Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary — Attraction in Oddar Meanchey

Volunteering at the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary was a great experience. Over the course of a few days, we were able to contribute to meaningful work while learning about the sanctuary’s mission and connecting with the kind and welcoming people who run it. Everyone we met, from the staff to the local community, was warm and funny, making the experience both productive and enjoyable. Aek, in charge of us, was particularly amazing, listening to us, teaching us, guiding us.

One of the highlights was the food. While vegetarian meals were a change for us, we were pleasantly surprised by how delicious and satisfying they were. Every meal was thoughtfully prepared, and the variety and flavors made it some of the best food we’ve had, the kitchen is ran by an actual chef!

The activities were varied and engaging, offering plenty of new experiences. We had the chance to go on forest walks with the elephants, watching them roam and behave naturally in their environment—something truly special. Preparing their food was also a big part of the experience, from chopping fruits and vegetables to mixing nutritious snacks. Watching the elephants enjoy the food we had prepared was incredibly rewarding. The sanctuary is currently home to three elephants, and we were impressed by how much care and effort is put into letting them live as naturally as possible, free from tourist interference. This really is responsible tourism.

Similarly, preparing food for the wild monkeys and watching them enjoy it was another fun and unique part of the experience. In addition to the larger animals, the sanctuary is home to many friendly cats and dogs, who added a lot of charm and warmth to the time we spent there. All of these animals were rescued from poor life condutuons, then neutered, so they can live their best lives in the sanctuary's safe enclosures.Jay is amazing with them.

Beyond its work with animals, the sanctuary supports the local economy by providing jobs and sourcing supplies locally, which adds another layer of impact to its mission.

The bungalows were simple but comfortable, giving us a relaxing place to rest after a day of meaningful activities.

Overall, we highly recommend volunteering at the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary for anyone looking for a meaningful and unique experience. It’s a chance to see elephants in a natural environment, support a great cause, and leave with memories that will stay with you long...

Spending one week volunteering at Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary was the highlight of my trip through Southeast Asia. It’s an incredible place with a heartwarming mission. Though, unfortunately, their marketing and website still aren’t the best.

As of March 2025, the sanctuary is run by Jay, Josh, Sumo, and Kung, who were sent from the renowned Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They work alongside local staff, including mahouts (elephant caretakers), kitchen workers, drivers, and general helpers for feeding animals and farming. The sanctuary provides stable jobs with above-average wages and sources elephant food from local farms, further supporting the community.

The three rescued elephants at the sanctuary are treated with immense care and love. There’s no touching allowed, and they’re free to roam the jungle during the day, followed by their mahouts. Visitors are welcome to take photos of and with them from a respectful distance (only a few meters).

As volunteers, we genuinely contributed in meaningful ways, and the sanctuary can always use more helping hands. Our group consisted of seven solo travelers aged between 20 and 30, and we had an amazing time together. Our tasks included preparing food for the elephants and wild monkeys, among other things. We were lucky to each have our own room, as the sanctuary can accommodate up to 20 volunteers in 10 bungalows.

The food was absolutely fantastic and a reason in itself to visit. Kung, the Thai lady, prepared three delicious vegan buffets every day.

My personal highlight was walking through the jungle with the elephants and their mahouts, but honestly, every activity was well-organized and felt meaningful. Even during free time, we could spend time with the friendly dogs or watch the elephants and monkeys.

If you're planning a visit, make sure to book in advance - sometimes the team is out collecting sugar cane or banana trees and may not be available. Even if you don’t plan to volunteer, I highly recommend staying for at least one or two nights. The drive from Siem Reap takes about two hours, and it would be a shame to leave after just a couple of hours.

You will fall in love with this place. It’s authentic, peaceful, and far from the usual tourist crowds. Your stay helps provide a better life for both the rescued animals and the...

You must visit the Cambodia Wildlife Elephant Sanctuary! Very ethical systems in place. The elephants are well cared for. The dogs and cats are as well. We spent 7 days serving here and we enjoyed every moment of it.

Be sure to bring proper clothing. Long sleeves and long pants. Outdoor gear. Bring plenty of socks too. It’s quite humid and your clothing is hard to dry. Waterproof gear during rainy season will greatly benefit you as well.

Every meal is magnificently tasty! There is also variety throughout the week.

All staff are accommodating and always smiling! The tractor drivers are great! They get you everywhere you need to be and safely.

For the staff - I would suggest a comment section for those signing up to volunteer where they can mention any specific skills they might be able to offer the sanctuary while staying. For example, I am handy and enjoy constructing things. I could have helped build or repair things. Maybe someone is good at gardening and can help garden, maybe someone really enjoys working with dogs or cats and can help clean the enclosures or take time everyday to walk the dogs from each enclosure.

Essentially, I suggest that sending all volunteers to cut sugar cane or banana trees might not be the best use of all volunteers’ skills.

Additionally, I believe that the dogs, cats, and even the pig could use some enrichment in the form of toys and balls. Of course for the pig, it would need to be indestructible. A mud pit for the pig would be really nice because the sand does not provide proper protection from the sun.

Overall, I would highly recommend this...