ZIMBABWE, AFRICA
Anti-poaching and Wildlife Conservation from Horseback
Project mission
The mission of the project is to protect and preserve wildlife with focus on returning rhinos to their natural habitats in Zimbabwe. During the 1980s, poaching became such a serious problem that the remaining rhinos in Zimbabwe were moved to private "Intensive Protection Homes" for protection, which resulted in seven rhino cubs being placed at this reserve. On the reserve they started a breeding program and managed to breed fourteen rhinos, eleven of which were then released in national parks around Zimbabwe. In 2007, the reserve was hit by a tragedy in which three rhinos and an unborn calf were killed by poachers.
Today, the reserve has eight black and three white rhinos, and is working to reach the same number as before the tragedy in 2007. On the reserve is also home to a small herd of elephants, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest and various antelopes as well as a male lion and a crocodile. The ongoing poaching around Africa has made it nessecary for these animals to be constantly monitored and protected by wildlife rangers.
Volunteer work
As a volunteer on this project you'll get a unique experience of the reserve's wildlife and you'll get to know the animals while you are involved in the work for their survival in the wild. You'll also be involved in collecting data for ongoing research projects. The project are working to educate local people about the importance of preserving Zimbabwe's wildlife.
On the reserve, you will be assigned a horse that suits your riding skills (rider's maximum weight: 80 kg), for which you will be responsible during your stay on the project. Although you will spend a lot of time with your horse, you will also be involved in the other everyday tasks associated with the nature reserve.
The project is set up so that the horses work for two weeks, after which they rest for two weeks. If you choose to volunteer on the project for longer than two weeks, it means that you ride for two weeks and when the horses rest, you work with the project's other activities. For this project to be suitable for you, you need to have some riding experience.
Examples of volunteer activities:
- Equine husbandry and general care
- Game park management including herd monitoring and game counts
- Anti-poaching patrols including night patrols, fence line patrols and snare sweeps
- Rhino conservation and elephant interaction - here you will join the other volunteers in their activities
- Community conservation education - you will assist when required with our local community projects including eco-initiatives and school programmes
- Cattle Ranching - helping a team of experience cattlemen move cattle from one area to another.
Flight
Flight tickets are not included in the price for our volunteer program.
Your final destination is Harare International Airport with booked arrival Monday when your volunteer weeks starts and return ticket should be booked to Monday when your volunteer weeks are completed. Make sure to book your return trip so you have time for check-in and other things at the airport before your flight leaves, transfer from the project takes about 2 hours.
NOTE! It’s important that you let us know your travel itinerary before your departure.
Transfer
On the Monday when you arrive, the joint transfer departs at 3:00 pm from Harare airport to the project. If you arrive later then the departure of the joint transfer, you'll have to pay for transport to the project yourself (USD 100). Before returning home, the transfer from the project to Harare Airport departs at 8:00 am Monday when your volunteer weeks are completed.
Book your trip
To book your trip, click on the orange “Book Now” button. You can also start your booking by selecting a start date, marked green, in the calendar. Book via phone on +46 823 9300 or via email at [email protected].
Registration fee
Once you have booked your trip, you will receive a confirmation email from us including an invoice for the registration fee of £200 (or other preferred currency). When you have paid in the registration fee and it has been registered with us, you are formally registered.
NOTE! The registration fee is included in the total price of your trip, which means it will be deducted from your final invoice.
Preparatory Information
Well in advance of your planned departure we’ll send you preparatory information, including more detailed information about the project, work schedules, activities and a packing list etc.
Lodging, meals and leisure
LODGING
Your accommodation on the project is a large house with a thatched roof next to a large pond. The house rooms up to 12 volunteers in shared rooms with comfortable single beds, sheets, pillows and mosquito nets. You share a showers and toilets with the other volunteers. Hot water is available. Outdoors there are three more showers with solar panels that are hot if it has been a sunny day. Electricity is available inside, with electrical outlets (English plug) in the shared areas. The rooms and the house are cleaned every day, and possibility to wash clothes when needed. Safes are also available.
MEALS
Three home cooked meals are include every day with the exception of Sundays, when you and your housemates are responsible for your own cooking with the ingredients available in the kitchen and kitchen garden. If you are food allergies or have special dietary requirements, it is important that you notify this already at the time of your booking. Drinking water is pumped from a borehole and is clean and safe to drink.
WI-FI / INTERNET
Wi-fi is not available on the project. TIP! You can buy a local SIM card at the airport when you arrive to be able to be online via 3G, when signal is available.
TRANSPORT
The project is located on a remote nature reserve, which makes it difficult to travel in the area. Transports to and from all volunteer activities, as well as transfers to and from the project are included in your trip. Additional trips in Zimbabwe can be made by local buses, the on-site staff will assist you with this.
LEISURE
During your stay on the project, you have one and a half days off a week, when you can relax or participate in one of the many activities available on the project, such as fishing, canoeing, rifle training, camping, horse riding and hiking up Wedzaberget. You also have access to a pool at your accommodation, where you can cool off after the day's work.
Trips to Harare can be arranged, where you can shop for souvenirs and gifts. You can also travel to visit the famous Victoria Falls, for a few days. The staff on the project are happy to help plan and book trips to the Victoria Falls before or after your stay on the project. NOTE! Costs for travels to Harare or Victoria Falls are payed by you.
Application form
When you have booked your volunteer program with us, we will send you an application form (together with the registration fee). Fill out the application form and return it to us, we will then forward it to the projekt as basis for your volunteer placement.
Insurance
LIABILITY INSURANCE
Liability insurance is included in the price of your volunteer trip. Liability insurance applies to occasions when you as a private person are required to pay damages for having unintentionally damaged someone or someone’s property.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
You, yourself are responsible to ensure that your insurance cover covers illness, injury and theft while you travel and work as a volunteer.
Visa
You, yourself are responsible for applying for and acquiring the required visa for entering the country of your destination. Different visa rules may apply depending on your nationality. Visit the embassy web page for the country of your destination, to find out the accurate visa terms between your resident country and the country where you are travelling.
Vaccinations
Remember to get vaccinated about a month before your departure. Check with your lokal vaccination center or doctor what vaccinations you need for your travels. We always recommend that you have adequate protection against Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus and Cholera, regardless of destination.
Remember! Circumstances can change rapidly, and epidemics can break out. You are responsible for keeping yourself informed, and also for which vaccination protection you choose.