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This five-week expedition will allow you every opportunity to explore this beautiful country and its amazing wildlife in depth by carefully structuring your time on a variety of different projects and experiences.
You will have the opportunity to canoe down the mighty Zambezi River, camping amongst the wildlife and then taking part in an exciting and varied bush awareness course. This will prepare you for your next few weeks, in Hwange National Park and the Lion breeding project in the Zimbabwe Midlands, where you will take part in unique conservation and wildlife initiatives, whilst also handling lion cubs. Finally we visit the Black Rhino and Elephant project, where you will be able to help these endangered species up close on an exclusive rehabilitation programme.
Project Age Limit
Minimum 17 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health.
Project Information
This 5-week expedition will take you behind the scenes of Zimbabwe’s most stunning natural environment and place you in projects where you will be involved in high-impact conservation initiatives. This unique and special programme draws upon experienced project managers and professional guides to contribute directly and significantly towards wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe and research objectives on an Africa-wide scale.
Increase your knowledge of the African bush and cultures through our Zambezi River Exploration, camping on the River banks and islands of this ancient river by night, surrounded by elephants and other wildlife, whilst paddling towards the Victoria Falls amongst the complex waterways by day. Then, in your second week, take part in an exciting Bush Survival course, which will introduce you to the true African bush and give you a deeper understanding of the fragile relationships between man and beast.
Your expedition will then take you into Zimbabwe’s stunning Hwange National Park. This is hugely exciting in terms of our goals for conservation in Zimbabwe and adds enormously to the areas in which we are able to be effective in. Finally, walk with lions at our special lion breeding and rehabilitation programme before spending your last 2 weeks at the exclusive Black Rhino and Elephant Conservation Project, observing closely and helping to protect these species from extinction.
Project Support
Throughout your placement you will have the support and guidance of our experienced volunteer coordinators and professional guides. They are part of our greater African support team, providing you with competent assistance and help with any questions or advice you may need during your stay. In addition you will have access to a 24 hour emergency contact number so you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.
Project Orientation
When you arrive at your programme, you will receive a full orientation. This will include:
- Volunteers’ introduction at each base camp
- Introduction to all senior camp staff including Guides,
- Further information on our Conservation Programmes and our ultimate wildlife conservation goals and objectives
- How to conduct “Snare sweeps” and “Boundary patrols” and “Game counts”
- Familiarisation with all other duties you will be involved in
- Issuing of the basic tools you require to carry out your duties
- Outlines of the management and control of the game park and its own unique ecosystem
Accommodation and Meals
Throughout your placement, you will receive accommodation and three meals each day, either prepared around a camp fire on the bush activities, or in the volunteer lodges where you will be staying, from week 3 onwards.
- Week 1: You will be camping along the Zambezi River in tented accommodation within African bush camps
- Week 2: You will be in tented accommodation each night, utilising your new bush skills.
- Week 3: You will be based at our beautifully situated volunteer lodge on the boundary of the Hwange National Park, in rustic yet comfortable rooms shared between 2 or 3 people.
- Week 4 (4 nights): You will be staying in comfortable twin or triple room thatched accommodation at the main camp. Situated next to a beautiful dam, the camp has modern facilities including internet access, satellite TV and a swimming pool. Your room will be cleaned daily by the housekeeping staff and free use of the laundry service is available to all volunteers.
- Weeks 4 and 5: You will be staying in comfortable twin or triple room accommodation in a thatched volunteer farmhouse near a lake. Two communal sitting rooms with fireplaces are where everyone meets in the evening to relax and talk about the day’s events
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