Perfect for wildlife-lovers looking to take their knowledge to the next level; a worthwhile gap year experience; or to start a career in wildlife conservation.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
The Imire Nature Enthusiast course is designed for wildlife lovers who are looking to take their knowledge of the natural world to the next level.
The course has been designed and is led by our highly qualified volunteer co-ordinator, an experienced FGASA-certified guide. The knowledge that you will gain from the course, and the research techniques you will learn, can be used anywhere in the world in a variety of conservation and wildlife careers.
The 6-week course is an opportunity for nature enthusiasts to study Africa's wildlife and ecology more intensively, and be immersed in the conservancy's unique environment. You will study large mammals, focusing on the project's nine rhino and three elephants, small mammals and birds, reptiles, insects and amphibians. You will learn about the night skies and ecology, and you develop a deep understanding of large and small animal behaviour.
The course is ideal for people wanting to start a career in wildlife conservation, or who simply have a desire to learn more about a variety of wildlife subjects.
Fully accredited
The course is FGASA-endorsed, and delivered through a combination of lecture-style lessons and exciting outdoor practical activities.
Course topics include standard FGASA modules:
- Astronomy
- Geology
- Weather and Climate
- Ecology
- Taxonomy
- Botany – Wild Flowers, Trees and Grasses
- Arthropods (Insects) and Amphibians
- Reptiles and Fish
- Birds and Mammals
- Animal Behaviour
- Conservation Management
- Historical Human Habitation
- Tracking Skills
Plus bespoke courses in:
- Basic Weapon Handling
- Bush Survival Skills and Navigation
- Introduction to Zimbabwe
- Applied field research techniques and data capture
Develop practical research skills
Unique to our Nature Enthusiast course, in addition to learning about wildlife and the environment, students will pioneer Imire’s scientific research. Each topic of study includes a research project, where participants will develop their own skills and also contribute to Imire’s long-term conservancy management plan.
Current research projects include canopy surveys, telemetry tracking and animal mapping, camera traps, and bird, fish and amphibian population studies.
Each day will focus on a different topic from the course manual. Some topics have more to cover and may stretch across multiple days. The course will run seven days a week from Sunday to Sunday, with a good mixture of lecture-style and practical activities.
Days will be split into three sections, with plenty of breaks for review and questions. A typical day could be:
0530 - 0600 - wake up, coffee, rusks. Briefing of the days activities and learning points
0600 - 0930: mammal lecture
0930 - 1030: breakfast
1030 - 1230: practical field exercise: game drive focusing on mammal diversity
1230 - 1400: lunch
1400 - 1700: field research: micro mammal traps and large animal camera traps
1700 - 1900: self-study and completion of workbook questions
1900 - 2000: dinner
2000 onwards: relax around the fire
During your down time, you may explore the conservancy on foot or on horseback (additional charge). There will be outings to local areas of historical interest, and you will also have talks from conservation experts.