Duration & Fees
| 2 weeks | £910 |
| 3 weeks | £1,339 |
| 4 weeks | £1,795 |
| 5 weeks | £2,155 |
| 6 weeks | £2,529 |
| 7 weeks | £2,875 |
| 8 weeks | £3,225 |
| 9 weeks | £3,675 |
| 10 weeks | £3,795 |
| 11 weeks | £4,145 |
| 12 weeks | £4,555 |
Please note: The currency conversion is an estimate based on today's exchange rates and is to be used as a guide only. All payments to Amanzi Travel have to be made in Pounds Sterling (GBP)
Start Dates
Volunteers can join throughout the year, we ask you to arrive on a Monday or Thursday if possible if you would like your inclusive transfers from Windhoek Airport to the Sanctuary.
Volunteer can join on other days but there will be an additional charge of £45 if you would like to do this.
Payment
£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure
What's Included
- A contribution to the project itself including funding for items such as building materials, food, medications
- Transfers to and from the Windhoek International Airport
- Full orientation and support from the project managers for the duration of your project
- Accommodation and meals as indicated above
- Laundry
What's not included
- Return flights to Windhoek International Airport
- Travel insurance to include cover for repatriation
- Visas (if required)
- Use of internet and telephone
- Soft drinks, wines and spirits
This project provides a wonderful opportunity to combine working with children at the Bushman school, with helping out at the Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary, caring for the animals. Volunteers are able to experience the African wilderness with the knowledge that they are contributing to the conservation of both the people and the animals in the area.
Volunteers will be asked on arrival to split their time between the two projects Volunteers can join for 2 weeks or more and will be allocated to the teaching project or wildlife care and conservation project for one week blocks. However, we do ask volunteers to be as flexible as possible as they may be required to help out wherever there is the greatest need at the time.
While volunteers are working at the school they will be assisting the teacher at the Clever Cubs school which opened in the grounds of the Wildlife Sanctuary in November 2009. The school provides free education to the San Bushman children whose parents work at the Sanctuary and who would not otherwise have access to education. There are approximately 25 children attending the school, with ages ranging from 1 - 7 years old.
Time spent working with the wildlife conservation volunteers will include looking after the animals in the Sanctuary including cheetahs, wild dogs, baboons, lions, meerkats and leopards. Volunteers are an important resource in caring for and feeding the animals on a daily basis.
Assisting at the Bushman School
Volunteers will spend their time assisting the teacher in the San Bushman school in the grounds of the Sanctuary. The mornings are spent assisting with teaching two groups in the pre-primary class (3 - 6 years). There is also a nursery class for the under threes run by the nursery assistant. Subjects taught include English, numeracy, arts and crafts and care of the environment as well as games and physical activities. The afternoons are spent helping the older children, who return from their schools in Windhoek, in improving their English and with any homework they may have. The main language spoken by the children is Bushman 'click' dialect, but some speak Afrikaans and their English is developing. Volunteers will have the opportunity to use their initiative and any creative talents they have to improve the education provided and help the development of the school. Fun activities can be planned for the weekends
Wildlife Conservation
The Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary was established many years ago to protect and conserve the land, cultures and wildlife of Namibia and rescue species threatened by an ever-shrinking habitat. Animals come to the Sanctuary from all over Namibia and the aim is to heal and rehabilitate them and where possible to release them back into the wild where they can be free to live a natural life. Sometimes, for various reasons, animals cannot be released - perhaps because their injury is too extensive or because their contact with humans could put them at risk. The Sanctuary aims to provide a lifelong sanctuary for such animals.
The Sanctuary, situated in a 3,200 hectare game reserve within striking distance of Windhoek, is set in the majestic savanna of the region with areas of vegetation extending up to a beautiful mountain backdrop. The Otjihase River cuts through the land in the summer months and giraffe, zebra, ostrich, hartebeest, springbok, warthog and occasional cheetah and leopard roam freely across the land.
The resident wildlife at any time will vary but could include carnivores such as wild dogs, lions, lepard, cheetah and caracal; primates such as baboons and vervet monkeys; birds such as peacocks and vultures; antelope such as oryx, springbok, duiker and kudu; small mammals such as meerkats, rock dassies, polecats, genets and warthogs as well as a host of other species and farm animals.
