Wildlife Volunteer in Zimbabwe
- In the middle of nature
- animals in the wild
- Varied activities
Many animal species in Zimbabwe are threatened with extinction due to poaching. Support animal welfare with this wildlife project in Zimbabwe! You are committed to the preservation of natural habitats and support development projects in the local community!
Endangered biodiversity through poaching
When volunteering in the field of wildlife and animal welfare, you should make sure that the welfare of the animal and the protection of species are the top priority for the project. With our magazine article We would like to give you not only an assistance on what you have to pay attention to the project choice. We also want to show you why animal welfare is even important in tourism and during a project assignment.
What's the matter?
Zimbabwe not only offers unique natural spectacles such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Victoria Falls, but is also home to the Big Five. However, hunting and habitat destruction are causing many species to decline. Your assignment is dedicated to the conservation of species, such as the black rhino, which is threatened with extinction. The project also focuses on the education of the local population. As a Wildlife Volunteer, you support the team in this important task with full commitment!
The approximately 2.500 hectare, privately run wildlife reserve has been active in matters of nature conservation and species conservation for 15 years. The mission site has set itself the task of demolishing abandoned farmhouses in order to give nature back its traditional place.
Your place of work is active in various areas: In the area of ​​sustainability, it is all about sustainability. Here you will help, for example, with the care of the vegetable garden, with the planting and care of trees in the reserve or with the installation of water pumps. Possible areas of work for the volunteers in conservation management include counting wild animals, tracking, recording soil erosion, but also construction activities such as the maintenance of roads and bridges.
Your tasks as a volunteer
As you work, you'll gain insight into local conservation and learn how to support local communities. During your assignment you will live directly on the reserve grounds, only a few minutes away from the Victoria Falls.
As a volunteer, you support the team in their goal of restoring the reserve to its natural state and thus make an important contribution to species conservation. Previous knowledge is not necessary, but you should be fit and not refuse physical work.
However, in addition to their work on the reserve, the team also engages in community development projects. Therefore, once a week you support your assignment site in the work at the local school in educating the children about environmental protection. You support the local school with your weekly commitment and thus get an insight into the local community. During your assignment in the nature reserve you will work around 5 hours a day, 6 days a week. Together with the guides and your team, you will be driven to and from your location every day. The usual working day includes a lunch break of several hours for relaxation and ends with dinner together.
Accommodation Catering
Your accommodation in the wildlife reserve in Zimbabwe
During your volunteer work in the wildlife reserve, you will live in accommodation at your volunteer site. The nature conservation center offers 20 single rooms, each equipped with a wardrobe and desk. Up to four volunteers share a bathroom. You can use the internet of the accommodation free of charge, as well as the weekly laundry service. In the garden of the camp there is an outdoor area with a pool and a terrace with a bar and a BBQ area where you can relax with the other volunteers in your free time.
The accommodation is about 10 km away from the nearest town, which you can explore on your free weekends. Please note that you are not allowed to leave the area inside the electric fence because of the wild animals.
The fully equipped kitchen provides you with a fresh meal three times a day, so you don't have to worry about anything. There is also a safe for your valuables and a library.
Location
Victoria Falls
Our location in Zimbabwe is a 2.500 hectare private game reserve at the Victoria Falls. Here you have the opportunity to observe the Big 5 in their natural habitat as well as to discover an enormous variety of different birds! The reserve is dedicated to the protection and conservation of these species and nature. Here you can look behind the scenes of a wildlife reserve.
Not far away are the famous Victoria Falls, which form a natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. This is the widest continuous waterfall on earth, which is one of the seven wonders of the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989. Not for nothing, because the natural spectacle not only impresses with its almost two kilometers wide - the Victoria Falls are surrounded by breathtaking nature, tropical rainforest and a diverse animal world.
Are you enthusiastic about nature and animals? Would you like to get to know a unique environment and experience Africa's wild animals up close? Then travel to Zimbabwe, discover the phenomenal Victoria Falls, observe the Big 5 and many other wild animals as you volunteer!
Your free time in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe offers you a lot of different leisure activities. Whether you love nature, animals, sports, history or culture, there is something for every area of ​​interest.
Visit Victoria Falls, one of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in the world. There you can hike along the falls, take a boat ride down the river, or even go skydiving. Zimbabwe offers a wide range of leisure activities, especially for sports enthusiasts. The Zambezi River is one of the best places in the world for white water rafting. You have the opportunity to discover the landscape of Zimbabwe from a whole new perspective.
A safari in the Hwange National Park, which is the largest national park in Zimbabwe and is home to a large number of different animals, is also exciting. If you are lucky, you can see lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and many other animals in their natural environment. You can also discover the wildlife and nature of Zimbabwe in Matobo National Park. This is known, among other things, for its spectacular rock formations.
Are you interested in history? Then a trip to Great Zimbabwe in your free time as a volunteer is just the thing. This is a historic site in South East Zimbabwe and was once the center of a great kingdom. There you can not only explore the ruins, but also learn a lot about the history of the country.
