Liane +91-8971770055 kanthavaraforestbasecamp@gmail.com, Google Maps - Location, please email a copy of your ID 3 days prior to arrival

Schedule / Tenure

• We take in fresh Volunteers/Interns every Friday
• Friday - Arrive by 12noon, Tour of Basecamp, Introduction
• Saturday - Pre-assignment briefing (8.45am-1.30pm) & Welcome lunch
• Mon-Fri x 4 weeks min x 5hrs/day min
• • Without experience
  • Assistant to Bamboo Construction Master M-F 5hrs x 5 days a week
  • Assistant to Rubber tapper. M-S 4hrs x 6 days a week, Morning first half
  • Assistant to Gardener M-F 5hrs x 5 days a week, Morning first half
  • Birding, Wildlife documentation. Camera traps M-F 5hrs x 5 days a week
  • Documentation trekking and camping trails in the area, weekly 3 full days working / travelling
  • With experience
  • Biodiversity indexation
  • Document Insect and reptile
  • Document Human Wildlife conflict
  • Document mushroom / fungi in area
  • Construction using Bamboo and painting
  • Collect rare / medicinal / forest plant specimens
  • Carbon credit, paralegal, large landscape conservation
• Saturday post-assignment de-briefing & Farewell Lunch
• Sunday-Monday depart

On Arrival in Kanthavara:

Please reach Basecamp latest by 12noon Friday or even a day earlier. You will be given a tour of facilities, an introduction to site staff and their respective work. On Saturday morning you will be given a pre-assignment briefing for the work to be undertaken. Full fledged work will start from Monday. All basecamp residents are expected to follow General Timetable, see below. However special work such as birding will be carried out for example between 5.30-7.30am and 5.30-7.30pm. If you face any difficulty please discuss the matter immediately and openly with Liane (Coordinator) / Puru (Site Incharge). 

Separate from the pre-listed assignments volunteers often have new proposals such as painting a wall, building a tree house, outdoor swings, making a video, installing a machine etc etc. Please write down / sketch your proposal and then discuss it with Liane/Puru. If we accept your proposal then you will be provided with the material and help required to execute the proposal. 

Volunteer dormitory accommodation, veg meals, Wi-Fi, washing m/c (once a week), parking is FREE for the duration of your stay. If anyone asks for money please report to Puru. However things such as non-veg food, bike rental (see below), auto rickshaw rental, bike taxi, pick/drop will be extra. Aqua guard UV treated drinking water will be provided in Jerry cans in the canteen. We are particular that all guest get to enjoy a clean and safe living space at Basecamp. During your check-in please ensure that you inspect and receive clean toilets,  emptied bins, satisfactory bed/bedlinen. If not please bring matter to the attention of Puru immediately. You will be responsible to maintain the same standard of cleanliness during your stay. Kindly segregate garbage before disposing in the designated pits. a) Decomposable - Bio / food throw in 'Wet Waste' pit b) Non-decomposable - Plastic, metal, sanitary pads, diaper's throw into 'Dry Waste' pit c) Electronic waste give to Puru. If you find anything dirty or damaged please bring to attention of Puru immediately. To avoid rats and cockroaches - we request not to eat in the rooms / dorm. You can munch away happily in the sit-outs, canteen or on several of the picnic spots on the property. Please empty your respective garbage bins daily. Switch off the fan, light, water heater when not in use. Do not dry clothes inside the room, or using the fan. Please use clothes stands and lines provided. You can order food via Swiggy/Zomato. For help with pick/drop our tapper Suresh/Ramesh might be willing to help for a small fee. Please do not fraternise with basecamp (non-English speaking) workers unless you have stayed at basecamp for at least 2 months. 

General Basecamp Timetable:

8.15am Breakfast

8.45am - 11.00am Work

11.00am-11.30am Tea break

11.30-1.30pm Work

2.30pm-5.00pm Work

5.00pm Tea

8.30pm Community dinner

10pm Lights out

Getting in to Kanthavara Basecamp (KTV):

If you want transport other than bus or if you are afraid of being cheated by local Auto/taxi please contact

1. 7 seater minivan Robin 8888712724 Eg: 15-20Rs/km, waiting extra
2. 3-seater auto rickshaw Umesh 9967481670 or Kiran 9902692695
3. Bike Taxi Suresh 8762927811

Bus timings in Kanthavara/Paladka:

• Moodbidri (MB) - Varnabettu (VB) 8am, 11.45am, 4.45pm. (Note: Paladka (PDK) Ashwata katte Jxn)
• Varnabettu (VB) - Moodbidri (MB) 8.40am, 12.20pm, 5.20pm
• KTV highschool to MB 7.30am, 8, 8.45, 10.20,1.10pm, 4.30, 5.00
• KTV Highschool to Karkala 9.30am, 11, 11.35, 2.30pm, 4.15
• MB-Udupi-MB or MB-MLR-MB every 20mins
• MLR bus stops at SBI main busstop, Bunts hostel, Nantur

7 Seater minivan daily timings:

8.15am 5cents, 8.30am RR, 8.45am Basecamp, 9.00am VB, PDK Ashwata katte junction, 4.30pm RR, 4.45pm Basecamp, 5.10pm VB, 5cents, PDK Ashwata katte 

Suggested to carry:

Comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor activities, Sturdy shoes for trekking and fieldwork, Personal water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat, Any necessary medications or personal essentials

Things to do in free time:

1. Things to Do in the area/region
2. Visit our Forest Bungalow (Basecamp 2 PDK)
3. Visit our Mangalore Mini Forest Cabin / Farmville - Mangalore

Emergency & local Restaurant/Bar:

Anti-venom: Fr. Mullers Hospital 9483508502, Jain Medical 9008349397, Alva's 0825-8238104, Karkala Govt. Hospital 0825-8230204, Ambulance 108, Snake/Animal rescuer's Bhuvan 9113028944 Sharanya 6362054698, Police 112, Padiwals Veg (Moodbidri) +91-825-8237065, Saniddhi village Bar and Restaurant (Non-Veg) Mr. Umesh Kotian 9967481670, Local village grocery shop at Varna bettu Mr. Umesh 9740767747 Consumption of Alcohol and drugs on the property is prohibited, even during free time / holidays.

Before you say goodbye:

1. Please hand over bed/bedlinen and clean living space back to housekeeping
2. Please provide review and pic on Google - Kanthavara Forest Basecamp
3. Please provide review and pic on Workaway / Warmshowers etc  

Tips / Gifts

If you want to tip / gift / acknowledge / thank a member of our staff please ask Liane/Puru for Staff Welfare Register

Bike Rental:

Rental Bikes will be offered only after volunteers have completed 2 weeks volunteering. Please submit a copy of your driving license and indemnity letter

Internship form

Click here and fill in if you have not filled it in already. Only for non-Workaway and non-Warmshower candidates.

Video 1

• Sample Video - On Simarouba
• Audience: Students between the ages of 16-24 (i.e. 1st PUC to Degree) from within 50km i.e. Mangalore, Udupi wishing to conduct Field Trip or Study tour for a day only
• Story board: