Overview of the Project

The goal of this project is to preserve wilderness areas set up for wild animals, and reduce conflict and encounters between wildlife and local farmers. This area is home to many animals including: leopards, cheetahs, brown hyena, caracal, and jackal; but as more new commercial farms are being setup they are encroaching on the wildlife space. Located just 40km East of Windhoek, the Namibia Land is a natural Savannah paradise with vegetation, lush grass plains, and magnificent mountain views. Aside from the big cats, other animals such as Hartebeest, Oryx, and Kudu roam the area freely, but as the lines between wildlife and farms begin to blur we step in to make sure there are no conflicts. The farmers do not enjoy the presence of the wild animals because they pose a threat to their livestock, so you will help set up special harmless trap boxes to capture and monitor the animals. Wild cats, baby baboons, warthogs, and mongoose are just a few of the animals we have captured and collared to keep an eye on. With your help we can continue this project and ease any tensions between wildlife and farmers.

Research Objectives

• Capture the problem animals using special box traps which will be set out in various locations where wild carnivores have been sighted on the surrounding farms
• Fit radio collars to the animals and then release them away from human threat
• Train a team of trackers that will also include volunteers to monitor the animal movements using GPS and handheld computers
• Log and update the new data on a regular basis
• Be able to inform farmers timorously when predators approach their land and specifically areas where livestock feed
• Capture and safely release predators away from danger and continually monitor to ensure its safety and well being

Skills Required:

No specific skills are required, but an interest in wildlife and animal safety is encouraged. The volunteers will be trained in the skills they need to conduct the fieldwork. The project staff will prepare each group for their fieldwork. They will explain the research methods and the goals of the research.

Project life/Volunteers' life

Volunteers will conduct land surveys, patrol enclosures, feed the animals, work with the locals, help take care of the animals, and have a good time. During a typical week the team will be divided into groups to carry out the following research activities in 2 daily sessions. 

The schedule is as follows:

7.00am - Breakfast
8.00am - Morning meeting with volunteer co-coordinator to plan the day ahead
8.30am - Food preparation and feeding of the small animals in and around the volunteer house
9.30am - Enclosure patrol
11.00am - Morning activity
1.00pm - Lunch and free time
3.00pm - Afternoon activity
5.30pm - Food preparation and feeding of the small animals in and around the volunteer house
8.00pm - Dinner and free time

The volunteers' work includes:

Food Preparation & Feeding the Animals

Volunteers should be prepared to handle and prepare raw meat which is in the from of different animal body parts. Feeding of the larger animals has to be kept as natural as possible.
The smaller animals are fed slices of raw meat, vegetables and in some cases bottle fed with milk.

Enclosure Patrol

All larger animals are housed in purpose built enclosures which are surrounded by electric fencing powered by solar panels. Every morning volunteers will be selected to walk around the enclosures checking for digging activity and filling holes where necessary and testing the power of the electric fences.

Building and maintenance

As new animals arrive on the farm new enclosures have to be built. Volunteers will assist the San Bushman with the preparation of:

• Materials
• Digging foundations and waterholes
• Erecting of enclosures
• Existing enclosures have to be maintained to a high standard, waterholes cleaned regularly and bones from feeding collected
• The building of tree houses and look out spots for game counting and bird watching are also on the project agenda

Grooming, De-ticking, and Petting the Animals

• Every volunteers dream is to get up close and personal with the animals. One of the most important activities is spending quality time with the animals. Volunteers will sit with and groom the 3 tame Cheetahs and spend time sitting and playing with all smaller animals at the project.
• Please remember that the animals are rescued, taken in, cared for and if possible, released into natural habitat again, therefore the variety and number of animals at the Sanctuary differs and rotate on a daily basis. The program provides a hands-on experience with most of the animals. The farm is also home to all kinds of indigenous wildlife living in their natural environment, freely roaming the land. This includes: Antelope, Wart Hog, Ostrich, Caracal, Jackal, Vultures, Eagles, various bird species, the list is endless.

Fun activities

Other fun activities that volunteers will participate in are:

• Nature walks across the farm (comfortable walking shoes are essential)
• Horse riding
• Camping out overnight after a nature walk is not to be missed
• Setting up camp under the stars and watching the sunset surrounded by nature is an exhilarating experience
• Making a camp fire, baking bread on sticks and meat (barbeque) is all part of the fun!
• A trip to the Arnhem Caves is an experience not to be missed, where you will come face to face with various species of bats
• Playing soccer or rugby against the San Bushman makes way for a fun environment between volunteers and farm workers
• Spending time with the Bushman children who don’t have the luxury of schooling is a satisfying experience.

Benefits to volunteers:

The Namibia Wildlife project needs much assistance. Volunteers are greatly needed in this project. By volunteering in this project, you will have a rewarding opportunity to experience the life of wildlife volunteers while supporting the Namibian efforts of preserving wildlife. The project also offer the opportunities of travel, exploration, and cultural immersion