Fiji is a world-renowned paradise, famous for its gorgeous beaches, incredible marine life and welcoming culture. While most visitors focus on diving, relaxing or exploring the rainforests, adding a visit to Animals Fiji offers a unique and deeply ethical experience that enriches your trip in unexpected ways.
Animals Fiji is a leading animal welfare organisation dedicated to improving the lives of animals—both domestic and wildlife—across the islands through veterinary care, humane population management, and education. Here are five compelling reasons why this stop should be on your itinerary.
1. Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Animal Rescue
A trip to Animals Fiji isn't just a brief tour; it's a window into the dedication required to run a full-scale animal welfare and veterinary facility in a developing island nation.
Witness the Hard Work
You can take a shelter tour and see the daily operations of animal rescue, treatment and rehabilitation up close. This offers a powerful contrast to the typical resort experience and shows you the challenges and triumphs of dedicated local and international staff.
Learn About the Mission
Understand the vital work being done from emergency medical care to tackling the stray animal population management through desexing programmes. This gives you context for the non-marine animals that live alongside the Fijian people.
2. Embrace Ethical and Responsible Tourism
In a destination focused heavily on eco-tourism, supporting an organisation like Animals Fiji allows you to engage in ethical tourism that goes beyond marine conservation.
Contribute Directly
By booking a tour or even a short visit your money directly supports the shelter's operations, food and animal supplies. This is a meaningful way to give back to the community and the creatures that inhabit the islands.
Support Community Education
A core part of the organisation’s mission is community outreach and education, empowering local Fijian communities and the younger generation with knowledge about responsible pet ownership and animal welfare support. Your visit helps fund these crucial programmes.
3. Experience Rewarding Hands-On Interaction
If you're an animal lover, a visit offers a chance for meaningful, hands-on interaction that is truly rewarding.
Shelter animals need human interaction to prepare them for adoption. Visitors always have the opportunity to play with or socialise puppies and kittens, giving them the vital human connection that improves their chances of finding a forever home.
Depending on the organisation's current needs and volunteer schedules, you may be able to help walk the shelter dogs. This small act of kindness provides much-needed exercise and enrichment for a deserving animal.
4. Find an Inspiring Volunteer Opportunity
For travellers with more time, Animals Fiji welcomes both experienced veterinary professionals and general volunteers to help with daily tasks.
If you are staying on Viti Levu for an extended period, you can dedicate a few hours, a day or a week to volunteering. Tasks can range from cleaning and feeding to helping to provide stimulation for the animals in our care, volunteer at outreach clinics, etc.
Veterinarians and vet nurses can offer their professional expertise to assist with surgeries in one of our four clinics and outreach clinics, making a significant impact on animal health across the islands.
5. It's Conveniently Located Near a Major Hub
Adding Animals Fiji to your trip is logistically simple, especially if you are flying in or out of Fiji's main international gateway.
The Nadi Clinic & Shelter, which is the main visitor location, is situated very close to the Nadi International Airport (NAN) and the main tourist centres of Nadi and Denarau. This makes it an easy stop to arrange upon arrival or before departure or as a half-day activity from your resort.
Adding a visit to Animals Fiji provides a wholesome, meaningful counterpoint to your beach time, leaving you with memories of giving back and making a real connection with the islands' residents, both two- and four-legged.
