memories for a lifetime
Namibia Wildlife Rescue & Research Project
In 2003, The founders set their sights on establishing a clinic in response to the tragic and unnecessary death of a San baby. As a result, the Lifeline Clinic was established in the remote village of Epukiro, Namibia to provide free healthcare to the local San Bushmen population. In 2005 along with partners, the founders bought Farm Frauenstein on the outskirts of Windhoek and transformed the farm into a wildlife sanctuary and built a lodge on the property. The main aim of the lodge was to create jobs for the very people whom the Lifeline Clinic serves. In 2007, Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary opened. The aim is to conserve the land, cultures and wildlife of Namibia.
Originating as a small wildlife sanctuary nestled in the Namibian bush, just 45km from Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, the Wildlife Sanctuary Foundation has grown into a world-famous conservation organisation, providing a safe haven and second chance for countless injured, orphaned and conflict animals. Whenever possible their goal is to release animals back into the wild – only those animals too ill, abused or habituated remain at the sanctuary. The volunteers are critical to enabling the project to continue caring for the animals.
Details about the project
What's included
Upon arrival you will be collected from the airport and driven to your accommodation where you’ll be given your project orientation and you’ll meet your fellow volunteers.
Guidance
24 hour support and supervision
Accommodation
Room share with other volunteers
Food & Beverages
Three meals a day, coffee & tea included
Details about the project
Namibia Wildlife Rescue & Research Project details
- Arrival Day: Monday
- Arrival Time: Any time
- Airport: Windhoek Hosea Kutako Airport (WHK), Namibia
- Departure Day: Monday
- Departure time: between 11am to 1pm
- Min Duration: 2 weeks
- Max Duration: None
Volunteers will have the rare and exciting opportunity to actively participate in the conservation, rehabilitation, care and research of African wildlife. The sanctuary currently provides a safe refuge for orphaned, injured or conflict wildlife including several lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, caracals, warthogs, antelope and baboons as well as a host of birds, smaller African mammals and farmyard animals. Wildlife Conservation Volunteers are crucial in helping to care for the animals in rehabilitation or permanent captivity at the sanctuary, as well as helping to maintain and develop the sanctuary. This is an exceptional opportunity to get hands on experience with African wildlife and the many aspects of their care. All routine aspects of the programme are carried out in a rotational group system to ensure that everybody gets exposed to the variety of experiences available. For the full experience and understanding of what the project does, we highly recommend that you book at least three weeks on project.
Duties that do not directly interact with the animals are still crucial to their well-being. General maintenance and cleaning of the grounds (for example: cutting grass to ensure there are no ticks, fleas, snakes, and spiders, and poop scooping); are regular tasks on the farm for the health and safety of all the animals in our care.
As a volunteer, you will be able to experience each of the various jobs on the farm; as the tasks are rotated among the volunteers to ensure each person has an opportunity to both help with farm maintenance and interact with the animals equally.
The volunteering schedule works on a rotational group system, which ensures every volunteer gets to experience as many of the activities as possible.
The groups work two to three activities a day between the hours of 8am and 5pm. Volunteers get a brief break in the morning followed by lunch from 1pm-2:30pm.
Weekends are not part of the rotation schedule; on Saturdays, volunteers will take part in certain activities in the morning, and in the afternoon there will be a fun non-work related activity followed by a braai (barbeque). On Sunday, a small team will take part in food prep in the morning and a different small team will take part in the afternoon, so you will have half the day off. All non-working hours are free time to explore the sanctuary!
Please note that from time to time there can be unavoidable changes to projects. These can be caused by weather, conservation priorities, materials supply, or because ongoing projects have progressed more quickly or slowly than originally planned. We ask you to accept the changes, we are sure that you will enjoy the replacement projects just as much.
- Completed application form
- Basic level of competency in English
- Copy of return flight itinerary
- Medium level of fitness
- Volunteers will stay in tents (2 – 4 people per tent)
- All linen will be provided.
- The volunteer house is roughly 1km away from the main-house, and is safe and secure.
- Swimming pool is available.
- No visitors are permitted to enter the property unless permitted by the project leader
9
Activity level
8
Education level
8
Involvement level
7
Independence level
Our Recommendation