Itinerary

Cheetah Project
Day 1 (Monday)
Arrive into Windhoek Airport (airport code WDH) and you’ll be met by our staff and taken straight to the sanctuary – your home for the duration of your trip.  Settle in and get to know your fellow volunteers, the permanent members of staff and the animals who also call this place home.  

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Day 2 (Tuesday)  After breakfast all new arrival volunteers will come together for orientation – this important session will talk you through the history of the sanctuary, its aims and the important program safety rules.  Then you’ll get stuck in !
Duties begin around 8am and tasks at the sanctuary are varied, with all aspects of the program carried out on rotation to ensure that everybody gets involved in the full range of experiences available.  You can expect to be involved with some or all of the following:
  • Feeding the animals, including meal preparation
  • Providing enrichment (animal interaction, walks in the bush or other activities)
  • Intensive care for juvenile wildlife, which may include overnight care for young baboons and other animals
  • Research activities inc. tracking & monitoring carnivores wildlife in the local area
  • Maintenance and building of enclosures and facilities
  • Wildlife data collection including animal population counts in the bush
  • Horseback riding
  • Cleaning and maintenance of animal enclosures

You may also choose to be involved with the kinder or primary school which are located within the grounds of the sanctuary.  These facilities have been established to provide free education to the San Bushman children whose parents work on site and who would otherwise not have access to schooling.
Weekends  During your free time there’s lots to do…or do nothing at all!  Take a nature walk across the farm, swim in the pool, play football or even go paintballing – but always make time for the beautiful African sunsets.  Saturday afternoons are set aside for fun and games as a group followed by a braai (BBQ) for dinner.  You may have chance to join a trip into Windhoek or to visit the ancient San skills academy to try your hand at a range of tribal skills including fire-making with traditional San fire sticks, making bows and arrows and jewellery. 
 
Last day – (Monday) On your last day with us at the sanctuary, having said goodbye and packed your bags, we’ll whisk you off to the airport in plenty of time for your flight onwards, or home.

Accommodation and meals : There are two accommodation styles, allocated on arrival – these are standard rooms or large, raised safari tents with proper beds.  Both types are very comfortable and twin-share – if travelling solo you’ll be paired with another volunteer (same-gender).  Showers and toilet facilities are communal, please bring biodegradable shampoo and soap.
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Three meals a day are included so you’ll enjoy the luxury of having your breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared for you. You can look forward to some authentic African braais (BBQ) on a weekend too !

Other information  As a desert country, Namibia experiences an average of 300 days of sunshine in the year with hot summers and mild winters.  There is no bad time to visit Namibia.The sanctuary does have mosquitoes but no malaria.  A net is not a necessity, but do bring insect repellent. 
Internet is not available on site but you’ll get the chance to check your email on your days off.

Wildlife Research options
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As part of your stay, we recommend you combine time at the sanctuary with a stint at one of the remote research projects, a fantastic way to have a complete African wildlife experience.  We do recommend a total stay of 3 weeks or more to do this.  Research weeks are undertaken as a small group, escorted by members of the sanctuary team.  All transport, accommodation, meals and training are provided, and it’s just an extra $170  over the standard sanctuary program.   

The programs are:
 
Carnivore Research Volunteers have a unique opportunity to spend time at one of the ongoing carnivore research sites in Southern Namibia.  Here you will have the chance to track and monitor large carnivores and other animals in the area, contributing to invaluable research that will help mitigate human-wildlife conflict in Africa.  Daily activities usually entail hiking in the vast outdoors of this semi-desert landscape. Volunteers will be involved with all aspects of the research program, which includes: 
  • cheetah feed
  • assisting with capture and releases
  • camera trapping
  • night drives and sleep-outs
  • radio telemetry tracking
  • game count
  • mapping and exploring the terrain and environment
  • data processing
  • maintenance and security on the reserve

Elephant & African Wild Dog Research Come and delve into the lives of the world’s largest land animal and one of Africa’s most endangered carnivore species using GPS and VHF monitoring technology, motion-sensitive trail cameras and traditional spoor (footprint) tracking techniques.  Daily activities usually entail hiking in the woodland landscapes, and program activities include: 
  • camera trapping
  • GPS monitoring
  • VHF telemetry tracking
  • spoor (footprint) tracking
  • conflict assessment
  • community outreach