Wildlife Sanctuary Supporter

A typical working week runs from Monday to Friday, with each day beginning at 7am and ending around 5pm/6pm. During this time, you will take part in a combination of the activities found below.

Baboon Walk

The sanctuary is home to a number of baboons which have been orphaned as a result of the human-animal conflict. Baboons are often thought of as pests, which in turn sees them shot by farmers. The injured or orphaned baboons are taken in by the sanctuary, and as a volunteer you will help to care for these social animals by accompanying them on enrichment walks, allowing them to exercise their innate abilities such as running and climbing.

Cheetah Walk

Much like baboons, cheetahs have often fallen victim to the human-animal conflict: by venturing onto farms in search of food, these beautiful big cats have inadvertently become targets of angry farmers and are sometimes shot at, resulting in injury or even death. Those which survive their injuries are taken in by the sanctuary and are provided with large enclosures, while volunteers help to aid their enrichment by taking them out on walks.

Carnivore Feeding

Take a front-row seat and witness the sanctuary’s resident carnivores at their most ‘wild’ during their feeding time! You will help to prepare and throw food to leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs, whilst the project facilitator shares their impressive carnivore knowledge with you.

Enrichment

This is a particularly important element of the sanctuary’s efforts, as enrichment helps to stimulate the animals and therefore will improve their quality of life. You will be tasked with creating an array of activities designed to provoke their senses, such as introducing scented or puzzle-type toys. One example can be found in a previous volunteer group's creation of papier-mâché 'animals': since the 'animals' resembled something the carnivores may have witnessed in the wild, they were quick to tear the creation open. This is a great opportunity to put your creativity to good use!

Food Preparation

Keeping a sanctuary running can be hungry work, and that goes for the animals, too! You will help to prepare a range of meals for the sanctuary’s resident animals, such as a platter of vegetables or large chunks of meat for the carnivores. All meals must provide the correct nutrition to the animals at the project, so this certainly is an important part of your efforts.

Enclosure Cleaning & Animal Feeding

The sanctuary is ever-growing, which means the need to keep on top of animal care and the cleaning of enclosures becomes all the more demanding. You will distribute food amongst the animals, and you will also assist in making each enclosure as comfortable as possible for those who reside there. Meerkats, lambs and warthogs are just a handful of the animals you may encounter during this activity, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to what could otherwise be thought of as dirty work!

Horseback Riding

During the project, you may be invited to help feed, clean or exercise the sanctuary’s resident horses. You will learn how to canter and gallop as you explore a more scenic side to Namibia, taking the time to observe the local wildlife as you go.

Reserve Research

You will join the project team in retrieving camera traps from the neighbouring reserve, helping to sort through and analyse the data gathered. This data will help to provide a clearer understanding of the animals in the region. Additionally, you will head out in search of a number of free-roaming elephants, rhinos and wild dogs (amongst other species) which have previously been released by the project; this will be done by GPS tracking.

Night Watch

Every two weeks, you will have the opportunity to take on a new role as a member of the project’s anti-poaching team, heading up to a viewing platform where you will keep an eye out for any unusual activity. This activity will be undertaken in shifts, and even if the night turns out to be uneventful, this is an excellent opportunity to partake in a little star gazing under the magnificent African sky.

Project Work

Building and maintenance are both necessary aspects of keeping the sanctuary running as smoothly as possible, and you will help to construct new enclosures and fences whilst also taking the time to remove alien plants from the reserve. These activities will go a long way towards providing a safe and comfortable home for all of the sanctuary’s animals, and are a continuous element of the project.

Clever Cubs School

The project site is not only home to a wildlife sanctuary, but to an education centre called the Clever Cubs School. Here, the children of the local bushmen come to gain an education, and should you wish to exchange five of your days at the sanctuary in order to help out here instead, you will most likely be welcome to do so! This activity only takes place during term time, but it is certainly a fun and rewarding experience.

Whilst on the project, you will have the weekday evenings and all weekend to relax (please note, however, that the animals do still need to be fed on the weekends, therefore a small amount of time may be set aside for this). You are welcome to spend your free time as you please: head out on a nature walk, go swimming in the onsite pool, or play football against the bushman workers at the site! Additionally, a braai (traditional African barbeque) typically takes place once a week, offering the perfect opportunity for you to sit back and relax with your fellow volunteers.

Should you wish to spend a little time away from the project site during your downtime, we do offer a number of trips at an additional cost.

Ancient San Skills

Nobody knows and understands the vast southern African landscape quite how the San people do: their expertise in understanding their native flora and fauna is unparalleled, so why not see what you can learn by spending some time with them? This activity is dependent on whether enough volunteers wish to take part and is also subject to availability, but should you wish to take part, you can do so for N$250 (approximately £12.50).

Neuras Conservation and Research Site

For an additional £120, you may wish to swap out one of your weeks at the sanctuary for a week exploring the mountainous Neuras region. Here, you can take part in data and research analysis as you explore the region’s rocky landscape, also helping to set up camera traps as you go. A week at this research site may even see you paying a visit to the world-famous Sossusvlei region, which is home to one of the world’s tallest sand dunes: Big Daddy.

Kanaan Conservation and Research Site

Not interested in Neuras? Perhaps Kanaan is more your kind of thing: surrounded by red sand dunes, this research site offers an insight to the lives of Namibia’s desert-dwelling wildlife, including (but not limited to) a range of beautiful big cats! Take part in the recording of statistical data and mapping of this unique region, ultimately aiding the research team in improving their understanding of the wildlife found here.

African Wild Dog & Elephant Monitoring at Mangetti

Finally, you may opt to switch a week at the sanctuary out for a week at the Mangetti Research Site. For an additional £120, you can help to monitor elephants and wild dogs found in the region, taking note of any patterns in their movements, group compositions and even mating habits. The ultimate aim here is to change the perception of local farmers who may otherwise view the animals as a threat to their livelihood, meaning your time at Mangetti could have a lasting impact even long after you return home.