Please see below for some commonly asked questions and their answers

Q) What should I bring with me?  Inspire will provide you with a detailed packing list and we can take you to the shops if you forget anything!

Q) Will my mobile work?  Yes - but we will provide you with a free local SIM card as call charges are very cheap in Sri Lanka.  Please make sure your mobile phone is unlocked before you arrive.

Q) Why should I book with Inspire?  There are lots of companies offering elephant volunteer projects in Sri Lanka however most people do not realise that you are booking with middle men who charge you more, give you less service and then hand you over to one of three places that actually provide the project.  By booking with us you are working direct with the project, get an excellent experience and will know that your money is going to good causes.

Q) Will I have my own elephant? We allow a maximum of two volunteers per elephant, your mahout training will be on a 1-2-1 basis.

Q) Will I be with my elephant throughout my stay?  Yes however sometimes the elephants do leave us to attend a Perahera, if this happens we will try to arrange for you to go to the Perahera too.

Q) Do you offer full / formal mahout training? Yes, you can enrol in a full mahout training course which will take around 3 months.  Please contact us for full details and prices.

Q) How do I pay?  Your weekly fee is payable in advance by bank transfer or paypal.  Any additional hotel charges (drinks etc) can be paid by credit card or cash.  You will need cash for all other expenses.  We do not recommemend travellers cheques, cash points are widely available.

Q) I've no experience with teaching, is it ok for me to teach? Yes - the teaching we provide is in addition to regular school lessons so if it's not perfect it's not the end of the world.  We keep a record of what we have taught and plan lessons before we start.

Q) What's the weather like? You can visit Sri Lanka at any time of year and even in the monsoon periods there is still a lot of sunshine as showers are short and sharp and the weather clears quickly.

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