Lion And Wildlife Manager Shadowing Highlights

The highlights

• Direct hand-on experience with some of Africa’s most enigmatic species;
• Take an active role in the wildlife management of this private game reserve;
• Walk with lions as they practice their skills in preparation for release;
• Assist the leading program for the reintroduction of lions into the wild
• Immerse yourself in Zimbabwean culture and make friends for life

Where will I sleep?

• You will be staying in comfortable twin or quad room thatched accommodation at the main reserve camp
• Other facilities include swimming pool and internet access which is sometimes only sporadically available due to our remote location
• Volunteers have separate clean shower & toilet facilities to the rest of the camp which are located adjacent to the sleeping area
• Your room will be cleaned daily by the housekeeping staff, and free use of the laundry service is available to all volunteers

How do I get there and travel around?

We will meet you at the airport!

Your options are as follows:

• Fly in to Bulawayo from Johannesburg, possible overnight Bulawayo at our volunteer lodge, and transfer by 2 hour journey to Gweru either with an Antelope Park representative or on the City Link Bus the following morning. In some very rare cases, you may be required to spend 2 nights at the lodge
• Fly in to Harare (Zimbabwe’s capital), overnight at our volunteer lodge, and then transfer by 4 hour journey with either an Antelope Park representative or on the City Link Bus the following morning. In some very rare cases you may be required to spend 2 nights at the lodge.
• There is a chance that whichever airport you arrive at you will be met directly at the airport by staff from Antelope Park and transferred directly to the park without the need for an overnight stay. It just depends on transfer availability.
• We organise all volunteer pick-ups, overnight accommodation at respective volunteer lodges (Bulawayo or Harare), and transfers to your programme of choice as part of your fee.

What does the cost include?

Project Fee:

This entails financing that goes directly back into the project that you are involved with. This project fee facilitates funding for items such as food for lions and elephants, management and maintenance of lion enclosures, and the development of the lion breeding and rehabilitation programme.

• All transfers to and from and overnights in Bulawayo or Harare International Airports upon your arrival and departure, if required.
• Assistance in your projects and comprehensive orientation by various trained guides and staff during your stay.
• Any wildlife education talks that take place during your stay and that you might wish to partake in
• Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day at our Safari Camp dining area.
• Unlimited tea, coffee and juice throughout the day.
• Weekly laundry service during your stay.
• The service of a cleaner to attend to your room each day.

• All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other).
• Return flights to Harare or Bulawayo International Airports.
• Email and telephone calls made during your placement (charged out at cost).
• Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary in Zimbabwe e.g. visit to the Victoria Falls.
• Personal insurance cover for the duration of your placement, which is expected to include cover for repatriation.
• Cokes, beers, chocolate and other food items not included in your meals

Anything extra I need to know?

Your daily tasks may include:

• Ensuring that the lions are correctly fed with appropriate amounts and types of feed;
• Sourcing meat to feed the lions – a huge task!
• Making sure the lion enclosures are properly maintained and cleaned;
• Making regular health checks of the animals to detect any problems early so that proper care can be provided before any issues become severe;
• Administering medication as and when appropriate following consultation with our wildlife vets (please note that our vets are based in Harare and not at the project site);
• Training staff in good animal welfare techniques;
• Maintaining accurate records on all animals’ welfare;
• Liaising with the Park’s management, guides and project managers;
• Preparing animals for transport or even travelling with them, when needed;
• Assisting our consultant vets during their regular visits to monitor the progress of the animals;
• Conduct game censuses on the free-ranging game species within the Park;
• Answering questions from the Park’s regular visitors about the animals;
• Assist with school visits to the breeding program as part of our conservation education program.