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Wildlife Volunteer Programme - Near Windhoek |
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If you have a passion for animals and want a chance to do something different, then this wildlife volunteering programme is perfect for you!
The aim is to provide you with the wonderful opportunity of experiencing African wilderness whilst contributing to conservation. Volunteers are key to the success of this special place and all the money raised through the volunteering programme goes directly back into the project which provides employment, healthcare, education and accommodation to the local Bushman community and to ensure the rescue, survival and rehabilitation of orphaned and injured African wildlife.
Namibia truly is a wonderful country to experience, the scenery is spectacular and you will work with our friendly and dedicated team. If you come prepared to learn and to give your best you will be rewarded with a fantastic experience and wonderful memories to take home.
This project provides you with a rare and exciting opportunity to work closely with and actively participate in the conservation of African wildlife.
The sanctuary currently provides a safe refuge for orphaned and injured wildlife including a number of lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, caracals and baboons as well as many farmyard animals such as sheep, goat, chickens and geese. The Wildlife Volunteers provide an important resource in caring for and feeding the animals on a daily basis, helping to maintain and develop the sanctuary and becoming surrogate parents to orphaned baby baboons who need constant care and attention.
The aim is to provide volunteers with the wonderful opportunity to experience African wilderness in the knowledge that they are contributing to the conservation of this area. |
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Activities
Feeding and caring for the animals
Food preparation - You will be responsible for preparing the food and feeding the animals. This includes cutting raw meat for our large carnivores (not for the squeamish!) and throwing meat to the lions, leopards, semi-tame and wild cheetahs, African wild dogs and hand feeding the meerkats. You may also get the opportunity to join the carnivore feeding tour when guests from the Lodge visit the large carnivores. You will prepare and feed vegetables, fruit and mieilie pap to the baboons and farm animals; including pigs, sheep, chickens and leopard tortoises. You will also help to maintain the animal enclosures on the farm, clearing out old food and mess, cleaning waterholes and removing old bones from feeding
Animal Time
You will get to spend part of each day playing with and looking after some of animals on the farm:
- Taking a walk across the beautiful veldt with our baby and junior baboons (or carrying more like!).
- Taking a walk with the gorgeous caracals – walk alongside them through the lush grass and catch as they stalk small prey.
- Spending time with semi tame cheetahs where you can sit and stroke them while they purr loudly with contentment!
- Spending time with wild dogs in their enclosure, feeding them and capturing fantastic photos of them jumping high to catch their meat.
- Babysitting orphaned baby baboons – as they’re too young to sleep at night outside, you will bottle feed them before bed and sleep overnight with them in your bedroom
Big Cat Conservation Work
You may spend time with our expert carnivore research team:
- Placing and collecting camera traps around the reserve – this latest form of technology captures wildlife in their natural habitat by taking photos on detection of movement.
- Learning about wildlife immobilization and watching our experts dart big cats for medical procedures. You may also get the chance to practice your own darting skills (not on live animals though!).
- Undertaking game counts where you’ll drive around the stunning reserve and check for box traps on nearby farms if any problem animals need removing.
- Assist in the gathering of cheetah footprints as part of our development of footprint ID software system for global monitoring of cheetah
Project Work
The growing sanctuary needs constant repair and building work. Project work varies depending on what is currently needed on the farm:
- De-bushing – removing dense patches of black thorn (an invader bush) so that game on the farm can move freely and be seen, and other vegetation can grow.
- Breaking down fences on our land and that joining our neighbours – we aim to create a large fence free reserve in central Namibia allowing game and wildlife to roam freely for the benefit of conservation.
- Building new enclosures as new animals arrive - assist the San Bushman workers with the preparation of materials, digging foundations and waterholes and the erecting of the enclosures.
WILDLIFE EDUCATION
- You will receive a daily talk on various topics such as the local game, individual species such as baboons or leopards, and the science of wildlife immobilisation for example
SECURITY & MAINTENANCE
You will take part in border fence patrol and carnivore enclosure patrol where you may have to fill in holes created by wild animals and repair fences.
- You can participate in our security watch drives during the night and sleep outs at our watch tower with other volunteers. These are fantastic opportunities to see African wildlife at night time and experience the peacefulness of the savannah and night.
Typical Day
You will be split into working groups with your fellow volunteers to ensure variety and morning meeting with the volunteer coordinators to plan the day ahead
8.15am equal opportunity when carrying out your duties; duties rotate daily.
7.00am-8.00am Breakfast
8.00am Morning activity 1 (varies daily – caracal walk, enclosure patrol, food prep, cleaning enclosures, project work)
10.30am Tea and muffin break
10.45am Morning activity 2 (varies daily – junior baboon walk, cheetah and wild dog time, carnivore feed, project work)1.00pm Lunch and free time
2.30pm Afternoon activities (varies daily – baby baboon walk, project work, food prep)
5.00pm Educational Talk
5.30pm Dinner and free time
7.00pm Baboon babysitting (applies to only 1-5 volunteers each night, depending on number of baboons, works on rotation) Volunteers should be prepared for the daily schedule to change at short notice to meet the needs of the project and animals. Volunteers also need to be ready to take on any tasks that may be required of them, and to get dirty in the process!
Fun Activities & Free Time -
Meaning what you can do when you're not working, after 5.30pm and on Sunday (just remember the animals still need to be fed.) Well, for starters there's horse riding (whether you're a beginner or experienced rider you can enjoy this), nature walks, maybe a visit to nearby Arnhem Caves, becoming actively involved with the bushman who you are working with - playing football, helping the kids etc. You may even get a trip to Windhoek (please note that activities outside of the farm is dependent on vehicle availability and someone coming to the city). |
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Accommodation and Food
Basic but clean is what to be expected – Accommodation is in the volunteer house and 3 meals a day are included in the programme. Accommodation is shared (3 beds in each of the 5 rooms). The single beds are comfortable with bedding provided (duvets and pillows). Ladies and gents will sleep in separate rooms (families and couples should be aware that they may have to share with other volunteers depending on availability, however the project team will endeavour to meet all needs).
Ladies and Gents bathrooms include showers, washbasins and toilets. Electricity is available in the rooms. A laundry service is provided twice a week.
Meals provided typically include meat, vegetables, pasta and rice. Vegetarians and vegans should make special arrangements when booking. Breakfast is self-service and includes toast, cereals and fruit. Lunch can vary from sandwiches, salads to hot food. Dinner is typically a hot meal or on occasion a braai (barbeque).
Note: Volunteers should be prepared for the daily programme to change at short notice to meet the needs of the project. It is not for the fainthearted or the squeamish and is not all about petting the animals, in fact this is just a small part of the programme
Project in Development
The Namibian land is becoming more and more fragmented as new commercial farms are being set out. Farmers do not tolerate predators as they pose a threat to their livestock. This includes leopards, cheetahs and brown hyenas.
It is the vision of the lodge and programme to play a pro-active role in reducing the predator human conflict especially in the Windhoek area.
This initiative aims to radio collar predators that are caught in box traps, which will be set out in various locations. After they are radio collared they will be released again. The programme will train a team of trackers that will also include volunteers to monitor the animals movements, maintain data and inform farmers when the predator comes close to his herd of live stock. The predator will be captured and safely released away from danger
2012 Rates - As a volunteer you can start any day of the week
2 weeks N$9660
3 weeks N$14,490
4 weeks N$19,320
5 weeks N$23,100
6 weeks N$26,880
If you would like to stay longer then please contact us for discounted rates
Contact us now for further details as to how you can join this exciting project
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