Namibia Desert Elephant Conservation

This project works directly with the local community in protecting vulnerable structures from damage done by the elephants in search of water. The project is real, grassroots conservation and is popular with volunteers as you will be able to see the difference YOU make to help the communities and therefore conserve the elephants.

During the first week you will be part of a team building large protection walls by hand. You will be based out at the local farm or homestead for the week. The walls prevent elephants from damaging water points which is the main cause of conflict, as elephants tend to damage wells and water pumps in their search for water.

The second week is the elephant patrol, which is an unforgettable week tracking elephants out in the wilds of the desert. During this week elephant movements are recorded, ID photos taken and farms visited, all information which assists the Namibian Government in solving the problems the elephants often create.
 

The Desert Elephant project is made up of two parts based upon 2-week rotations.

You will first join a team in building walls around vitally important water sources for Damaraland homesteads. The walls are built to protect water pumping facilities, a borehole, solar panel and pump or windmill. The elephants are given access to the water at certain points, thus preventing them from damaging the pumping mechanics and allowing the farmers access to the clean, fresh water. 

You will spend one week at the building site working on the wall, which is made from local stone and cement brought in by the project. There are lots of different tasks from collecting stones and rocks, to mixing cement and laying the rocks on the wall. Although hard work the teams always have fun! You will start work fairly early in the morning and stop for a long break during the heat of the day. You will be camping and all cooking is done over the fire, with everybody sharing camp duties. Evenings are spent around the camp fire, relaxing, playing games and sharing stories. The weekend is then spent relaxing at the base camp in the Ugab River. On the Sunday you are able to join project staff on the resupply run to a small town called Uis where you are able to use the internet, go to a small supermarket and use the facilities at a local lodge (including swimming pool!)

On Monday morning volunteers head off on patrol for the next week. Patrols are lead by two experienced elephant trackers on specialised 4x4 vehicles, again with the minimum of equipment, setting up camp at a different site every evening. You will be experiencing areas of Damaraland and surrounding desert that no safari or overland tour will ever venture into, tracking and observing our local desert-adapted elephant herds. During the week you will be spending a lot of time with the elephants in close quarters, learning from your guides about the elephants and their behaviour.  

This project is a perfect opportunity for people to really return to basic levels of living, learn simple camp-craft and survival skills and get back in touch with nature whilst becoming directly involved in trailblazing conservation work. It is a chance to experience hard but rewarding work, witness amazing natural phenomena and escape the highly-strung world and its day-to-day routine.