This 10,000 hectare reserve began life in the 1950’s as a farm, but over the years it has switched its focus to animal conservation and now it is being run as an amazing wildlife conservation project. Located just 90 minutes from Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, this projects main focus is on its elephant and rhino residents and as a volunteer you will be helping to care for these animals alongside many others!
Volunteers here will be getting very hands on and essentially become a member of this extended conservation family, assisting with the running of the reserve and taking part in some amazing activities! One day you could be walking alongside the elephants and the rhinos, and the next you could be taking part in anti-poaching training with the team. You won’t know what you could be getting up to on this project until you go, so what are you waiting for?
Itinerary
Day 1
Your adventure will begin today, and after arriving at the project site from the airport you’ll be given time to settle in and rest before activities begin tomorrow!
Day 2-14
These will be your project days and you will have to rise early as it’s a 6am start! You’ll be working until around 5pm, so days are long on this project but once you see the amazing work you will be helping with you won’t mind!
Day 15
It’s time to head home now and you’ll return to the airport to catch your flight!
Project Activities
Feeding and Walking the Rhino and Elephants
You will have the incredible chance to join the elephant and rhino handlers as they walk the animals back to their night time safety bomas. Here you’ll have the unique opportunity to interact with the animals up close and learn about their history and why they are at the project site.
Breakfast with the Elephants
Where else will you be able to sit alongside the giant African elephants as you tuck into your breakfast? As the elephants eat their first meal of the day you’ll be able to tuck into yours, and this is an unforgettable experience.
Tracking the White Rhino
You will join the scouts and use telemetry to track down the rhinos before monitoring and taking notes on their behaviour and feeding habits.
Snare Patrols and Anti-Poaching Monitoring
You’ll take part in a bi-monthly snare sweep around the reserve, carefully looking for snares and other evidence of poaching as you go.
Camp Outs
Sleeping beneath the beautiful African night sky is something everyone should experience at least once, and on this project you will be able to do just that.
Volunteering at a Local School
The project has partnered with a local school to form a conservation club, and you and your fellow volunteers will help to plan a conservation based lesson for the children!
Weapons Training
Often a favourite activity for the volunteers on this project, you’ll get the chance to test your aim with a paintball gun on a course devised by the anti-poaching team!
Cultural Evenings At The House
Every so often, volunteers get the chance to enjoy a cultural evening at the volunteer house. Here, they can learn all about the traditions and culture of the local Shona tribe from a member of the local community. Just make sure you are ready to dance!
General Conservation Activities
As this is a very active reserve there are always tasks that need to be completed, so you could be helping with anything from distributing hay bales through to maintaining the reserves fences and roads so you can guarantee that you’ll be kept busy.
