The aim of this project is to release the wild borne offspring of captive bred lions into appropriate national parks and private reserves through a four-stage rehabilitation process. This method enables lions to be placed in parts of Africa where there are no longer lion populations. You will be volunteering on stage one of the project, where the captive born cubs spend their days walking 'in the bush' so that they can get used to their natural habitat.
This objective is achieved through varied volunteer work that you can get involved with. You will be involved in some project areas more than others and the work that you will be involved with will depend on the needs of the project at that time, so you will need to approach the project with a flexible attitude.
Lion Walks
This will be the main focus of the project. You will spend time gathering information about the lion’s behaviour during lion walks and watch them learn to hunt so that the cubs can be released back into the wild. In order for this to happen, the cubs need to spend time in the environment adapting to the wild. You will also care for the animals which overnight in enclosures, cleaning and feeding them.
Research
Research is carried out on the project to understand lion behaviour and ecology. The lion walks that you will partake in enables the opportunity to observe the lions in their natural environment allowing the project team to make the best decisions about their eventual release. You will assist with gathering and analysing the data you will collect during your lion walks. Data studies may include looking at hunting development, character traits, spoor sizes or mane growth. Training will be provided so that you can offer as much as you can to the project.
Work in the National Park
You will carry out a variety of different conservation projects in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park to help it maintain a healthy ecosystem, activities include; an ongoing elephant population study to create a database of the overall population, herds and individuals within the park, conducting snare sweeps to remove snares set by poachers and the occasional litter-pick to maintain the beauty of the local area.
Teaching Conservation and Health
Using a combination of classroom based talks and practical activities such as visiting the lion project, you will work with local schools to gain support for conservation through education. You will help the children develop a better understanding of their environment and to appreciate the need to conserve the wild areas of Zambia. You will work with other volunteers prior to your classes to prepare lesson plans.
There are also lessons for adults that cover all health aspects, including diseases that are prevalent but may not be of common knowledge. Teaching the adults also in turn helps to educate the children on these health problems; education can be the best prevention and cure.
What’s Included
- Project Fee: this entails financing that goes directly back into the project that you are involved with. This project fee facilitates funding for items such as food for lions, management and maintenance of parks infrastructure, and the development of the lion breeding and rehabilitation programme
- Arrival and departure transfers to and from Livingstone Airport
- Project assistance by various trained guides, ecologists and field staff during your stay
- Any wildlife education talks that take place during your stay and that you might wish to partake in
- Accommodation
- All meals during your placement
- Unlimited tea, coffee and juice throughout the day
- Laundry service during your stay
What’s Not Included
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Email / Telephone
- Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary e.g. visit to Antelope Park
- All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other)
Prices and Durations
Zambia Lion Rehabilitation and Release - 2 weeks £1,399
Zambia Lion Rehabilitation and Release - 4 weeks £2,499
Zambia Lion Rehabilitation and Release - 8 weeks £4,199