Activities at the Sanctuary are planned on a rotational basis so that everyone has the chance to get involved in all of the experiences available. Possible activities could include:
- food preparation and feeding the wildlife and farm animals
- cleaning and maintaining the animal enclosures
- providing enrichment for the animals - interacting with them, walking out into the bush or perhaps planning special activities for them
- helping to build new facilities
- research projects - perhaps monitoring free-ranging carnivores in the area and surrounding farms to help in the Sanctuary's role in conserving threatened species. To achieve this it is vital that human-wildlife conflict is reduced and this is done through research, relationship-building, improved livestock protection and co-operation ith farmers to reduce their reasons for persecuting the predators
- tracking and monitoring carnivores (and snakes) around the Sanctuary, horseback riding and game counts in the bush
- assisting with any new projects that arise at the Sanctuary
Itinerary
Volunteers are split into working groups to ensure variety when carrying out duties which rotate daily.
Clever Cubs Timetable:
| 7am |
Breakfast |
| 8am |
Meeting with volunteer co-ordinator to plan the day's activities |
| 9am |
Assisting with teaching the pre-primary school children |
| 10am |
Assisting the children with break time play |
| 10.30am |
Activities such as singing, dancing, story telling |
| 11 am |
Helping to give the children their lunch |
| 11.30am |
Assisting with break time play |
| 12 pm |
Pre-primary school finishes - help with planning lessons for tomorrow or join Wildlife volunteers |
| 1.00 pm |
Lunch and free time for Volunteers |
| 2.30 pm |
Help the older children with homework and learning English |
| 5.30 pm |
Dinner and free time |
Wildlife Conservation Timetable:
| 7am |
Breakfast |
| 8am |
Morning meeting with volunteer co-ordinator to plan the day's activities |
| 8am |
Morning activity 1 - varies daily |
| 10am |
Tea break - depending on activity |
| 10.45am |
Morning activity 2 - varies daily |
| 1pm |
Lunch and free time |
| 2.30pm |
Afternoon activities - varies daily |
| 5.00pm |
Educational Talk |
| 5.30pm |
Dinner and free time |
Volunteers should be prepared for the daily schedule to change at short notice to meet the needs of the children, the animals and the project and be ready to take on any tasks that may be required of them.
A guide to School Term Times
| First Term |
Mid January - End March |
| Second Term |
End May - Mid August |
| Third Term |
End August - Start December |
The sanctuary offers two clean and comfortable accommodation options: volunteer rooms shared by up to three people (single sex) or large tents with a living and bedroom area which are shared by up to three people. Twin tents are also available for couples or friends. The rooms are basic but the beds are comfortable and bedding (duvets and pillows) are provided. There are communal showers and toilet facilities with hot water supplied by solar energy which is sometimes restricted. A few of the tents have basic en-suite facilities at the back of the tent. Power sockets for electrical items are available in communal areas.
Depending on availability we may be able to offer one of the tents on a single occupancy basis for those who would like private accommodation on their own. There is a small additional fee for this. To find out more please contact gemma@amanzitravel.co.uk
Three balanced meals are provided each day on a self-serve basis. At weekends there is often a braai (barbecue). Vegetarian options are available on request. Breakfast typically consists of cereals and toast, lunch is typically pasta, stir-fry, burgers or wraps and there is a cooked evening meal - with meat or fish, vegetables and potatoes, pasta or rice.
Volunteers with special dietary needs should ensure they include these on their applicaiton form when booking or contact Amanzi Travel before they travel.
Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary
Why visit Namibia?
