"Hands on conservation, get close (not that close) to cheetahs, baby baboons and learn about how the game industry really works with conservation!"
Get up-close and personal with iconic African carnivores on a volunteering project deep in Cheetah Country, Namibia, home to one third of the world’s entire cheetah population, is the setting for this unforgettable volunteering experience. Situated in a stunning savannah paradise, the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary provides a safe-haven for injured and orphaned animals, as well as reputed ‘problem carnivores’ that have been relocated because of the threat posed by local farmers. Surrounded by vast grassy plains, majestic mountains and lush vegetation, this is your chance to get hands-on volunteering experience with a host of incredible wildlife.
Contributing to the rescue and rehabilitation of cheetahs, leopards, lions, rare African wild dogs, baboons and zebras, you’ll make a real difference as a volunteer on this project. Expect to get your hands dirty, as you’ll be involved in all aspects of day-to-day sanctuary work: feed big cats, bathe baby baboons, conduct border fence patrols, maintain enclosures and spend time playing and interacting with the animals. In your free time, go on nature walks, play football against the bushman workers and enjoy delicious braais (barbeques) in the evening! Rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals is a life-changing experience and a true privilege – where better to gain practical conservation experience than at an ever-growing wildlife sanctuary in beautiful Namibia?
If this sounds great, why not stay a little longer and really immerse yourself? Check out the three-week version of this project by clicking here!
Human-wildlife conflict poses a real and substantial threat to the survival of many of Africa’s most iconic species. Cheetahs, for instance, are often hunted and killed by landowners who view them as a threat to their livestock. With 95% of cheetahs living on farmland outside of protected areas, this is a huge problem. The Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary helps to rescue and rehabilitate cheetahs along with other injured, orphaned and threatened wildlife including lions, baboons, leopards and rare African wild dogs.
Animals that have the potential to be released are encouraged to emulate their natural behaviour at the sanctuary, before being reintroduced into the wild as soon as possible so as to avoid too much human familiarity. By releasing animals into safe conservation areas away from farmland, it is hoped that future human-wildlife conflicts will be avoided. Since opening in 2008, the sanctuary has successfully released 40 carnivores, and this number is ever-growing. Although the project focuses all its efforts on long-term rehabilitation, sadly not all of the animals that come to the sanctuary can return to the wild; for them, the sanctuary provides a safe and caring permanent home. Volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project, making a valuable contribution to the sanctuary’s everday rescue and rehabilitation work.