But Zimbabwe also has a lot to offer in terms of culture. For this you should definitely visit the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare. Here you have a variety of opportunities to experience the culture and art of the country up close. There you can visit exciting museums, art galleries or local music and dance performances.
On-site procedure
Arrive at Victoria Falls
For your stay in Zimbabwe you will fly to Victoria Falls Airport. There you will be picked up by a team member and it will take you on a 10 to 15 minute drive to the reserve. You will then be given a small tour and you will be shown your room. On the first evening you get to know the other volunteers and employees and you can end the evening relaxed together.
Orientation program in Victoria Falls
Arriving at the reserve, you will be given a small tour of the area. The following day is initially used for orientation and an introduction to your project work. The orientation program lasts up to three hours, during which you will be explained about the work, your tasks and everything important about life on the reserve.
Your first day in the project
The first working day starts with your first game drive at around 6:30 a.m. Here you may already be able to make your first Big 5 observations. You will then receive an introduction to the work in the wildlife reserve. This is followed by the second game drive for the day.
Pricing
-
base fee€ 1.850, -
-
extension week€ 550, - / week
included
Services
Before departure
- Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
- Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
- Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
- Non-binding flight advice
- Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
- RGV t-shirt
On site
- Orientation program with the team on site
- Support and guidance from the on-site team
- RGV 24h emergency number
- Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities
- Airport transfer on the agreed arrival and departure days
- Accommodation at the job site
- Meals: Breakfast and dinner
After return
- Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
- Reflection course on your experiences abroad
- Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion
not included
Services
- Round trip
- Private expenses on site
- Excursions with microlight flights
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Visa and Vaccinations
- All nights outside your agreed accommodation
- Public transport and extra transfers
- Drinks
Individual
Recommended additional offers
& must-haves
Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?
With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.
Would you like to receive a cheap flight offer for your stay abroad that is perfectly tailored to you? After you have successfully registered, you can have a non-binding offer created.
The excellent rates for volunteers, students and young people are a great advantage. Arrival times and flight time changes can also be sent directly to RGV upon request, so that our RGV teams in the destination countries are always informed about your arrival times.
These special tariffs give you special added value:
- maximum flexibility for rebookings and cancellations
- generous baggage allowance
- Additional discounts on one-way flights: The new volunteer tariffs include attractive discounts to reduce your financial burden on one-way flights (e.g. for stopovers, project or country combinations).
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.
You can easily book the long-term travel protection of ERGO Reiseversicherung after you have registered. You will receive the links to this automatically after a successful registration.
The following building blocks are included:
- Health Insurance
- Comfort protection: accident, liability and interruption insurance
- Travel insurance
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Personal development introductory courseFree of charge
Victoria Falls
Team
site
The RGV team leader is on site Griffiths Mpuche. Griffiths has over a decade of experience as a safari guide, leading safari tours in Southern Africa and managing operations in valued private game reserves. He is responsible for administration, management and marketing in the organization. The second contact person is Hope and is your third contact person Robert.
Griffiths, Hope and Robert are professional, licensed guides with a wealth of experience, knowledge and love of the land and its wildlife. They are passionate about what they do and look forward to introducing you to Zimbabwe and the amazing game reserve we call home.
Volunteers talk about their experiences Joint commitment - big impact!
My volunteer work in the wildlife project in Zimbabwe
Sometimes you just have to be incredibly brave for 20 seconds. I was incredibly nervous about taking the first step and am incredibly happy to have made this dream come true!My volunteer work as a Wildlife Volunteer in Zimbabwe
In fact, every day was a special experience. To see these fascinating animals every day and to have met many new people - both the guides and the other participants in the project.Experience report from the wildlife project in Zimbabwe
My overall impression after six weeks remains unchanged: it was great! The program exceeded my expectations in every way.
RGV
FAQ
to the project
What are the project fees used for?
Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.
Which visa do I need in Zimbabwe?
You need a business visa for a stay of up to 30 days. It is requested upon entry. You have to pay €30 for one person, €45 for two people and €55 for more than two people.
A work permit must be applied for for a stay of up to 90 days. This costs €500. The business visa must be applied for upon entry and then the work permit must be applied for at the immigration office in Victoria Falls.
What language skills do I need for the project?
In order to be able to communicate well with the team on site, you should definitely have good English skills.
What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need?
If you are traveling from a yellow fever area, you need a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise there are no compulsory vaccinations.
We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.
You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.
What are the requirements for the animal welfare project?
There are no special requirements for participation. What is important is having fun working with animals and being interested in animal welfare. Good physical fitness is often an advantage.
What do I have to bring?
For the project, you should bring comfortable clothing that can get dirty and is easy to wash. In addition, it should not have a camouflage pattern.
What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?
Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.
For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.
Ready to volunteer in Zimbabwe? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!
Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.
You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.
Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.
RGV
Your way
to the volunteer
1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.
2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.
3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.
4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.
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