点评:I wanted some volunteer experience with elephants in Sri Lanka, and the Elephant Freedom Project was a great place to start! The house is beautiful, and everyone there is so kind and welcoming. The keepers and the workers really care about the well being of the elephants, and they are very well treated and fed at the project. It’s a great way to learn about domesticated elephants and the conservation projects fighting for them. You don’t get to learn much about wild elephant conservation, but there are other projects in Sri Lanka for that. I got sick for a couple days during my stay, and the family was very helpful and accommodating. Kumari was kind enough to take me to their local doctor to get me some medicine, and after two days I was feeling 100% better! The food did get a little repetitive, especially after being sick, but I asked for extra fruits and bread and they did their best to provide them. I even got to try star fruit and soursop for the first time. During my stay, I got to feed the elephants many times, and walk with them during the regular program times. I also got to talk to students at an English school, make food for and feed stray dogs around the town, and plant banana trees. The girls will go into town with you for these activities, so you don’t need to worry about finding your way around. As a solo traveler, I really enjoyed meeting the other people that visited the project. During this time of year, all the groups were really small, giving lots of time for everyone to chat with the girls and spend time with the elephants. Also keep in mind, the activities don’t last all day, so be prepared for a few hours of down time each evening. Overall, I had a lovely stay and many valuable experiences! I highly recommend you stay here for a few extra days for the full experience.
翻译:我想在斯里兰卡体验一些与大象相关的志愿者经历,而“大象自由项目”是个绝佳的起点!那里的房子很漂亮,每个人都非常友善热情。饲养员和工作人员非常关心大象的福祉,大象在这里得到了很好的照顾和喂养。这是一个了解家养大象以及为它们而奋斗的保护项目的绝佳途径。你很难了解到太多关于野生大象保护的知识,但斯里兰卡还有其他类似的项目。我在斯里兰卡期间病了几天,这家人非常乐于助人,也很包容。库玛丽很好心地带我去他们当地的医生那里拿药,两天后我的身体就好了100%!食物确实有点单一,尤其是在生病之后,但我要求多加水果和面包,他们尽力满足了我的需求。我甚至第一次尝到了杨桃和刺果番荔枝。在斯里兰卡期间,我多次喂大象,并在常规项目时间与它们一起散步。我还和一所英语学校的学生们交流,为镇上的流浪狗做饭并喂它们,还种植了香蕉树。女孩们会陪你一起进城参加这些活动,所以你不用担心找不到路。作为一个独自旅行的人,我非常享受与其他参观这个项目的人见面。每年的这个时候,所有团体都很小,每个人都有充足的时间与女孩们聊天,并与大象们互动。另外要注意的是,这些活动不会持续一整天,所以要做好每天晚上几个小时休息的准备。总而言之,我度过了一段愉快的时光,收获了许多宝贵的经验!我强烈建议你在这里多住几天,以获得更完整的体验。