Antelope Park Teaching And Community Programme Highlights

The highlights

Interacting with and making a big difference in children's lives!

• Assisting teachers prepare for and execute lessons
• Conduct tutorials and give extra assistance to pupils
• Assisting with marking and assessing children’s progress
• Making teaching aids
• Involvement in extra curricular activities such as drama and art clubs, choir etc
• Coaching sports
• Assisting in teacher development sessions where relevant
• General counselling, support and advice giving to students
• Repairs and maintenance (when possible)

Optional activities and excursions

• Walk with lions – Founded right here at Antelope Park - A World Exclusive to our organisation
• Ride elephants – Antelope Park has 4 elephants and sunset or sunrise rides will be one of the highlights of your visit
• Game viewing – by horseback, carriage, vehicle or by foot
• Sunset cruises on the lake in front of the camp
• Romp with lion cubs
• Horse rides – Antelope Park’s horse rides are regarded as some of the best secure wildlife horse rides on the continent
• Swim with elephants – another World Exclusive
• Full moon elephant and horse rides

During your stay at Antelope Park you will have the opportunity to enjoy an optional excursion to some of the other spectacular spots that Zimbabwe has to offer. These trips are also a great time for volunteers to interact and get to know each other better. An expedition such as the one outlined below will cost you approximately US$475, payable in cash on arrival (this includes National Parks fees, transport, meals (except in Victoria Falls) and accommodation).

• Day 1: Leave after breakfast from Antelope Park for Miombo Safari Lodge (Hwange National Park); the largest national park in Zimbabwe, and the same size as Belgium! You will get the opportunity to go on a game drive in Big 5 territory where you could get up close and personal with a herd of elephant, buffalo, a pride of lion and many more.
• Volunteers will have the opportunity to visit the amazing Painted Dog Sanctuary and will enjoy an evening of live entertainment by the Ingonyama dance troupe while staying at Miombo.
• Day 2-4: Leave after breakfast from Miombo for Victoria Falls, adrenalin capital of Africa! You have the option to bungee jump, white water raft, visit the Falls, gorge swing across the Batoka Gorge below the Falls or just enjoy the great social atmosphere at this tourist hot-spot! Dinner at the amazing “Boma” Restaurant is included whilst at the Falls.
• Day 5: Depart early morning from Victoria Falls to return to Antelope Park

Where will I sleep?

At Antelope Park!

• You will be staying in comfortable twin or quad room thatched accommodation at the main reserve camp and situated next to a beautiful dam
• Volunteers have separate 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

And Meals?

You will enjoy 3 wholesome cooked meals a day prepared for you by our camp staff.

How do I get there and travel around?

• Fly in to Bulawayo from Johannesburg, overnight Bulawayo at our volunteer lodge, and transfer by 2 hour journey to Gweru at 8am the following morning
• Fly in to Harare (Zimbabwe’s capital), overnight at our volunteer lodge, and then transfer by 4 hour journey to Gweru at 8am the following morning
• 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.

• All transfers to and from and overnights in Bulawayo or Harare International Airports upon your arrival and departure.
• Assistance in your projects and comprehensive orientation by staff during your stay.
• Full board and lodging which includes 3 meals a day.
• 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.
• One complimentary lion walk.
• One complimentary Elephant ride.
• One complimentary Horse ride.

The Project Fee Excludes the following:

• 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.

Do I need experience, is there orientation?

• Upon arrival at Antelope Park, you will be introduced to key personnel and will receive a tour of Antelope Park and its facilities.
• You will also tour the projects you will be involved in, meeting key personnel, being shown systems and procedures.
• At the orientation, volunteers will also receive an overview of our detailed "Welcome Pack", which will contain further useful information for your time with us

Throughout your placement you will have the support and guidance of our experienced volunteer coordinators. They are part of our support team, which will provide you with competent 24-hour field support and assistance.

What's the age limit?

Minimum 17 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health

A day in the life

A day in the life of an Antelope Park Teaching and Community volunteer… (times vary depending on season)

• 6:45am Breakfast at Antelope Park
• 7:30am Arrival at school to assist as per duties allocated for the day
• 12:30pm Lunch break where you have the chance to interact further with students or staff, or simply relax
• 2:00pm Afternoon activities such as clubs, sports, remedial lessons, repairs, maintenance, gardening etc
• 4:00pm Return to Antelope Park for the evening where you can relax, socialise, go for a swim, do emails, watch television – to name a few things - and of course prepare for the next day.