Namibia is one of those dreamlike places that makes one question whether something so visually fabulous could actually exist. It is characterised by vast open spaces, with breathtaking scenery and great contrasts – ocean, dunes, mountains and deserts. A predominantly arid country, Namibia can be divided into four main regions. The Namib Desert and vast plains of the Skeleton Coast in the west; the eastward-sloping Central Plateau; the Kalahari desert along the borders with South Africa and Botswana; and the densely wooded bushveld of the Kavango and Caprivi regions – a magical undeveloped oasis of waterways and wildlife, providing abundant game and birdlife viewing opportunities. Despite its harsh climate, Namibia has some of the world’s grandest national parks, ranging from the wildlife-rich Etosha National Park, to the dune fields and desert plains of the Namib-Naukluft Park. The Namib-Naukluft Park is superb for hiking, with a number of spectacular trails. It is also home to the renowned dunes of Sossusvlei - said to be the highest in the world - and the fascinating Sesriem Canyon. Windhoek is the country’s geographical heart and commercial nerve centre, with an ethnic mix of people, while surfers, anglers and beach-lovers won’t want to miss Swakopmund, with its lively entertainment and sporting activities.
Highlights
- Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s finest parks, both in size and diversity of wildlife.
- The Namib-Naukluft Park is the largest conservation area in Namibia and one of the largest in the world.
- Two spectacular deserts - the Kalahari and Namib - each with distinctive wildlife and scenery.
- The Namib, at 80 million years, is the world's oldest desert. Namib means “open space”.
- The Namib and Damaraland offer remarkably clear skies for astronomers and keen star gazers.
- Stunning Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon – it is 161km long, up to 27km wide and 550m deep.
- Sossusvlei are said to be the highest sand-dunes in the world.
- Superb birding and good fishing is available from the banks of the Kavango and Kunene Rivers on the northern border.
- Popular self-drive destination with excellent infrastructure.
- Largely malaria-free.
- More than 300 days of sunshine per year.
Climate
| Seasons | Max | Min |
|---|
| Summer/wet (October - April) |
40 °C |
20 °C |
| Winter/dry (May - September) |
25 °C |
0 °C |
| Rainfall: October – December “little rains”, January to April more stormy period |
The winter months (May - September) range from 25 to 30°C during the day but night temperatures may drop to below freezing. June to August is the dry season with very little rain. This can be a good time for game viewing as wildlife converge at the waterholes.
The summer months (October - April) can reach highs of over 40°C and nights in the 20°C range (in the arid central Namib Desert temperatures can fall to below freezing during the night). This is a summer rainfall area, but overcast and rainy days are few and far between. Welcome thundershowers may occur in the late afternoon, bringing relief to flora and fauna. In October and November, large herds of blue wildebeest, zebra, springbok and oryx migrate from the Namutoni area to Okaukuejo, where they remain until May.
Rainfall is heaviest in the northeast, which enjoys a sub-tropical climate, and reaches over 600mm annually along the Okavango River. The northern and interior regions experience ‘little rains’ between October and December, while the main stormy period occurs from January to April.
Key Facts
Population – 2.1 million
Capital - Windhoek
Currency - Namibian dollar
Language – official language English; most widely spoken is Afrikaans; half of all Namibians speak Oshiwambo as their first language. German is also widely spoken, plus some Portuguese.
Namib – means “open space”
Etosha – means “great white place”
Time difference – GMT +2 hours
Telephone – country code 264, international access code 00
From booking to actually going to Namibia, the entire experience was amazing and we couldn’t have done it without the support from Gemma and Amanzi travel who ensured that they we were prepared and comfortable for the trip. It’s been two of the best weeks of my life and I can’t wait to go again, hopefully for longer!
Ciara, UK, aged 18 (Naankuse Teaching and Wildlife Volunteer, Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary)
Before starting my journey to Namibia, I was very anxious as I had never done anything this this before and had never travelled alone before. Gemma was quick to help settle the nerves by answering any queries that I had promptly and helped keep me informed all the way up until I departed. When I arrived at the Sanctuary, all of the staff were really friendly and helped me settle in quickly. The experiences that I had there are something that I never thought I would have done in my life and I can safely say that it was the trip of a lifetime. (especially the baboon walk!) My only issue was I only went for 2 weeks! The work that is done at the sanctuary is truly amazing and the staff make you feel part of it by involving the volunteers in all aspects of life at the sanctuary, whether it be providing enrichment to the animals or helping to build enclosures for new arrivals. I would highly recommend going to Naankuse and also booking through Amanzi as their customer service and helpful guidance helped put me at ease and make the whole experience a lot less stressful and enjoyable. I definitely plan on returning to Naankuse and Amanzi Travel in the near future!
