Camp Forktail Creek - Employment & Volunteering

Employment & Volunteering

Camp Forktail Creek is a small, low-impact jungle camp on the north eastern periphery of Corbett Tiger

Reserve. Located 23 kilometers north of Ramnagar town (NH121), the last railhead for this part of the

Kumaon Himalayan foothills, in the state of Uttrakhand, northwest India. The last 450m to Camp are only

accessible by an uphill four-wheel drive, dirt track.

All the staff at the Camp is expected to live and operate from there. Since inception, Camp Forktail Creek

has tried to impart the best wildlife knowledge to guests, with the aim of minimally affecting its environs.

Its team of naturalists, trackers and bird watchers are the best in the region. Our team is proud to have

been recently awarded the recognition of the ‘John Wakefield Most Inspirational Eco-Lodge’ during the

TOFT Wildlife Award Ceremony 2010.

Main Areas of Work in Camp Forktail Creek

Our requirements, first and foremost are for people who love the wild and are comfortable to be without

electricity and all the frills that come with it. The jobs at hand aren’t difficult. Common sense is the

biggest asset though it helps to have experience of having worked in any stream of hospitality to

understand various job functions better.

Wildlife team/ naturalist

Fieldworkers with immense knowledge of the birds, animals, plants, reptiles, butterflies who can lead/

escort each forest/ jungle/ tiger reserve excursion.

Camp operations team

1. Food and Beverage staff including the chef and his assistants

2. Housekeeping Staff to maintain the guest areas, jeeps, gardens and grounds

Camp office

Staff to handle sales, marketing, accounts and all other administrative jobs in Camp.

Things to Note

1. We are looking for someone who could commit for at least a season (Sept- June) if not a year. Lesser

time frame and responsibilities are offered only to volunteers. It takes a season (Sept end to May) to

learn the ropes and then another when you can actually be given some responsibilities to handle entirely

on your own. The first three months would be trial period.

2. Days are long and physically challenging in season (September to May) and then full of

administrative/sales & marketing jobs/maintenance/repairs/renovation/plantations. Off season months

tend to get very hot and humid in the Camp.

3. Guest handling and guest relations would also be part of all the job profiles.

4. For anyone used to urban life, Camp life will be a sea change. So all applicants must be prepared for a

life back to the basics before they apply.

If you are still interested, please write to us at info@campforktailcreek.com

Facilities Provided

Accommodation

1. Accommodation in a large ensuite elevated safari tent with a private verandah (hot water is provided

on the tap), on a twin share basis with someone of the same sex.

2. The furnishings include two single beds with soft and warm duvets (though we advise you to bring a

good sleeping bag for trips out of Camp), side tables, a chest of drawers with a dressing mirror, a luggage

rack or table and deck chairs for the verandah.

Food and Drink

1. All meals would be in the Thatch (dining area in the public area) during season, when we have guests

(either Continental or Indian cuisine), otherwise by the kitchen area with the rest of the staff which is

mostly vegetarian traditional Indian cuisine. Typical dishes include curried lentils, potatoes, mixed

vegetables, rice and roti (flatbread). Filtered drinking water would be provided.

2. Snacks or extra food other than the meals provided, soft drinks, juices and alcoholic beverages are not

included.

Communication Facilities

1. A landline at the back-office permits your family and friends to call during daytime hours from 8am to

6pm (IST).

2. A Wi-Fi in Camp allows you to use internet, though sparingly, as it is not on all day long. Should you

wish to be connected on the net please get your own laptop.

3. Long distance telephone, fax and internet cafes are available in Ramnagar town, 23kms away.

4. Mobile phone service (GSM) at Camp is provided best by Vodaphone & BSNL, though Cell One & Idea

work in some places. 'Roaming service' is provided by all these services as long as your mobile is unlocked.

We therefore strongly advise you to bring your own unlocked cell phone.

Medical Facilities

1. All basic health care facilities are available in Ramnagar town, though not state-of-the-art.

2. For common ailments we use a private doctor (it’s not expensive to do so in rural India) but anything

serious could require a visit to Delhi.

3. Medical stores in Ramnagar town are fairly well stocked and over the counter medicines are not

expensive to buy.

4. You must obtain personal medical travel insurance if visiting/ volunteering in the country for a few

months only.

Health and Safety

1. In terms of diseases and personal health issues we strongly advise you to consult your doctor and ask

them about standard routine vaccinations (tetanus, hepatitis, rabies, typhoid, Japanese encephalitic etc)

for our region.

2. Malaria and rabies are both sparingly prevalent in our area. You can greatly reduce the risk by using

insect repellent and coils for malaria and avoiding stray dogs or monkeys for rabies.

3. The dreaded ‘Delhi belly’ or bacterial/ amoebic dysentery is something that concerns many travellers

when coming to India, although most bouts often last less than 24 hours.

4. We recommend you carry a dose of medication for all common ailments.

Laundry

Camp’s laundry is sent to Ramnagar. You are welcome to use the service of the same vendor, however all

monetary dealing would be separate from Camp and have to be dealt with directly.

Essential Items to Bring

- Clothing in neutral jungle colours

- Flashlight/ torch/ head torch with batteries/ extra batteries

- Shoes/ sandals/ river sandals made for easy walking

- Photo identity card (passport for foreign nationals and driving licence or PAN for Indians)

- Binoculars

- Personal medicines

- Personal toiletries

- Insect repellent

- Sunscreen, sunshade/ cap, sun glasses

- Camera, film rolls, batteries/ extra batteries

- A small backpack/ daypack for day hikes/ excursions

- Water bottle to refill filtered water from Camp

- Laptop

- Unlocked cellphone

- Sleeping bag

- Travel insurance (medical as well)

Code of Conduct

Your conduct and behaviour is important as you will be working and living with polite but sensitive rural

people. You will be fully briefed on local customs and traditions on arrival.

1. Clothing should also be neutral jungle colours.

2. Dress conservatively, as scantily clad people (bare shoulders, cleavage, legs and arms) are frowned

upon.

3. Ensure personal hygiene.

4. Use of any form of drugs is not permitted in Camp.

5. Extreme alcoholism and any anti-social behaviour will not be accepted.

6. All employees are expected to keep us informed regarding their movement in the area for safety

reasons.

7. No hikes or excursions after dark are allowed.

8. No loud music, shouting, speaking in raised voices or use of foul language is permitted in Camp.

9. Average fitness is vital.

10. Personal guests have to be accommodated within your accommodation and can stay for a maximum

of 7 days only. They will be charged additionally for meals.

11. Damage to Camp property/ vehicles would be charged at cost.

12. You will be under probation for a month from the day of arrival. In case your conduct is not

acceptable your stay will be terminated with immediate effect.

13 We are governed by rules and regulations of Corbett Tiger Reserve and the Government of India and

expect all at Camp to respect that.

Recommended Readings

* Maneaters of Kumaon Omnibus Part 1, Jim Corbett -Oxford University Press

* Maneaters of Kumaon Omnibus Part 2, Jim Corbett -Oxford University Press

* Birds of the Indian Subcontinent, Richard Grimmett & Tim Inskipp

* A Field Guide to Indian Mammals, Vivek Menon OR A field guide to Mammals of the Indian Subcontinent,

KK Gurung & Raj Singh

* Snakes of India the Field Guide - Romulus Whitaker & Ashok Captain