Big Cat Rehabilitation And Conservation Highlights

The highlights

• Cheetah and leopard tracking and monitoring for research
• Hyena tracking on foot
• Alien plant removal and bush chopping
• General reserve and fence maintenance
• Plant and animal studies
• Animal tracking and bush crafts
• Bone collecting in the cheetah camp
• Behind the scenes feeding run at AfriCat
• Accompanying specialised staff for the collection and release of Leopard and Cheetah through the rehabilitation programme
• Game counts at the waterhole
• Fence patrols

Optional activities and excursions

On your day off you will have the chance to relax or continue exploring the reserve. The reserve’s total expanse encompasses a 22,000 hectare (55,000 acre) operational private nature sanctuary. Game to be seen, besides the cheetahs and leopards include: giraffe, oryx, kudu, zebra, impala, eland, wildebeest, red hartebeest, duiker, steenbok, dik-dik, and warthog. Also nocturnal animals such as porcupine, honey badger, brown hyena, spotted genet, aardvark and over 200 bird species may be seen.

Exciting afternoon activities include:

• Visiting the cheetah conservation programme
• Leopard tracking and monitoring
• Visiting the AfriCat Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre
• Hyena tracking on foot
• Bushman walks
• Visiting the lions and wild dogs
• Birding walks and game drives
• Sundowners
• Sleeping under the stars (camping out in the river bed. A bi-weekly event and an absolute must!)

Where will I sleep?

The camp is situated in the heart of the Namibian bush, and consists of basic but comfortable thatched / tented hut accommodation, surrounding a central eating and socialising area. There are 2 single beds with matresses and lockable trunks are available in each tent plus the use of a central safe for smaller valuables. Hot and cold running showers and western style toilets are provided, electricity and electrical plugs are available in the main central area. There is a real community feel to the programme, with daily rotas in place to ensure that everyone gets involved in the day-to-day running of the camp including wake-up calls and the preparation of all meals.

Due to the location of the camp there is no laundry service and hand washing powder can be purchased from the camp store. There is a signal for mobile phones however this signal can sometimes be a little temperamental. Internet facilities are also available in the evenings at a small charge.

Evenings will be based around the campfire listening to the sounds of the wild and reliving our day. Live on the wild side for a few weeks... Get back to your roots... Feel like a bushman in our own little volunteer community.

Saturdays will be your well deserved day off where you are free to relax, enjoy one of our walking trails, or perhaps visit the local swimming pool to catch some rays! This is your day, enjoy it!

The closest town is Otjiwarongo, 75 kilometres away, so you are well and truly in the bush!

And Meals?
The three meals a day include a cereal breakfast, prepared at the campsite before work commences; sandwiches and fruit for lunch and a hot nutritious meal prepared each evening back at the base campsite. Refreshments such as tea, coffee, squash are provided during meal times and water at all times . All vegetarian and other dietary requirements can be catered for if advised in advance on the booking form. Other refreshments such as soft drinks, beers and snacks (biscuits, crisps, nuts etc.) can be purchased from the camp store.

How do I get there and travel around?

Fly into Windhoek International Airport arriving on Saturday morning by 12 noon or arriving on Friday and spending a night at one of the backpackers’ lodges in Windhoek. There are many places to stay in Windhoek but one we recommend is Chameleon Backpackers (www.chameleonbackpackers.com)

In order to try to conform with incoming European flight timings we will arrange transportation for all team members to be collected from Windhoek International Airport or from a central location in Windhoek on Saturday mornings only. From here, volunteers will be transferred directly to the project base, once every 2 weeks. We will arrange return transportation on the same basis from the reserve to Windhoek on Friday mornings only once every 2 weeks. Due to the distance of the reserve from the airport, these transportation guidelines will be strictly adhered to; please take not of this when booking your flights.

What does the cost include?

• Transfers to and from Windhoek International Airport on scheduled dates
• All accommodation, food and housekeeping costs
• All game drives / activities, including the feeding run
• All project-related transportation and equipment required to carry out your project work
• 24 hour support and guidance from the project management team
• All wildlife and conservation education during your stay

• Return flights to Windhoek International Airport.
• Any items of a personal nature, such as gifts and curios and additional food, drinks and snacks
• The appropriate personal medical insurance, which must cover the entire duration of your programme, and should include cover for repatriation and any activities that you will undertake
• Any additional trips or activities organized in your free time

Do I need experience, is there orientation?

Upon arrival you will be fully briefed and trained in all appropriate / necessary areas. You will be introduced to all members of staff and given a full tour of the reserve. You will also be given more information on our reintroduction project and the plight of the cheetah, so that you will fully understand just how important your work with this project is.

And support?
Before and during the programme you will have full support from African Impact and your project managers to ensure that you receive all the assistance that you need. We are committed to ensuring you have the best possible time at the project, and your health and happiness is of the utmost importance to us.

What's the age limit?

The programme is open to anyone from the age of 18 and there is no upper age limit for volunteers, however all participants must be in good health and able to carry out all duties required of them.
The most important requirement is a passion to help, have fun and make a difference. No previous knowledge or experience is required, only a desire to learn and assist wherever necessary!

A day in the life

Your normal working morning will start as the sun rises over the horizon, start off with coffee and breakfast and then head to our work site. By choosing this project you will be undertaking a variety of essential reserve maintenance tasks which include: dismantling windmills, fence-lines, and old water troughs; bush clearing tasks; repairing waterholes; dam and bridge maintenance, etc. You will also have the fantastic opportunity of working directly at the AfriCat Foundation itself which include: bone collecting within the cheetah camps; cleaning out the wild dogs’ water trough; erecting and repairing fences and netting; fence maintenance, etc.

We will work, with breaks interspersed, until approximately 12 noon, then we will stop for a well-earned lunch break and siesta time until about 15h30. Volunteers tend to find the time out in the bush quite therapeutic and very educational. We then head off for your exciting afternoon game drive to witness firsthand the amazing animals living within our reserve. Volunteers will have the opportunity during this time to take part in a multitude of exciting activities including: visiting the cheetah conservation programme AfriCat; leopard tracking; cheetah & hyena tracking on foot; bushman walks; visiting the lions and wild dogs; birding walks and game drives; sundowners; sleeping under the stars (Camping out in the river bed. A bi-weekly event and an absolute must!)

There is also unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of the AfriCat Foundation to witness first hand the feeding of all these beautiful animals at this sanctuary. On occasions cheetahs and leopards need to be rescued by AfriCat and re-released back into the wild and a lucky volunteer may be given the unique and very exciting opportunity to accompany one of the AfriCat team to do just this!