Jordan, Scotland, aged 24
A wonderful two weeks away arranged by Gemma. Nothing was too much trouble for her - I constantly emailed her questions which she promptly and politely replied to. Naankuse was a little luxury in Namibia, but the work they do for animals, children and San people is amazing. The Namibian Highlights tour was really fun and the accommodation and food standards way above our expectations. Our driver, Gideon was very professional and informative.
Mary and Family of 13, UK (Namibia Short Tour and Naankuse Lodge)
The best experience of my life. It's amazing to be so close to wildlife that you wouldn't usually be able to interact with, and each day is so varied - 2 weeks wasn't long enough!
All of the coordinators are lovely, and the volunteers are very like-minded people, which makes them very easy to get along with! The only thing is that if you wanted to work at the school everyday, you do have to miss out on your group's activities, and sometimes it's not possible to avoid the group activity, but I personally found that I needed the two weeks to experience all of the activities, and only did one morning and one afternoon at the school because the activities were so good! I'd recommend it to anyone who loves animals!
This project is very important - we experienced it first-hand when we had to rush out to Windhoek one morning to respond to an emergency call about a baby cheetah in someone's back garden! The Sanctuary is doing a great job of establishing itself as a friend to the farmers and communities, as well as to the wildlife.
Katy, Wales, aged 18 (Naankuse Teaching and Wildlife Volunteer)
I had a fantastic two weeks in Namibia as a teaching and wildlife volunteer, as I felt as if I had the opportunity to participate in all of the wildlife activities, whilst interacting with the children and teacher in the stimulating and energetic classroom too. I particularly enjoyed the "ancient skills" workshop where we met the San Bushmen and learned about their culture.
I felt as if the project is very valuable for the San Bushmen, as it provides them with jobs, food, education and shelter. Also, it is very useful for preserving and protecting local wildlife such as cheetahs and leopards.
Alice, aged 18, Wales (Naankuse Teaching and Wildlife Volunteer)
Had a fantastic time in Africa. Thank you for all your hard work in organising my adventure. It has certainly been a trip of a lifetime and a life changing experience. Will look through my many photos and send some in the near future.
Limpopo Wildlife Conservation Volunteer Project
Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary Teaching Project
Zambia Lion Rehabilitation Project
Zambia Teaching Project
A trip to volunteer in Africa should be on everones to do list. It is an extremely rewarding and fullfilling experience. Amanzi Travel took the time to ensure that I was placed in the right projects to suit my needs and requirements. You need to approach volunteering with an open mind but the more you put into a project the more you get out off it. i was well looked after on all my projects from the pick up at the airports right through to the end. Everyone was extremely friendly. The only down side was having to leave Africa. i certainly did not want to come home. Volunteering in Africa has certainly been a life changing experince and one I would recommend to anyone.
Alexandra, UK, aged 36 (Zambia Lion Conservation and Community, Naankuse Teaching and Wildlife Volunteer, Zambia Teaching Volunteer, Askari Wildlife Conservation Volunteer)
I had an amazing time at the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary Teaching Project. The Clever Cubs School with only two classrooms is one of the smallest schools i've ever seen. The school's budget is tiny compared to that of developed normal schools - but the Namibian teacher Hilma was so creative in teaching the Bushman kids. I assisted her in teaching the children English, first steps in Mathematics, reading and much more.
But I also got the whole experience of African Wildlife. Half of the day I worked in the Wildlife Volunteer programme. First time in my life I got that close to all these beautiful animals like cheetahs, baboons, wild dogs and leopards. The Teaching and Wildlife programme was a perfect mixture and I will definitely come back some day.
Amy,UK (Naankuse Teaching and Wildlife Volunteer)
We had an amazing time in Namibia! It was great to hear from the staff how important our work as volunteers really was.
Lovisa, Sweden, aged 19 (Naankuse Teaching and Wildlife Volunteer)
Had a fantastic time… everyone so friendly, and it was amazing to get close to the animals, cheetahs in particular.
Ann, UK, aged 63 (Naankuse Teaching and Wildlife Volunteer)