(214) 390-7947 (Overseas Callers)

Toll-Free: 1-800-675-2504 (US/Canada)

01273 93 0514 (UK ), (02) 8006 6640 (Australia)


Save Our Wildlife (Namibia)

This project provides you with a rare and exciting opportunity to work closely with and actively participate in the conservation of African wildlife. The sanctuary currently provides a safe refuge for orphaned and injured wildlife including a number of lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, caracals and baboons. Volunteers provide an important resource in caring for and feeding the animals on a daily basis, helping to maintain and develop the sanctuary and becoming surrogate parents to our orphaned baby baboons who need constant care and attention. Volunteers also get the rare and exciting opportunity to work alongside the carnivore experts and in the conservation research program.


Goal Of Project/ How Volunteer Can Contribute

The aim is to provide volunteers with the wonderful opportunity of experiencing African wilderness while contributing to conservation. Volunteers are key to the success of this special place, and all the money raised through the volunteering program goes directly back into the project which provides employment, healthcare, education and accommodation to the local Bushman community and to ensure the rescue, survival and rehabilitation of orphaned and injured African wildlife.

Namibia truly is a wonderful country to experience, the scenery is spectacular and volunteers work with a friendly and dedicated team. If you come prepared to learn and to give your best you will be rewarded with a fantastic experience and wonderful memories to take home.


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Volunteer Responsibilities

Volunteers are split into groups, rotating duties daily to undertake the following during their time at the project:

Feeding and caring for the animals (preparing food and vegetables, feeding the various animals, clearing out old food and bones etc., cleaning waterholes and fixing holes / damage to the animal enclosures)

Animal Time (spending time with the various animals, either by walking them or just spending time them in their enclosures, and caring for the orphaned baboons). Assisting with the Bushman School (spending one morning assisting the teacher at the local school)

Big Cat Conservation Work (may include learning and taking part in various monitoring and tracking techniques, undertaking game counts and building or clearing out temporary enclosures for new residents, and contributing to the conservation research project)

Project Work (de-bushing, fence breakdown, building new enclosures, preparing materials, digging foundations and waterholes, and the erecting of enclosures)

Security and Maintenance (taking part in fence patrols and enclosure patrols with trained farm workers. filling in holes created by wild animals, repairing fences, and overnight security watches)

Volunteers should be prepared for the daily schedule to change at short notice to meet the needs of the project and animals. Volunteers also need to be ready to take on any tasks that may be required of them, and to get dirty in the process!


Room & Food

There are 2 options of accommodation available to volunteers at the project – volunteer rooms with up to 3 people sharing each room, or large tents with a living and bedroom area to be shared by up to 2 people. The rooms are divided based on gender. Sometimes volunteers have a room to themselves, but that’s no guaranteed. For couples that are traveling together, the project will do its best to accommodate this, but sometimes couples have to share their room as well.

Three basic meals are provided a day and typically consist of the following:

Breakfasts – toast and cereals.

Lunch – pasta, wraps, burgers or stir-fry.

Dinners – a hot meal (meat, fish and vegetables with rice, potatoes and pasta) or a barbeque.


Volunteer Program Dates And Fees:

Dates: Mondays and Thursdays. These are the only 2 days when there are set transfers from Windhoek to the Project. Should you not be able to arrive on either of these 2 days, then volunteers could stay in Windhoek at one of the local backpackers (at their own expense) until the set transfer on either a Monday or Thursday, or pay an additional R500-00 to transfer to the project on the day they arrive (if not a Monday or Thursday).

Should you depart later than your set departure date, you will be expected to overnight in Windhoek, at your own expense.

The Updated fee is:

Weeks Program Fee US$
1 Week N/A
2 Wks $1077
3 Wks $1610
4 Wks $2148
5 Wks $2670
6 Wks $3190
7 Wks $3715
8 Wks $4250
Extra Week $500

Free Time/What Volunteer Can Do In Free Time

During your stay, you will have a few hours each day to relax. Weekends are still spent at the sanctuary, helping to take care of the animals, feeding them and cleaning out their enclosures, with more free time on Sundays. There may also be an opportunity to head into Windhoek to pick up some supplies, although this cannot be guaranteed, so please ensure that you have enough supplies with you to last for your entire stay at the project.

Included in the program fees, is a nature walk across the farm, swimming in the pool or waterfall (weather dependent), paintball, followed by a sunset downer and barbeque. Stargazing, movie nights, nature walks and sleep outs are other common activities.

Near the volunteer accommodations is small swimming pool for volunteers to relax and cool down. Occasionally the volunteers play football against the San Bushman workers.


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MAJOR FAQ

  • Where do I need to fly?

    Volunteers must book their flights to arrive and depart from Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek.

  • How can I get to the project?

    You will be collected from either the airport, or central Windhoek (depending on your travel plans), by a representative from the project. They will then take you to the project, which will take approximately 40 minutes.

  • What vaccinations do I need?

    The area around the project is not a high risk malarial area, however, areas around the project may be a higher risk. It is advisable to take precautions against malaria, especially if you intend to travel to other destinations within Namibia before or after your volunteer experience. Rabies vaccination is also highly recommended, as some of the smaller animals at this project may be carriers.

  • How can I communicate with family?

    The internet service at the project is very unreliable (due to the location of the project), and this facility is therefore only available for emergency purposes only. If you get the chance to take a trip into town (i.e. Windhoek), you will be able to access the internet from any one of the internet cafes available in town.

    It is also a good idea to take your mobile phone with you, as a more "reliable" way of staying in contact with family and friends back home. If you do decide to take your phone with you, please ensure that you have activated international roaming on your phone. It is also a good idea to unlock your phone, in case you get the opportunity to buy a local Namibian SIM card for about £15, which will allow you to call and text home cheaply and easily. Due to the rural location of the project, the mobile phone signal is quite weak, although there are a few spots around camp where you can get reception, but you will need to walk around a bit to find these.

  • How safe is this project?

    Very safe. Volunteers must however be aware of their personal belongings when in town, and should also adhere to the safety tips given at orientation once at the project. Volunteers are advised to not leave personal items (passport, air tickets, money etc.) lying around – it is better to take precautions than to lose an important item. It is however sensible to lock your sleeping quarters and keep windows closed when you are not there.

  • Will there be someone to guide/supervise us?

    Throughout your stay at the project, you will have the support and guidance of the project leaders and team. They will provide you with competent field support, assistance and help you with any support you may need during your stay. They will be there for you to contact each day if you have any questions.

    In addition, you will also have access to a 24-hour emergency number so you are always able to contact a member of the team, should you need to.

  • Will there be other volunteers?

    There will always be other volunteers at the project with you, and this number will vary from 15 – 30 volunteers, depending on the time of the year.

  • Any other important information to consider

    Please note that if you arrive before your scheduled start date, you will be required to spend these additional night/s in Windhoek, at your own expense. Likewise, should you book your departure flight for after your scheduled departure date, you will be dropped off in Windhoek, where you can stay until your flight out of Namibia. A variety of tours are also available for volunteers to do, either before or after their volunteer experience.

    Tours include: 3 day Etosha Link / Express, 3 day Sossusvlei Link / Express, 6 day Taste Of Namibia, and others.


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