 3 months you will take part in 2 or 3 expeditions. The 4 day expeditions have proved to be one of the most popular elements of the placement in recent years. Its an amazing experience that you are unlikely to ever forget.

About the research centre

Our centre is a key site for research and education. Its mission is to:

• Educate local rainforest communities and visitors
• Promote sustainable natural resource development
• Integrate pure and applied research of the rainforest environment and its natural systems
• Conserve and preserve tropical ecosystems

The centre is located in a 600 hectare private reserve of diverse humid tropical rainforest. The site has been developed using traditional thatched techniques and modern design integrated with the latest in natural resource management to maintain the site. There is accommodation for 24 people in spacious dormitory areas with fully equipped bathrooms. There is also a large dining area, bar and kitchen as well as a relaxation area with hammocks.

The setting is a rainforest clearing dominated by a clear-water stream and cascading waterfall and with majestic views over the canopy, Madre de Dios River and surrounding areas. The whole area is intersected with rivers and mountain streams, and is full of natural bathing pools and waterfalls.

At the site there are first aid qualified staff, a field medical kit, communications radio and electricity generator. The nearby town has additional medical facilities and there is access to helicopter evacuation to Cusco in case of emergency.

About the Manu Biosphere Reserve

Our jungle centre is boarded on one side by the Madre de Dios River and on the other by the Manu Biosphere Reserve.

The Manu Biosphere Reserve (MBR) is an integral component of the Vilcabamba Amboro Conservation Corridor, a thousand-kilometre-long network of protected areas that run from Machu Picchu in Peru to Amboro in central Bolivia. The importance of this area was recognised in 1987 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The MBR is world renowned location for biodiversity and has an abundance of wildlife. Biologists have documented close to 1,300 species of butterflies (15% of the World total), 800 species of birds (9%) and 160 species of mammals (4%). 140 species of amphibians and reptiles and 250 species of freshwater fish have also been identified over the last few years. Of an estimated 25,000 species of flowering plant in Manu, only 18% have yet been properly described.

The MBR is also home to no less than eight Amerindian tribes as well as native highland Quechua-speaking communities and immigrant colonists (mestizos), all of whom add-up to a cultural mix of 18,000 people. A further 6,000 people (mainly foreigners) visit the MBR every year as tourists.

What our volunteers say

"The MLC and everything involved in the Manu Learning centre was an incredible experience and I learnt so much whilst out there. All of the staff were so friendly and supportive as well. Thank you so much for the opportunity - I really had an amazing time" - Lucie

For more views from past volunteers please see our testimonials.

What's included in the placements:

• A detailed information pack and support prior to departure
• Pick up from Cusco airport
• Orientation in Cusco
• A tour of Cusco city
• Overnight accommodation in Cusco
• Guided educational transfers to the rainforest centre from Cusco
  
• Overnight stop in the cloud forest on route to the centre
• Orientation and tour on arrival at the centre
• 2 to 12 weeks in the jungle at the research centre
• All meals while at the centre
• A 2 week rainforest research and conservation course
• A 4 day jungle expediton every 4 weeks for people staying for a month or longer
• Support staff throughout your placement in Peru
• Return transport to Cusco
• One night in Cusco at the end of the placement
• Optional two day tour to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas from Cusco

What's not included
The following estimates are given as a guide for your budgeting: flights (£550-£850 to Lima and £120 return domestic flight Lima to Cusco), travel insurance, visas (free), airport taxes (£30), pocket money for internet usage and the bar (£5-£40 per week).

Start dates for 2009

3-Feb-2009
3-Mar-2009
31-Mar-2009
28-Apr-2009
26-May-2009
23-Jun-2009
21-Jul-2009
18-Aug-2009
15-Sep-2009
13-Oct-2009
10-Nov-2009

Next steps and how to apply

Please contact us if you would like to discuss the placement, or go to the how to apply section where you can apply online or download an application form.

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* Belize Zoo in Belize

* Bear Sanctuary in Cambodia

* Wildlife Rescue in Thailand

* Elephant Care in Thailand

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