Orientation
Upon arrival in Swakopmund, you will arrive at the volunteer lodge and meet the team over a drink to discuss the following day and the start of your project. This is a time to ask any questions that you may have and discuss the project in greater depth. During your project, you will also receive comprehensive training in various skills needed for the project work and we will teach you the following:
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Camp craft; including cooking over a fire, bush camp setup, safety and hygiene.
- Bush craft, such as tracking, approaching dangerous animals on foot, animal behavior, bush walking, navigation, map reading, GPS etc.
- Compiling identification kits on elephants.
- Traditional building skills.
Accommodation and Meals
This project is a great back-to-basics programme, experiencing the natural setting of the African bush. We set up our mobile base camp at each project site, which we make as comfortable as possible! You will be accommodated in two-man tents or you can choose to sleep under the stars. Washing facilities are limited and toilet facilities will be in the form of enclosed and private African long drops. Whilst on patrol, we camp wild and sleep under the stars on our bedrolls with mosquito nets.
Therefore, there are no showers or toilets, so you will need to prepare yourself to rough it a bit!
You will receive three meals each day on this project, prepared by you on a rotational basis, over the open fire and eaten around the campfire as a group. We supply you with basic but very balanced food with adequate vegetarian options.
Free Time
If you are staying on the project for longer than 2 weeks, you will be driven into Swakopmund on the Friday afternoon, and will then begin the next two weeks on the Monday morning with some new volunteers. During this time, you will need to pay for your own accommodation and meals, but this can be budgeted on about £25 a day easily. No doubt there will be other volunteers to go out with for a few drinks and get back to normality for a few days!
Swakopmund is known for its adrenalin activities and wide choice of things to do: During your weekends, you could go paragliding, quad biking, sky diving or sand boarding, or alternatively just relax in the picturesque and historic seaside town with a latte! All of these activities will need to be paid for from your own personal expenses, but are amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
Support
Throughout your stay in Namibia you will have the support and guidance of the project leaders and team. They will provide you with competent field support and assistance and help you with any questions, or support, you may need during your stay. They will be there for you to contact each day.
Project Age Limit
Minimum 18 years, maximum dependant on participant's health.
Programme Requirements
This project really is vital, grass roots conservation work. It is not about cuddling baby animals, or being an observer of conservation from the comfort of a game drive vehicle: you need to have an open mind, a willing heart and be prepared to put in work for something bigger than yourself. This is about true adventure with likeminded people that care. This is about teamwork and tolerance. We live close together, close to the ground and close to the animals.
Your project manager is there to make your time in the bush educational and safe, but it is up to you to make a success of the expedition.
You need to have an average degree of fitness, as a lot of the work is manual and we could spend a lot of time in high temperatures on foot. This is real conservation: You will learn to be at one with nature, awaken long-lost memories, do hard satisfying work and walk away with a longing to be back under the desert stars.
